The Bay Area Country Dance Society Website

WHAT CAMPERS NEED TO KNOW

The following information is drawn from several sources
and will be of use to all campers.
Check back for updates, as some information may change before camp.

CONTACT INFORMATION

General Information — Mary Luckhardt (Camp Manager) at (510) 233-5065 (before 9PM) or mary@luckhardt.com

Registration or cancellation - Denis Thalson (510) 704-9561 or email dthalson@earthlink.net

Rides and Hospitality - Alan Winston. (650) 365-2913, or email winston@slac.stanford.edu.

Program and Staff - Brooke Friendly at (541) 482-9586, or email friendsack@opendoor.com.

Crew Coordinator - Chrissy Howell (415) 883-1929 or email cahowell@ucdavis.edu for questions about camper and scholarship worker chores.

Mail: For Final Payments, Questionnaires, T-Shirt Orders, etc.:
English Week, c/o Thalson, 1105 Talbot Ave., Albany, CA 94706-2333

IMPORTANT DETAILS

Welcome to English Dance Week at Mendocino 2007. Brooke has assembled a stellar cast this year, and we are delighted you will be with us. Here are some previews to help you plan your dance vacation.

Cancellations

While we hope this won't happen, if you find you must cancel, please notify Denis directly as soon as possible. We have a waiting list this year, and your cancellation will allow someone else to come to camp. Your cancellation is not confirmed until Denis has spoken with you or replied to your email! Please note that there is a $125 cancellation fee. If you have any balance due, please send it by May 28, 2007. After June 22 the full fee may be non-refundable. However, if a wait-listed camper fills your place, we will return all but $125.

Questionnaires

• Questionnaires from our Crew Chief and Programmer may be filled out on line at www.bacds.org/camps/eweek2007. We encourage you to fill out your questionnaires right away. They are due, with your final payment, on May 28 at the latest. Work Trade/Scholarship applications are not complete until that Questionnaire has been received by the Crew Coordinator (Chrissy Howell), and must also be sent to Denis by May 28th.

T-shirts

• This year’s camp T-shirts, featuring our tree-and-ribbon logo, come in two colors: Red and Dark Blue in honor of being at camp on the Fourth of July. They are fine-quality 100% cotton, and all sizes cost $15.00. To reserve a shirt, please indicate size and color and send payment to Denis Thalson by May 28, along with the balance of your registration fee. Make checks payable to BACDS.

Unloading the Truck, July 14 in San Anselmo — at the end of American Week

• We need a few volunteers to help unload the truck in San Anselmo (Marin Co.) on Saturday afternoon, July 14, and at camp (Noon to 1:00) on Saturday, June 30. This would be in addition to your camper chore. English Week campers are asked to help unload after American Week, and American Week campers will help load before English Week. Please be one of these blessed helpers! Please let Chrisy know that you will be available, and she will contact you with details when we know them. With many helpers we can do the job in a very short time.

How to get to Mendocino Woodlands

• From the south, take Hwy. 101 to Cloverdale. From 101, take the exit for Hwy. 128. Follow 128 to the coast and continue north on Hwy. 1 to Mendocino. (It takes about 4 hours to drive to Mendocino from San Francisco.)

• From the north, take Hwy. 101 to Willits. Go west on Hwy. 20 to the coast; then take Hwy. 1 south to Mendocino.

• From Mendocino, turn east at the traffic light and continue on Little Lake Road for 9 miles, following the bright Dance Camp signs to the Mendocino Woodlands Camp #1. The road is unpaved for the last few miles.

Arriving at Camp

• Camp will open at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 30. Dinner will be served that evening and will be followed by an introductory meeting, staff introductions, and a dance. The week will close at 10 a.m., after breakfast on Saturday, July 7.

Accommodations

• Care of our facilities: We are privileged to hold this camp at the historic Mendocino Woodlands Camp. We are not allowed to use new nails or push pins anywhere in camp. Please use only the existing nails in your cabin. This year, the dance hall has a brand new floor! Help us care for it so it will last another 80 years or more.

