English Dance Week at Pinewoods

“Camp is an opportunity to expand your horizons and experience new things as well as improve your dancing. The setting is beautiful and the people are wonderful.”

–George Cherepon

July 26-August 1, 2026 // Plymouth, MA

A welcoming community, immersed in glorious music and dance

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Dancers twirling white handkerchiefs in the air

Program Description

Join us for a glorious week of dancing, singing, and playing music between the ponds at Pinewoods Camp. You’ll choose daily from enticing offerings of English country dance, sessions for musicians, a variety of ritual and singing classes, and a sprinkling of other genres, including bal folk, Scandi, and contra, all led by our stellar staff who will inspire you with their creative energy, joyfulness, and breadth of experience.

Our mornings begin with the option to choose between three levels of ECD so that everyone can find both challenge and support. 2nd period offerings include more ECD, Morris dancing, and a musicians’ class. In our daily Gathering, we’ll enjoy one another’s contributions in story and song, after which you’ll have time for a dip in the pond before lunch.

The afternoon will offer sessions in a variety of dance forms, English clog and longsword, and more workshops for musicians. Dance callers will have the opportunity to exchange ideas during the Callers’ Roundtable and to hone their skills at the Open Mic while musicians play in the Open Band. All are welcome to join in harmony singing and our community sing. Daily one-shots will amuse us and encourage us to try new things.

We will socialize and get to know one another during afternoon and after-dance parties, including the ever-popular ice cream night. Our ceilidh, cabaret, and pub nights will offer raucous dancing and song-sharing.

English Week at Pinewoods will be enriched by you: your enthusiasm; your ideas; your joy at working with others; your willingness to try innovative dances and tunes and games. Come gather in the grounded glory of Pinewoods to celebrate beloved traditions and share what you learn with new friends. We look forward to welcoming you in this magical setting!

–Anna Rain and Margaret Bary, Program Directors

Schedule

Arrival & Departure

Sunday Arrival Schedule:

3:00 p.m.	The earliest you can start arriving at camp
4:30-6:00	Welcome party / lifeguard on duty for swimming
6:00	Tour of camp starting from the Camp House
6:30	Dinner
7:30	Orientation gathering
8:15	Opening night dance and party

Saturday Departure Schedule:

7:45-8:15 a.m.	Breakfast
10:00 a.m.	Final departure

Draft Daily Schedule

7:45 a.m.	Breakfast
9:00-10:00	Class Period 1
10:15-11:15	Class Period 2
11:25-12:00	Gathering
12:30 p.m.	Lunch
1:45-2:45	Class Period 3
3:00-4:00	Class Period 4
4:00-4:30	Tea time
4:30-5:30	Class Period 5
6:30	Dinner
7:45-10:30	Evening dance
10:30 onward	After-dance activities

Class Descriptions

Period 1

Basics of ECD: Comfort, Grounding, Joy!—Anna Rain

For newer dancers and those who want more practice with foundational figures. Dance ‘angels’ welcome!

Intermediate ECD: Musicality, Connection, and Ease—Margaret Bary

Our focus will be on how we dance, as we explore repertoire ranging from historic to contemporary. Daily themes will include dancing to the music, interacting with others, connecting with our hands, and moving with ease. This session will be aimed at dancers who are familiar with basic ECD figures, including figure-8s and heys.

Advanced ECD: Weaving, Dovetailing, Cooperating, Recovering—Tom Roby

What challenges do we meet to be advanced dancers? Recovery from errors, precise timing, handling choreographic idiosyncrasies, thinking ahead, helping gracefully, and dancing with the whole room. Dances will be chosen from the full history of ECD to illustrate these challenges. Tolerance for confusion and cheerful recovery skills are required, in addition to familiarity with all common ECD figures and core repertoire.

Period 2

ECD for All: Voyages—Jenna Simpson

Join us on a journey through a variety of historic and modern repertory with themes of travel and geography. Knowledge of standard ECD figures assumed.

Morris for All—Laurel Swift

Come soak up the joy of morris dancing! Whether you’re completely new to the form, an experienced dancer, or retired from morris dancing with a team, everyone will progress at their own pace and physical ability. There will be a strong creative element, details on stepping and arms, new choreography, and lots of hankies and sticks. This class will offer new angles on some old dances, and we might even create some new dances in the process.

