Gaye Fifer has been calling at dance weekends/weeks for many years. Her pleasant style and graceful teaching put dancers at ease and set the stage for a great dance experience. She now lives in Pittsburgh, PA. and travels whenever there is a safe opportunity to do so. Gaye is currently President of CDSS and has a passionate interest in supporting dance community leaders and organizers.
Fynn Crooks used to have a fear of hurdles, but she got over it. Oh, that’s terrible! As a storyteller, humorist, and teacher Fynn has been sharing bad jokes, tough riddles, and a healthy enthusiasm for life with her students, young and old, for a decade. She loves leading group games to encourage communication, cooperation and just plain goofiness. You might find Fynn launching a rubber chicken across camp, leading a silly circus, lifeguarding,
Some of Chris Bracken’s earliest memories are of falling asleep to the sounds of a pub sing around her. A reluctant singer at first, she now raises her voice regularly from morris choruses to shape note conventions. She also organizes singing events including Youth Traditional Song Weekend, and participates in community conversations about racist and misogynist content in traditional songs. A morris dancer for over twenty years, Chris currently dances with the Marlboro Morris M in Western Mass.
Aaron Marcus (they/them) is best-known throughout the country for their performances with Frost & Fire, Giant Robot Dance, and The Turning Stile. But Aaron also brings exuberant energy, danceability, subtle lyricism, deep emotion, and spontaneity to any band arrangement, whether an accompanist on piano or clogging while playing tunes on concertina.
Anna Patton is a clarinetist, singer, composer, and educator driven by musical curiosity. She plays with the internationally touring dance band Elixir and with many other contra, ECD, and swing/blues bands. She loves to teach ensemble classes, improvisation, and ear training. In her home town of Brattleboro VT, she directs the Soubrette Jazz Choir which performs her creative arrangements of historical and contemporary American music. She also enjoys drinking good espresso and playing ping pong.
Max Newman has made a living as a practitioner of traditional music for the past decade and half. He has developed a reputation as a favorite amongst dance musicians and dancers across North America and the UK. With a keen interest in New England music and dance, Max has graced many a dance hall playing with luminaries of the style. His primary project is The Stringrays, a veritable supergroup headed by New England fiddle legend Rodney Miller with Stuart Kenney,
Scott Higgs began dancing in college, and started teaching soon thereafter (when the knowledgeable dancers graduated !). For over 30 years he has traveled the world, calling contras and English country dances. From Seattle to Antwerp, dancers praise Scott’s engaging programs, dynamic presentation, and emphasis on fun.
At home, Scott is one of the co-founders and leaders of Renegade Morris, organizes an ECD series, and regularly appears at local contra and ECD events.
Dance, Music, & Song Camps