Jonathan Van Gieson has attended Camper’s week since 1986, and is now slightly taller than he was then. He recently received his MFA in Creative Writing for Children from Hamline University. Outside camp, he is a producer, performer, and emcee for shows off-Broadway, off-off-Broadway, and beyond, in places from his hometown of NYC to Las Vegas to Europe.
Kathy Talvitie is a musician, tune writer, and dancer. Based in the Philadelphia area, she plays piano for English country, Contra, and Scottish dancing, and guitar with the Contra Dance band Raise the Roof. Her sensitive and creative interpretation of tunes combines moments that range from spacious lyricism to powerful rhythmic drive. Being a dance musician brings her endless surprises and joy.
Anna and Dennis have both attended Camper’s Week since their (very) early days and are honored to be helping to guide this iteration of Camper’s Week.
Both have lived and worked as artists in various capacities over the years, but these days Anna is a nurse working in quality and education at UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and Dennis is a full-time dad and sea shanty instructor to their young son,
I have been coming to Pinewoods nearly my entire life and to Campers’ Week almost every year since 1983. It’s now my pleasure to bring my children here as well, so they can experience the joy and magic of camp, and especially hearing music all throughout the woods. It is a privilege to be on staff and coordinate that musical magic for all the daytime classes and workshops. When not at camp, I am the squire for the Bouwerie Boys Morris Dancers in New York City,
Sally Rogers began her career as a full-time touring musician in 1979, after encouragement from Stan Rogers, the legendary Canadian singer-songwriter. That was followed by an invitation from Garrison Keillor to appear on A Prairie Home Companion. She appeared more than a dozen times on that show, which launched her performing career. Her travels have since taken her to Europe, China, Hungary and Poland, England and Scotland and across the United States.
Hannah has been leading classes, workshops and concerts for babies and children of all ages for over a decade; she draws her repertoire from folk music and dance traditions in English and in French. A multi-instrumentalist, Hannah plays clawhammer banjo, oldtime fiddle, ukelele and guitar. Throughout the pandemic, Hannah has been leading virtual music classes for kids and their grownups across North America!
Hannah’s first CD, “Savez-vous plantez des choux?” was distributed across Ontario as part of the Early Years Literacy Kit.
Sarah Henry is a long-time member and leader of both Ring o’ Bells Morris and Half Moon Sword. Sarah has been a creative force behind lots of fun stuff at past Campers’ Weeks — everything from rapper, English clog, longsword, and morris to ‘bacca pipes, string figures, giant puppets, and transforming Hands Across for the Costume Ball. In “real” life, Dr. Sarah is a historian and museum curator and administrator.
Andy Davis calls traditional New England style contra and square dances. He plays accordion and piano for traditional dances. Andy’s specialty is calling community events inclusive of dancers of all abilities. For over thirty years Andy has taught music and dance in Vermont public schools, summer camps – and at weddings, parties and community gatherings. Andy is a founding member of “New England Dancing Masters,” publishers of dance books and recordings for the teaching of New England traditional dance.
Gillian has been teaching and performing sword dancing on both sides of the Atlantic since 2004. Hailing from the vigorous folk scene surrounding Boston, MA, she also indulges in morris, pub singing, percussive stepdance, and social dancing of many stripes. Her teaching has been described as “engaging, high energy, and accessible”. She currently leads Orion Longsword and dances with Candyrapper VSOP and Muddy River Morris. In her copious free time she enjoys social singing,
A leading caller of contras, squares, English country dance and family dance programs, Sue Rosen has been actively calling for 30 years in the Boston area, across the country, and overseas. She has built a collection of great dances and has written contras that have become part of the standard repertoire of dance callers across the contradance world. Her speedy and encouraging walk-throughs will have you cruising through dance after wonderful dance.
Dance, Music, & Song Camps