Listening to Each Other and Playing Together—Aaron Marcus

How do we take cues from our band mates? How do we communicate what we think might happen next? How do we bring the ‘play’ into our playing?

Gathering with Cecily Mills

Gather together with everyone in our camp community to share our talents and enjoy one another’s delightful offerings of music, song, poetry, dance and more.

Period 3

Whirled Dance—Tom Roby

Fabulous dances from around the world with a focus on interesting patterns, improvisatory possibilities, and tips for partnering. We’ll feature dances from the bal folk, Scandinavian, and other traditions.

Seconding, Backup, and Lead—Dave Wiesler

How do we come up with ideas of what to do when we’re not playing the melody? Can we create short ideas that we string together to make musical lines? How do we use rhythm patterns, chord substitutions, and playing with pulse and lift to create texture? What are ways we can simplify or elaborate on the melody?

English Clog for All—Laurel Swift

We will learn a fabulous clog dance from Pat Tracey’s repertoire, which includes Old Lancashire Heel and Toe, Lancashire Irish, and some very lovely hornpipes and waltzes. Working at a slow and steady pace will allow everyone to secure the steps, while adding in stylistic details and extra steps for those working beyond the basics. Some clogs available to borrow; please bring clogs or heel-less hard-soled shoes if you have them.

Callers’ Roundtable—Anna Rain and Margaret Bary

Seasoned and aspiring callers are welcome to delve into different topics each day. Our time together will include both dancing and discussion, perhaps exploring how to teach a specific figure or brainstorming ideas for working with different populations. Anna and Margaret will create a safe and supportive climate that encourages all participants to further develop their awareness and skills as dance callers.

Period 4

Open Mic / Open Band—Tom Roby with Alex Cumming, Ben Schreiber & Dave Langford

Callers and musicians will collaborate on familiar dances from the ECD repertoire. Tom will organize and support the callers while Alex, Ben, and Dave L. work with the musicians. Callers will be asked to submit dances in advance to allow musicians time to practice tunes before camp. Everyone is welcome to join us on the dance floor. Musicians, please bring your Barnes books.

Longsword for All—Marissa Roque

While some longsword dances are original creations by a team or dancer, others rely on interpreting a written or visual record. In this class, we will examine Still River Sword’s interpretation of a traditional longsword dance. Dancers will have the opportunity to experiment with the dance and explore how decisions about timing and movement can add drama and dynamics to a performance.

Harmony Singing Playground—Jacob Chen

Love to sing but not sure how to build a harmony? Want more ideas and tools to add extra color to your harmony lines? This session will explore harmonies from the inside out—singing satisfying, given harmonies and learning methods for finding your own harmonies! All teaching will be by ear, using rounds, drones, common musical patterns, and familiar choruses as the playground to our learning. Rather than chasing a “perfect” harmony, we’ll explore harmony as a process of listening, experimenting, and responding. You’ll learn where your voice fits, try out supportive lines, and grow comfortable making creative choices in the moment. No prior music theory knowledge required–just curiosity, a willingness to sing, and openness to play with your voice!

One-Shots—Cecily Mills and Doug Creighton

Share your interests and skills during this session that will vary from day to day. Topics might include a variety of dance or music forms, games, nature, body awareness, or whatever you dream up. Cecily and Doug will invite contributions and coordinate your offerings.

Period 5

ECD for All: Good to Know—Jenna Simpson

Learn the evening’s “No-Teach Dance,” and enjoy some dances that are “good to know,” as they form part of our common shared repertoire or are useful for teaching figures in ECD.

ECD Tunes (Slow) Jam—Miranda Weinberg

Sink into the pleasure of playing tunes to get them under your fingers and experiment within the supportive structure of group playing. Those learning by ear will add to their repertoire, and music readers will have a chance to get off the page.

Community Sing—Alex Cumming

Do you have a song you just can’t wait to sing? A chorus song you love hearing harmonies to? An old gem that you would love to bring back? Or do you just want to sit back and be entertained? Then come along to an informal afternoon sing. Each day will feature a different theme, including Death & Destruction, Love, Lust & Loveliness, Booze & Bemusement, and more. Open to all singers, hairbrush divas, part time yodelers, and those who want to listen.

Dance Terminology

English country dances	TBD
Couple dances	TBD

Registration and Fees

Camp fees cover all accommodation, meals from dinner on the arrival day to breakfast on the departure day, and all of the various dance, music, and song events in the program.