Contras, Squares, Waltz, and more!

Cis Hinkle Cis Hinkle has delighted contra and square dancers since 1985 with her skilled teaching, welcoming manner, playful enthusiasm, and masterful selection of dances. She is in great demand at music and dance festivals all over the US, England, and Denmark. When not on the road, Cis teaches t'ai chi classes in her native Atlanta, Georgia.

Will Mentor Will Mentor hails from Vermont (where he is a university professor) and is in demand at dances all over the USA. His clarity and energy will delight you as he guides you through contras both sensuous and energetic, with a few brain-teasers (foot-teasers?) thrown in for good measure. Will has been described as “a great teacher, endlessly amusing, and someone who has all his calling priorities straight!” With over fifteen years of calling experience, Will has developed an excellent contra repertoire, and is also known for his square dance calling.

Bands

Genticorum Yann Falquet guitar, jew's harp, vocals Pascal Gemme fiddle, feet, vocals Nicholas Williams flute, accordian, piano, vocals

Firmly rooted in the soil of their native land, the energetic and original traditional “power trio” also incorporates the dynamism of today’s North American and European folk cultures in their music. They weave precise and intricate fiddle and flute work, gorgeous vocal harmonies, energetic foot percussion and guitar and bass accompaniment into a big and jubilant musical feast. Their distinctive sound, sense of humor and stage presence make them a supreme crowd pleaser.

Yann Falquet has explored many styles of music and completed a Bachelors degree in Jazz. Since then, he has developed a personal guitar style for Québec folk music. Inspired to take up the fiddle by the playing of his grandfather, Pascal Gemme has developed a solid technique and acquired a wide repertoire through the years. He has played with and has been inspired by many great Québécois singers and fiddlers.

Yann and Pascal are joined by Nicholas Williams for AmWeek. Nick was last here in 2011 with Crowfoot, and we are very pleased to have him back with us for 2016. His vocal and instrumental contributions onstage as well as workshop/tutorial sessions are delightful.

Don't miss this rare opportunity to experience the musicality of this world-class band from Canada!

Stringrays Rodney Miller Fiddle Max Newman Guitar Stuart Kenney Bass David Surrette Mandolin Matt Kenney Percussion

Stringrays are joined this year at camp by percussionist Matthew Kenney and stellar mandolinist David Surrette.

Rodney Miller was designated a "Master Fiddler" in 1983 by the National Endowment for the Arts. He is widely considered to be the foremost exponent of New England style fiddling, a uniquely American blend of French Canadian and Celtic influences. Over the past 35 years, he has toured the U.S., British Isles, Australia and Denmark, performed and taught at hundreds of music and dance festivals, and recorded ten or more fiddle albums. He currently tours as the fiddle pillar of several bands, including the Stringrays, the Rodney Miller Band, and Airdance. Born and raised in Alaska, Max Newman has been surrounded by traditional music and dance from an early age, often playing alongside his dad for local contra dances and enjoying Irish music sessions. Now living in the Northeast, he plays with Boston-based dance bands Nor’easter and Agnostic Fiddle Insurgency as well as the Stringrays. He enjoys bringing his dynamic and varied guitar and mandolin playing to a variety of situations and is especially interest in the craft of playing for dancers.

One of New England‘s finest guitarists, David Surrette is equally at home on the mandolin and bouzouki, and is well-known as a top-notch accompanist in New England's contra dance and Celtic music circles. He has performed throughout the country at festivals, concerts, coffeehouses and contra dances, and in 1999 toured in Brittany, France. Since 1988 David has enjoyed an inspired musical partnership with singer Susie Burke, with whom he has just released a duo recording, “Sometimes in the Evening”. He also plays regularly with fiddler Rodney Miller, with whom he performed at the 1999 Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife, and wth whom he has released two recordings. Percussionist Matt Kenney joins the group to add his rhythmic touch to the dancing.