• Accommodations are rustic redwood cabins shared by two persons and have no electricity. There are no laundry facilities at camp, so bring plenty of clean, dry clothes for warm and cool weather. Beds are ancient steel camp beds. You may wish to bring an air mattress or foam pad for additional comfort. No candles or open flames are permitted in the cabins. Each cabin has a fireplace, and you may build a fire in the fireplace. We are not allowed to use new nails or push pins anywhere in camp, due to the historic nature of the buildings. Please use only the existing nails.

• Wooded Lower Camp = Cabins #1-16

• Middle Camp = Cabins #17-31

• Meadows Upper Camp = Cabins #32-46.

Mail and Telephone at camp

• There is no direct mail delivery to the Woodlands. There are now two camp telephones outside the camp house: Primary (707) 937-9962 and Alternate (707) 937-4023. Cell phones don’t work well at camp, so don’t count on using them.

A Fragrance Free Environment

• We will provide fragrance-free soap, shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion for all campers to use. More information and a list of Fragrance Free products you may wish to buy is available here.

Camper Jobs

To help camp run smoothly every camper will have a job to do. These will usually be the same job for each day you work, and most chores should take between twenty and thirty minutes per camp day.

Your completed questionnaire will help us ensure that all the chores our camp needs to function smoothly will be covered, and it will help us assign you a job that will be appropriate for you. Although we can’t guarantee that we’ll be able to meet all job requests, we will do our best to honor your choice. Please return your questionnaire to Denis right away, or fill it out on line.

Your camper job assignment, description, and instructions will be in your packet at camp. If you have a job to do on Saturday, the first day of camp, we will alert you about two weeks before camp, your packet will be specially marked, and the camp greeters will remind you.

If you have questions or particular concerns about your job assignment, please contact our Crew Chief Chrissy Howell at cahowell@ucdavis.edu or call her at (415) 883-1929. She’ll be glad to help you.

CLASSES

There are classes for every level of dancer and a complete track for musicians. You are welcome to try different classes. Classes that form teams, such as Longsword, encourage you to come to the first class and continue with that class for the week once teams have formed.

Class Descriptions:

Morning Warm Ups — Camper-led. A camper will lead us in some gentle stretches to get us ready to dance.

Class 1

• Advanced English Country Dance: Walsh Collections–Andrew. If you are completely comfortable with all the basic ECD figures and familiar with many of the unusual ones, if you learn dances quickly without needing them called after the first few times through, you'll enjoy this challenging class focusing on dances from the early 18th century annual collections published by John Walsh (1708-).

• English Country Dance: Basics and Beyond–Brooke. Whether you’re relatively new to ECD, your main interest is music, or ECD is a long-time passion, come learn or deepen your understanding of the basics and beyond. Refine core figures and play with ECD building blocks: dancing with others, hearing the music, recovering from mistakes. We’ll take time where it’s needed and add a bit of challenge where appropriate.

• Advanced Comparative Step Dance–Judy. Experiment with a traditional tune that can be played and danced in several different styles: English clog, Quebecois, Scottish hardshoe, and Appalachian. Your feet will be very happy. For those with step/clog/tap experience. Bring both clogs and flats if you have them.

Class 2

• Longsword–Judy. Learn Judy's newest longsword dance. Mr. Hopkins is a laid back single-stepped dance for a set of 8, 9 or 10 dancers. The figures are Continental (tunnels, windows). If you've never done longsword, this will be a great introduction. If you are on a team, this is a chance to learn from the best. Come experience this inventive longsword choreographer and fabulous teacher. Wear shoes that are not slick. Open to all.

