Road-Diner
Balalaika & Folk Dance Camp
Well, here it is - all the news about our exciting balalaika, music, and dance camp! We hope you like what you
read here, and will join us for a fun time this summer.
(Note that Road-Diner Balalaika and Folk Dance Camp is a private function and is by invitation only. Your completed registration form must be approved by management.)
WHAT. The Road-Diner Balalaika and Folk Dance Camp will be four days of the music, dance, and song of Eastern
Europe, with workshops, lessons, lectures, ensembles and orchestra, parties, jam sessions, a banquet and a public concert,
and plenty of great ethnic food. We intend to make the camp quite informal, and partying (jamming, dancing, singing,
eating, drinking, etc.) will be emphasized.
WHEN. Wednesday, July 7, starting at 5pm, through late Sunday morning, July 11. Early arrival on Tuesday, July 6 is
OK: Although we won't have any official activities scheduled, there should be enough people to get a party, dance or jam
session going.
WHERE. Beautiful Georgian Court College in Lakewood, NJ. This former estate, now a Catholic girls' college, has acres
and acres of formal gardens, fountains, statues, garden walks, and wonderful Victorian buildings, and is situated right on
the lake in the middle of Lakewood. (Yes, there's swimming - a public beach with lifeguard is nearby.) But the facilities
we use will be totally modern - classrooms, dorm rooms, large party room, lounges are all air conditioned.
WHO. The Road-Diner Balalaika and Folk Dance Camp is being organized and run by Riccardo Heald and Stephen
Wolownik. Here's the staff lineup as of this time:
We're still lining up a singing teacher, someone to handle the non-balalaika instruments, and a teacher for a "troyista
muzyka" ensemble. (Please bring any out-of-the-ordinary folk instrument that you may have.) Staff members will also be teaching workshops.
WORKSHOPS. Included will be lectures, instrumental instruction, instrumental groups, singing, and a full schedule of
recreational folk dance instruction (dances taught during the day will be reviewed at each evening's party). We're going to
feature ensemble instrument workshops, with various types of ensembles. EX: One type of ensemble will be 2 prima
domras, 2 alto domras, 1 bass domra, 2 prima balas., 2 alto/secunda balas., 1 basok, 1 contrabass, 1 accordion. Other
types of ensembles might be: just prima balas.; domra choir; accordion ensemble; tamburitsa band; Macedonian/Bulgarian
band; Balkan dance band; it all depends on demand. How it works is you pick an ensemble (you can join more than one
type) and join it; as each ensemble fills up, we start another of the same type, until everyone has a group to play in. The
music will be fairly simple, but interesting, and will be more cabaret style than "classical" style. (We could also have a
couple virtuoso groups, if there is a demand for such.)
And we will have a balalaika orchestra, directed by Victor Gorodinsky, currently director of the University of Wisconsin
Balalaika Orchestra. The orchestra will rehearse daily, in preparation for Saturday night's concert, which will be short and
sweet and lots of fun. We also want to feature some of our workshop ensembles.
Dance workshops will be held each morning and afternoon, with an additional session during each orchestra rehearsal, and a
review of the day's material at each evening party. The program will feature mostly East European dances, a lot of new
material plus some wonderful old stuff that's been forgotten by most, and line as well as partner dances. Musicians will
learn some of the dance music, so we can dance to live music at the parties.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE.
WED. - Official registration begins at 5pm. That evening there will be an orchestra rehearsal
followed by a welcome BBQ party (Alan Zemel at the grill), with plenty of delicious ethnic food and drink, jamming,
dancing, singing, etc.
THUR. - A full day of workshops (multiple sessions, morning and afternoon), with lunch, dinner, and free time built into
the schedule. ("All work and no play ..." etc.). Orchestra rehearsal and dance session in the early evening, followed by the
evening party. Very late in the party we will hold a "Zakuski Event," with lots of delicious ethnic food, to keep the fun
going.
FRI. - Same as Thur., but Orchestra rehearsal will be in the afternoon, and in the evening we'll have a Russian-style
BANQUET at nearby ROVA Russian Resort. Of course, an evening party will follow.
SAT. - Morning workshops; Afternoon workshop recitals; Evening concert featuring the Balalaika Orchestra, various
performance groups, and some of the workshops. And of course, a late-evening farewell party.
PARTIES. There will be a party each evening, featuring jamming, singing, dancing, and plenty of delicious ethnic food and
drink. Our DJ, Becky Davidson, will be there to spin disks for your listening and dancing pleasure; she will use her
recorded music to fill in the gaps between jam sessions, so there will be no lull in the flow of music. (This is the only
canned music allowed: Playing of CDs, tapes and video tapes is absolutely forbidden in the party area.) We will allow a
small number of short recitals by attending groups and soloists. These recitals must be kept short so as to not interfere with
the dancing and partying. If your group is interested in playing at an evening party, let Rick know directly.
FOOD. We will serve a Continental breakfast each morning, Thur-Sun. Georgian Court College has a cafeteria, but you
must sign up in advance, as they need a daily head count. The college is close to the main drag (US Rte. 9) in Lakewood,
and there are diners and eateries nearby. The banquet, Welcome BBQ, Continental breakfast, and food at evening parties
are all included in your registration fee. Also, ROVA will open its restaurant for luncheon on Thursday.
HOUSING. Dormitory-style, two to a room. $20/day per person double occupancy, $30/day for single. The evening
parties will be held in the basement of the dorm building, in a very large room with adjoining commercial kitchen (yay!).
Fully air conditioned! (All buildings on campus are smoke-free.)
COST. The registration fee is $75 per person (no discounts) - a great bargain! A deposit of $25 is due by March 25, and
the full amount is due by May 15. After May 15, there will be an additional charge of $25. All fees are refundable, minus
a $15 service charge, if we receive notice in writing by June 1, 1999.
If you'd like to be put on our mailing list, and receive a registration form, please send your name and address to:
Stephen Wolownik - Road-Diner
PO Box 203
Mt. Laurel NJ 08054