Harmony of Song & Dance at Pinewoods

Join us for a week of singing, dancing, and more! At Harmony of Song & Dance, we’ll enjoy learning and sharing in a variety of song and dance traditions. This year, the week is loosely focused on percussive dance and the musical conversations between and among dancers, vocalists, and instrument-players. If you love to sing, dance, jam, do or do all of those at the same time, this is the week for you! Though there will also be plenty of opportunities to do them just one at a time as well. 

Each day’s schedule includes an all-camp singing session, an all-camp dance session (where both newcomer and experienced dancers will find a lesson for their skill level), and many types of singing, dancing, and instrumental workshops, including some that invite collaboration between and among dancers, musicians, and singers. 

Every evening, we will enjoy mini-concerts by our brilliant staff, followed by a dance featuring contra and English country dancing, plus some late-night festivities. Within each jam-packed day, there is also time built into the schedule for jamming, snoozing, swimming, chatting, or taking some solo time if you need it. Pinewoods offers a beautiful venue for a glorious week of song, dance, learning, connection, revelry, and rejuvenation. I look forward to singing and dancing with you there!

~Nicole Singer, Program Director

Arrival & Departure

Saturday Arrival Schedule:

Saturday Departure Schedule: 

Draft Daily Schedule

Period 1

English/Contra Combo – Gaye or Adina

Description coming soon!

Basics of Contra and English Country Dance – Gaye or Adina

Description coming soon!

Period 2

All-camp Sing & Gathering – Jamie Bunce, with various staff

Each day, the whole camp gathers in one of the airy pavilions nestled in the woods to join our voices in song and harmony. Some of our fabulous singing staff will teach a variety of pieces from different singing traditions and styles. We’ll build a beautiful communal repertoire throughout the week and have a celebratory sing-through on the last day of camp. 

Period 3

Dance Variety Pack – Various leaders and musicians

Come dance with us! Every afternoon we’ll have a different flavor of dancing to enjoy during this hour. It may be contras, ECD, chestnuts, squares, advanced ECD, hambos, swing, Schottisches, waltzes, Ceilidh dances, or whatever else the dance band and caller(s) dream up! A more specific schedule will be posted closer to the beginning of camp. 

Flatfooting for All – Nic Gareiss with Sophie Wellington

Description coming soon!

Songwriting – Alex Sturbaum

Description coming soon!

Irish Fiddle – Armand Aromin

Description coming soon!

Morris Dancing for All – Gillian Stewart with Julia Friend

Jumping, skipping, throwing hankies in the air – morris dancing is an athletic style of dance from Cotswold region of England. We’ll learn a common dance and then write a new one using a tune that strikes our fancy! Wear sneakers or other supportive shoes.

Shape-Note Singing – Becky Wright

Come and explore the rich tradition of shape-note music! In this class, we’ll learn the basics of reading shape notes and take a tour of different shape-note musical styles. Singing is the main course here, with a side of historical and musical context to round things out. Open to all — each day will build on the last, so folks who are newer to sight-singing may find it helpful to attend consistently each day.

Period 4

Callers Workshop – Adina Gordon with Dave Wiesler

Description coming soon!

Rapper for All – Gillian Stewart

Rapper is a fast-paced, physical, percussive sword dance from the north of England. This class is open to anyone who is excited about tying themselves in knots with swords at high speed with friends – be prepared to sweat upon your neighbors. We’ll start with the basics, and then work on dance choreography, set cohesion, and performance skills. Please bring hard soled shoes.

Flatfooting/Music Collab – Nic Gareiss with Sophie Wellington

Description coming soon!

Guitar Workshop? – Owen/Alex

Description coming soon!

Song Something – Julia Friend

Description coming soon!

Period 5

Intermediate Flatfooting – Nic Gareiss with Sophie Wellington

Description coming soon!

Playing for Dancing – Miranda Weinberg

It’s a great feeling when a whole hall is dancing together to the music. How do we work together to create amazing dance music? Let’s explore playing for dancing! We will have fun with tunes, exercises and games as we look at melody, harmony, lift, arrangements, and more.

Waltz Workshop – Gaye Fifer with various musicians

This class will focus on basic (and beyond) waltz steps, with an emphasis on the nuances of clear leading and aware following.  We will learn various moves, but will prioritize the skills of connecting with your partner and with the music.

Late Afternoon One-shots

Social Singing with Julia Friend

Description coming soon!

Old Time Jam with Sophie Wellington

Description coming soon!

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. 

This year, all of our weeks have sliding scale pricing for adults to help make camp financially accessible to more people. The fee you choose will not affect your chance of getting into camp.

How it works:

• The standard camper fee covers program staff pay and travel costs, facility fees, and all of the other costs associated with running this camp week.
• The higher price options allow you to add an additional amount to your registration fee to help make camp more accessible to more people. Thanks for supporting this community!
• If the standard camper fee doesn’t work for you, no worries! Feel free to choose one of the lower price options.
• If the lower price tiers still leave camp out of reach for you, we encourage you to apply for a scholarship and/or work exchange. See our Scholarships page for more details

You can find more information about the registration process here.