• Choreographers’ Open Mic–Gene. Whether you are a seasoned choreographer with some new dances to test or have a first effort to try on willing dancers, this is your opportunity for 'flight time.' We'll spend part of the first day talking about what makes a good dance. If you have dances to test but are not a teacher, we'll find a caller to teach your dances. You'll have the option for feedback from Gene and fellow dancers. If you aren’t a choreographer but you love ECD and like to try new dances, please join us as a dancer.

• Unlocking the Mysteries of Harmony–Rebecca. Do you play the melody, but wonder how to add harmony to your life? Do you feel uncomfortable playing anything but the printed notes? Do you feel stuck playing the chord and nothing but the chord? Whether you play a melody or chordal instrument, you’ll learn to use chord symbols, music theory and your ear to add beautiful harmonies and accompaniments to your music.

Class 3 (English Waltz Clog may be switched with 4^th period Northwest Morris)

• English Country Dance Style–Gene. There are common elements that unify the good dancers at Ren Faire, ceilidhs, Playford balls, and weekly ECD clubs. We will focus on the quintessential elements of ECD style: really hearing and interpreting the energy and affect of the music, dancing rather than walking, recognition of partner and set (and audience if performing), and the realization of pattern. Open to all.

• English Waltz Clog for all–Judy. Learn steps accessible to novices and interesting to experienced dancers. Steps will be progressive in their technique and focus on how the rhythms go with and against the music. Bring clogs if you have them; flats will work fine if you don’t.

• Musicians’ Workshop: ‘Noodling’ and Working with Callers–Anita. ‘Noodling’ is a specialized skill that, done well, can greatly enhance the teaching and learning of a dance. Discover from a master ‘noodler’ how to support a caller and the dancers during a walk-through. Get hands-on practice as you integrate your newfound skills with callers from Brooke’s class on working with musicians.

• Callers’ Workshop: ‘Doodling’ and Working with Musicians–Brooke. Learn how to add musicality to your teaching even if you don’t have live music or a skilled ‘noodler’ in the band. Determine when and how to trade ‘doodling’ for ‘noodling’ to enhance your teaching. Team up with musicians from Anita’s class on working with callers to develop new collaboration skills.

Class 4 (Northwest Morris may be switched with 3^rd period English Waltz Clog)

• English Country Dance: Playford (c1686-1703)–Andrew. You will delight in Andrew's detailed knowledge, high standards, wit and clear instruction with an emphasis on style as you learn dances from the Henry Playford editions of The Dancing Master. Open to all.

• Band Class–Gene. Whether you read music or play by ear, you’ll learn essential techniques for adding the ‘lift’ necessary to inspire the dancers as you explore the wide variety and history of English Country Dance music. Get useful tips on playing in tune and techniques for adding variety. Bring red and blue Barnes if you have them (they will also be available for purchase at the bookstore).

• Northwest Morris Class–Jane. Northwest Morris is an energetic processional dance form dating from the late 19^th century. From the Lancashire and Cheshire regions of England, it is performed in street parades and at local festivals. Dancers wear clogs and hold implements in their hands, often slings or sticks decorated with bells and ribbons. Learn the Mossley sling dance from the early 20th century, a lively crowd-pleasing dance with fun figures. If you don’t own clogs, come anyway! We’ll have some clogs available, and sneakers (preferably black) can be used in lieu of clogs. Open to all.

Class 5 (this class does not meet on Wednesday)

• English Country Dance: The Dutch Connection–Andrew. Learn a mix of dances, old (from the 2nd half of the 18th century) and new (Pat Shaw, Cor Hogendijk, and beyond), with connections to the Netherlands. Open to all.

• Singing Workshop–Eden. We will focus on singing great music together, concentrating on madrigals and other early works. We will begin each day with basic warm-ups to explore and develop range, strengthen good tone and pitch, and relax. However, the main goal will be to sing together musically, enjoying putting together fun and interesting pieces while being expressive and having a great time!

• Morris (and beyond) Grab Bag–Jane. Spend Sunday-Tuesday working up dances (whatever display dances the group is up for) for the Wednesday Morris tour. Bring a jig if you have one! Thursday and Friday, we will discuss issues common to display dance teams of all sorts, share dances, and more.

