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 American song traditions, both sacred and secular. We’ll be building new skills and repertoire from historical and present-day sources in several different sub-genres of folk music and dance. If you love to sing, dance, geek out about the history and evolution of songs and dances, or if you’re keen to write or choreograph your own songs and dances in these traditions, this is the week for you!

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. This year, there will also be two intensive courses for those who want to do a two-hour “deep dive” on a specialized topic:
English Dance Leaders Course
Traditional/Folk/Roots Singing Styles & Performance Technique

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: 

Daily Schedule

Period 1

The English/Contra Connection – Brooke Friendly & Lisa Greenleaf

If English dance is not your first language, if you are a new or returning contra dancer, or if you are fluent in both, come explore the connection between the two forms with a fun variety of satisfying dances. Build confidence and strengthen skills while sharing in the joy of dance!

Basics of Contra and English Country Dance – Helen White & Carl Levine

Come learn the principal figures used in contra and English country dance, and discover how they fit together with each other and the music, as we re-create works of communal art through movement. We’ll examine similarities and differences between the two dance forms, and explore how we can be effective learners, helpers, partners and community members on the dance floor, as we maximize our joy in each dance. Whether these dance genres are new to you or familiar, join us for a session of fun, accessible and exhilarating dance to glorious music.

Blues Guitar Workshop – Justin Golden

In this repertoire-building course, we’ll expand our knowledge of common blues chord progressions, focusing on the guitar’s role in the song’s structure. We’ll look at songs from Reverend Gary Davis, Snooks Eaglin, Pink Anderson, and more, then of course we’ll play and strum along! Prior knowledge of open-position chords on guitar would be very helpful.

Period 2

All-camp Sing & Gathering – Jamie Bunce, with Kathy Bullock, Bob Walser, and Justin Golden

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

Gospel Choir – Kathy Bullock

Spirituals and gospel music are much more than pleasing songs to listen to – they are powerful representations of the triumphant spirit and faith that have defined the African American journey. Together we will sing and enjoy these sacred songs of faith, hope and joy.

Cotswold Morris: Energy and Connection – Bob Walser & Becky Wright

Just like singing in harmony, one of the great joys of dancing together is finding moments of connection with others. In this class we’ll learn a few dances in the Bledington tradition, with a focus on specific style points that help us cultivate these delightful moments with other dancers, with the music, and with the audience. All are welcome — each day will build on the last, so attending consistently is helpful, especially for folks who are newer to Morris dancing. Bring your sneakers and get ready for some high-energy fun!

Writing New Pub Songs – Laurel Swift

Do you sometimes fail to find appropriate pub songs for your voice and personality? Do you love the songs about sailors, miners and dockers but feel a fraud when you sing them? Do you know too many earnest, soporific songs and not enough bangers? I can’t promise we’ll write a classic, but we can certainly try! Come along for a detailed exploration of the elements that – in your eyes – make a song the perfect thing for the moment, and work through a fun and accessible series of exercises that build up to writing a complete song, pub sing style. All welcome, no need to read / write music, or previous experience of songwriting! Options to work alone, in pairs or small groups. 

Singing Intensive: Traditional/Folk/Roots Singing Styles & Performance Technique – Ken Schatz

By pre-registration only Singing Styles & Performance Technique

English Dance Leaders Course – Brooke Friendly

By pre-registration only English Dance Leaders Course

Period 4

I Got A Right to the Tree of Life: Music of the Women’s Suffrage Movement – Kathy Bullock

We will sing songs and learn stories that were part of the historic Women’s Suffrage Movement that led to women’s right to vote in the U.S. The class will also include contemporary songs that continue to empower and inspire women as we all move forward.

Bal Folk – Bob Walser

In the 1970s a new form of community dance took shape in France. Instead of local events having only local and regional dances (from Brittany, for example, or Poitou), the new-style bals included dances from many parts of France – and beyond. The phenomenon became known as Bal Folk and spread to Italy, Germany, the low countries and beyond. Today the big bal folk festivals draw thousands and on any weekend dozens of bals folk  take place in every corner of France. What’s all the fun about? Wonderful live music with engaging tunes, great bands, and (mostly) accessible dances you can pick up just by watching. There’s a lot of groove and energy. Come see for yourself!

History of the Blues – Justin Golden

Take a deep dive into the history of the Blues with Justin! Starting with early blues and pre-blues, we’ll listen to field hollers and work songs, then learn how these evolved into country blues, ragtime, spirituals, and later, a wide variety of blues styles and sub-genres. This workshop will combine listening and discussion with learning, singing, and playing. All experience levels welcome. 

Voice and Feet – Laurel Swift with Karen Axelrod

A creative space to intertwine vocal and percussive dance rhythms. Bring your voice, or bring your hard soled shoes or clogs. You can stick to one form or enjoy both! We’ll learn some mouth music, learn some English clog steps, you’re invited to bring and adapt things you already know, and together we will weave some kind of harmonic, percussive musical magic! You will get to hone existing vocal and percussive dance skills, try out some new things, adapt Laurel’s inputs to your own style and blend them with everyone else to make a beautiful clattering cacophony of joy! All welcome, we’ll be working at a variety of levels.  

Singing Intensive: Traditional/Folk/Roots Singing Styles & Performance Technique – Ken Schatz

By pre-registration only Singing Styles & Performance Technique

Period 5

Songs of Slavery and Emancipation – Kathy Bullock

For this class we will sing songs from a newly released collection of songs sung by abolitionists and enslaved people of the U.S. during the 1700s and 1800s.  This project, which includes a 2-CD booklet, a book and documentary, includes protest songs, dance tunes, shape note tunes, spirituals and more, reflecting powerful and concerted efforts that echo today.

7-Shape Harmony Singing – Becky Wright

As a cousin of 4-shape or Sacred Harp style music, music printed in 7 shapes spans a wide range of styles, from richly harmonized Primitive Baptist hymns to fun, upbeat gospel convention showpieces. In this class we’ll learn the shapes, sing some a cappella 7-shape music from books like the Christian Harmony and the Harp of Ages, and explore how singing in shapes can build the “harmony muscles” that help us find harmonies by ear when singing other types of music. 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.

Songwriting with Floating Verses – Justin Golden

Examining some songs each day, listening to several, making songs out of floating lines. Justin will bring in lots of options of verses. Examining songs to see how floating lines are used, and how to compose your own both from  traditional sources and writing new ones. All voices, instruments, and experience levels welcome. 

From the Page to the Stage: Researching Songs – Bob Walser

Are you someone who wants to bring something fresh to your singing community . . . a song or tune that others may not have heard, perhaps? This class will explore bringing songs to life from archives and libraries. We’ll explore digital and physical resources including digital tools for working with archival sound files and notation. All this will be done with an eye to building your personal repertoire then, depending on participants’ interests, we’ll consider questions of style, representation and performance and the slipperiness of the “folk process”. In the end, our goal is to enhance your ability to contribute thoughtfully to your own musical community.

English Country Dance Party – Brooke Friendly and Campers with Karen Axelrod & Sarah-Hadley Yakir

Join us for a fun session of English country dance, taught and prompted by the participants in Brooke Friendly’s English Dance Leaders Course. Support your fellow campers as you enjoy a relaxing afternoon of dance. Open to all, and drop-ins are welcome. 

This year we are using a sliding scale model at this week to make camp accessible to more people. The sliding scale fee you choose will not affect your chance of getting into camp.

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.

You can find more information about the registration process here. If you need financial assistance in order to attend, please go to our scholarships page.