Hello Callers, I wanted to make sure you're all aware of a wonderful Community Dance Leaders Course, taught by Andy Davis, that's happening this July during Folk Music Week at Pinewoods Camp in Plymouth, MA. Pinewoods is a beautiful place, and the course is sure to be inspiring. There are still some scholarships available for the few remaining spots, so don't hesitate to apply! Here are the details: Community Dance Leaders Course at Pinewoods Camp, July 19-26, 2008. This course is designed for anyone with an interest in leading, organizing, calling for and playing for community dances. Participants will spend part of the day in the Community Dance Leaders Course and part of the day, and the evenings, as full participants in the classes, dances and other activities of Folk Music Week. At this week you will have the opportunity to: Meet other leaders, callers and musicians. Share materials and collect new dances. Play for dancing, call dances and dance, dance, dance! Be restored in a beautiful natural environment. Take classes in a variety of vocal, instrumental and dance traditions. You will return home with: Inspiration to promote traditional dance in your community. New friends, colleagues and powerful connections in the community dance world. Pinewoods Camp is a beautiful place, nestled between two ponds, where music and dance have been nurtured for many years. Good food, friends, fresh air, wooden dance floors and a deep tradition of promoting music and dance make Pinewoods a place of inspiration and magic. This program, held concurrently with Folk Music Week<http://www.cdss.org/programs/2008/pw-folk-music.html>ml>, is designed and led by Andy Davis who plays accordion and calls dances as well as playing banjo and piano. He teaches in the public schools of Dover and Brattleboro, VT, and as a visiting artist-in-residence. He specializes in teaching traditional dance and music. His work with young people led to his participation on two trips to Novosibirsk, Russia in 1988 and 1989. Andy has appeared as a dance musician, teacher and song leader at many well-known traditional music and dance camps throughout the U.S. Andy's calling of square and contra dances is often for the benefit of small community dances where dancers of all ages and levels of experience are encouraged to join in. His commitment to promoting traditional dance in schools and communities led him to start New England Dancing Masters (publishers of books, recordings and a video for teachers and recreation leaders) with Peter and Mary Alice Amidon and Mary Cay Brass. Each December since 1987 Andy performs throughout new England with Nowell Sing We Clear, a concert of mid-winter carols, with Tony Barrand, John Roberts and Fred Breunig. The group specializes in traditional songs, shape-note hymns and instrumental dance music and customs from Christian and pagan traditions. More info about the course is here: http://www.cdss.org/programs/2008/pw-community-leaders.html Happy calling! ~Rebecca