• Music Grab Bag–Tricky Brits. As a band and individually, the Tricky Brits will present a variety of one to two day workshops. Sunday the band will give a lecture/demonstration. Monday and Tuesday, band members will provide coaching and individual feedback for camper bands. Thursday and Friday band members will give instrument clinics. Depending on what instruments campers play, these clinics could include fiddle, plucked strings, or wind instruments.

Parties and Events:

Bookstore

The English Dance Week camp bookstore has a wide and interesting variety of offerings, from books, CDs, DVDs, and craft items by staff members and hundreds of items from the CDSS national store. Shop early—many items are very limited! The bookstore accepts cash or checks; we cannot process credit or debit card sales.

Auctions

TWO Auctions are featured, one live and one silent. Start thinking now about goods or services you can donate to make the auction a success. Auction items may be intangible. Services such as private music or dance lessons are always welcome. Consider unique events such as serenades or concerts, offering custom-written dances or tunes, or catering a breakfast in bed. Desirable tangible items have included hard-to-find books, original artwork, handmade comestibles, and vintage dance clothing. Auction income augments camp fees, helping to make camp financially more accessible to all. After expenses, remaining funds support all BACDS activities, including future camps

Please realize that for the Live Auction to be exciting and successful, we need bidders as well as goods. Rather than purchasing an item to donate, consider saving your money to spend directly at the auction! Remember, small bids on group purchases are welcome as well.

Clothing Exchange

In addition to the auction, the Ladies Chain Dress Shop used clothing store will be in operation again. An American Week camper brings the seed stock for this amazing operation, but your tired dance dresses will be a treasure for someone else. Most clothing donated for the auction will be sold through the store at flat rates (usually $10 per dress). Bring the dresses you are tired of, and buy someone else’s. Men’s shirts are welcome, too. All the proceeds benefit English Week.

Unloading the Truck, July 14 in San Anselmo — at the end of American Week

• We need a few volunteers to help unload the truck in San Anselmo (Marin Co.) on Saturday afternoon, July 14, and at camp (Noon to 1:00) on Saturday, June 30. This would be in addition to your camper chore. English Week campers are asked to help unload after American Week, and American Week campers will help load before English Week. Please be one of these blessed helpers! Please let Chrisy know that you will be available, and she will contact you with details when we know them. With many helpers we can do the job in a very short time.

Local Dances around English Week

While you are in Northern California, we encourage you to attend some of our local dances:

Saturday, June 23, 2007 — 8:00pm
Berkeley Experienced English (BACDS)
Bruce Hamilton, Jon Berger, Jim Oakden, Chuck Ward
2138 Cedar St, Berkeley

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 — 8:00pm
Berkeley English Dance (BACDS)
Bruce Hamilton, Open Band led by Avis Minger, Anne Goess, Charlie Hancock
2138 Cedar St, Berkeley

Friday, June 29, 2007 — 7:00pm
Palo Alto Hambo Workshop (BACDS)
Bob Fraley
461 Florence St (off University)

Friday, June 29, 2007 — 8:00pm
Palo Alto English Dance (BACDS)
Bob Fraley, Nonesuch Country Dance Players
Palo Alto 461 Florence St (off University), Palo Alto

Sunday, July 8, 2007 — 2:00-4:30pm
Sebastopol Exp. English Dance (NBCDS)
Andrew Shaw, band TBA
Wischemann Hall, 460 Eddie Ln, Sebastopol

Wednesday, July 11, 2007 — 8:00pm
Berkeley English Dance (BACDS)
Andrew Shaw, band TBA
2138 Cedar St, Berkeley

Friday, July 13, 2007 — 8:00pm
Mendocino English Country Dance
Lise Dyckman, Take a Dance Orchestra
Caspar Community Center - More details here.

Friday, July 13, 2007 — 7:30
Special English Regency Dance (BAERS/BACDS)
Andrew Shaw; Wm. Allen, Paul Kostka, James Langdell
St. Mark's Episcopal Church
600 Colorado Ave (off Middlefield), Palo Alto

Friday, July 13, 2007 - 8:00pm
El Cerrito Contra Dance (BACDS)
Caller/band TBA
960 Avis Dr (at Moeser)
El Cerrito nr Berkeley

Saturday, July 14, 2007 - 7:30pm
San Francisco English Dance (BACDS)
Andrew Shaw, band TBA
Clipper and Sanchez, San Francisco

Sunday, July 15, 2007 — 2:00-4:30pm
Sebastopol English Dance (NBCDS)
TBA
Wischemann Hall, 460 Eddie Ln, Sebastopol

WHAT TO BRING TO CAMP

You are going to camp, put your NAME on your things!

For your cabin

• Pillow, twin bed sheets, sleeping bag or warm blankets—it can get very cold at night—and perhaps a soft hat to sleep in
• Air mattress and insulation or foam pad (cots have thin mattresses)
• Flashlight, battery-powered lantern, & extra batteries
• Mosquito netting
• Mirror for your cabin
• Window coverings (2 extra sheets will do)
• String to put up window coverings, netting (NO push pins or new nails are allowed!)
• Clothesline, clothespins, hangers
• Cabin decorations, stuffed animals, etc.
• Alarm clock (not electric)
• Camp chairs for the cabin or the Camp House (benches in the common areas have no backs)
• Mouse-proof container (like a cooler), if you plan to keep food in your cabin
• Floor mats

For your personal use

• Mug for daily use everywhere!**
• Towels (one to use while the other dries)
• Clothes for daytime: cool skirts, T-shirts, shorts, jeans
• Clothes for evening dances: longer dresses, long pants
• Warm clothes for mornings & evenings: long-sleeve shirts, sweaters, jackets, fleece, gloves, scarves, hats.
• Umbrella or light rain jacket
• Sturdy shoes for walking on trails to cabins
• Fragrance-free body-care products*
• Fragrance-free, DEET-free mosquito repellent*
• Swimsuit
• Shower shoes
• Flashlight, battery-powered lantern, & extra batteries (so important it’s listed twice!)
• Personal medications, including prescriptions
• Ice packs and/or ace bandages if you use them regularly

For class and dances

• Pens & notebooks for class notes
• Camera, recording device, & their accouterments
• Bells & hankies for Morris
• Musical instruments, music stand, music
• Dance cards
• Yoga mat or large towel for warm-ups
• Country dance shoes
• Step Dance, Waltz Clog and Northwest Morris: Clogs or hard soled shoes or shoes with good traction.
• Longsword: sneakers or shoes with good traction (not slick)

For fun

• Libations of choice
• Teacups, tankards, wineglasses
• Silly theme-party stuff
• Auction items, dresses and shirts for exchange
• Good old-fashioned cash or checkbook for bookstore and auction purchases (we can’t take credit/debit cards)

There will be a first-aid kit at camp containing the usual stuff: Band-Aids, Ace bandages, tape, moleskin, aspirin, Cortaid for poison oak. Bring enough personal medications to last you a week in the woods (camp is approximately 15 miles from the nearest medical assistance). You can store your own ice pack in the camper ‘fridge freezer.

*We will supply fragrance-free soap, shampoo, conditioner and lotion. We also supply some FF mosquito repellent.

**Please bring your own drinking vessel for water and between-meal use so we can cut down on paper cups and dish-washing. We will have cups and glasses at meal times.

Please check the list of parties and special events above, so you can plan accordingly.

Check here to find out What Campers Need to Know Before They Arrive! We have a full camp, with a long waiting list. To inquire about the waitlist, or to get on the mailing list for next year, contact our camp manager. For more information, call camp manager Mary Luckhardt at (510) 233-5065 or email mary@luckhardt.com