Hey Days Staff 2024
Hey Days Teaching and Music Staff
Hey Days Sound Staff
Hey Days Committee
- Bridget Whitehead, Program Director
- Loretta Guarino-Reid, Camp Co-Manager
- Bonnie Richardson, Camp Co-Manager
Melissa Running (MD) discovered she could take folk dance for PE credit in college in the early ’90s, and hasn’t looked back since. A few years later she started playing for dances and then calling English in the Philadelphia area. She now lives in the Maryland suburbs of DC, calls nationally, plays piano for English and Scottish country dancing, and plays the nyckelharpa for pleasure and for Swedish dancing (and a little Norwegian and sometimes English). She is gradually increasing her output of new tunes and dances. In addition to her music and dance activities, she works at linguistic precision as a technical writer and editor, and knits with the zeal of the newly converted.
Melissa will teach ECD and play for an ECD class.
David Millstone (NH): After fifteen years as an avid contra & square dancer and caller, David fell in love with English country dance at Pinewoods Camp in 1987; he has been leading ECD for the past thirty years. He is known for clear and concise instructions, a broad repertoire, a gentle sense of humor, and the ability to pick dances that offer the right level of challenge for all audiences. He has been featured at dance weekends and camps across the United States, Canada and Europe.
He is co-author of Cracking Chestnuts, a book that looks closely at classics of the contra repertoire; on the ECD side, he co-authored the definitive history of the dolphin hey. He has presented numerous talks about country dance history at weekends, camps, and online. As a videographer, he created four documentary videos about contra and square dancing. He is founder and coordinator of the Square Dance History Project, an online digital library with nearly 2000 items available for public viewing. David served for twelve years on the Governing Board of the Country Dance and Song Society, including six years as CDSS President.
David will teach ECD, Square Dance and Dance History.
Bridget Whitehead (Canada/OR), our program director, conveys warmth and enthusiasm in her dancing and teaching, encouraging kindness, community and the love of dancing together. Bridget fell in love with English country dancing in Toronto, Ontario in 2005 and began organizing and calling in 2009 when she founded a bi-weekly English country dance in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. Bridget was a regular caller and workshop deviser in Ashland, Oregon for several years and recently moved back to Ontario with her husband Kyle Hardman. She has called for local dances in Ontario, Missouri, and Oregon, as well as at Hey Days in 2019 and 2022 and at Youth Dance Weekend (Vermont) and Fall Frolick (California) in 2023. In addition to her background in several dance forms, Bridget has a degree in education and a knowledge of music theory, yoga, and Pilates. Knowing that dance is more enjoyable when we feel comfortable moving and are in a good state of mind, she finds great benefit in the Care of Body and Mind class and is glad to be able to offer it again this year.
Bridget will teach ECD and lead Care of Body and Mind.
Betsy Branch (OR) has been a mainstay of the Portland, Oregon dance community for many years. Her exuberant dance fiddling has delighted dancers on both coasts, and her warmth and engaging smile extend beyond the stage and draw in dancers and listeners alike. Betsy is an accomplished song leader and has taught singing and harmony workshops around the country. She was program director for CDSS Harmony of Song and Dance at Pinewoods for three years. Betsy plays for English, contra, Irish and Scottish dancing, and is a leader in the Portland Megaband. Her primary passion is teaching and mentoring fiddlers and dance musicians. Betsy teaches privately out of her home in SE Portland, and for workshops around the region. When not playing or teaching, she works as a music editor, arranger, and transcriber. On the side, she loves to create glass mosaic art.
Betsy will teach singing and play for ECD.
Alchemy brings together dynamic dance musicians Karen Axelrod (piano, accordion), Rachel Bell (accordion), Eric Martin (violin, viola) steeped in traditional English Country Dance music. Individually, they have performed across the United States, Canada, and Europe. As a trio, their improvisatory style brings a contemporary and innovative feel to both traditional and newly composed tunes. From lush waltzes to driving jigs and everything in between, Alchemy delights the listener with heartfelt performances touched with whimsy.
Karen Axelrod (VT) left the world of classical music over 25 years ago, and has found her home in the folk world. She is highly regarded for her creative piano playing at English, American and Scottish dance events around the country (including Pinewoods Dance Camps, Ogontz, Buffalo Gap, Berea Christmas Country Dance Week, The John C. Campbell Folk School, and BACDS events) and abroad. Her improvisational playing is lyrical, yet touched with humor and whimsy. In addition to Alchemy, Karen is in the band Foxfire, with Daron Douglas and plays accordion with 3rd String Trio, a band that plays old world cafe music. She also plays accordion for the renowned longsword team, Orion. Karen used to perform comedy improv with The Villa Jidiots, and loves to teach improv to adults and children.
Karen will play for ECD and teach Comedy Improv.
Eric Martin (MA), equally at home on fiddle and viola, is a dance musician who brings joy and soulful expression to many folk dance idioms. Through the freedom and improvisation inherent in traditional music, Eric enjoys the opportunity to break away from his classical background while playing for English country dances, contra dances, festivals, balls, camps, and concerts throughout the United States and Canada with numerous groups including Alchemy, Axelrod-Martin duo, and Coincidance. He has been on staff at Country Dance and Song Society and Folk Arts Center New England camps at Pinewoods and at Ashokan northern week. Eric holds performance degrees from Ithaca College and University of Limerick, Ireland and lives and works at Gould Farm, a therapeutic farming community, in the Berkshires.
Eric will play for ECD and teach the Camper Band class.
Rachel Bell (VT) is an accordion player, tunesmith, and music teacher from the wilds of Pennsylvania, though rarely home given the demand for her music throughout the United States and beyond. Her musical horizons span a variety of dance traditions from New England contras to English country dances and French dances. Rachel can be heard at dances and on the concert stage with Peregrine Road (with Karen Axelrod), in Alchemy (with Eric Martin and Karen Axelrod), and in Old World Charm School (with Karen Axelrod and Susan Kevra). She also plays contra dances with Seaglass (with Andrew VanNorstrand and Eileen Kalfass) and is in the midst of launching a brand new contra, concert, and French band with Becky Tracy: Eloise & Co.
Her debut CD, Tone Chamber, was released in June 2016. In addition to her busy performance schedule, Rachel is collaborating with Susan Kevra to create new English country dance and tune pairings, with Rachel composing the music and Susan crafting the choreography. They have been releasing these compositions into the world one by one, and they hope to publish a full collection in the near future. You will find more information at rachelbellmusic.com
Rachel will play for ECD.
Jeff Spero (CA) has been playing piano and singing since he was five years old. At a young age he discovered an affinity for popular music and developed his style emulating musicians like James Taylor, Elton John, and Bruce Hornsby. In his 30s, he brought his rhythmic style to American and Celtic folk and dance music and now travels around the country playing dances, concerts and festivals with bands such as Syncopaths and Rhythm Raptors.
In addition to playing music, Jeffrey is a contra dance caller and choreographer whose dances have been enjoyed all across this country and overseas. Find out more at jefferyspero.com.
Jeff will play for ECD and square dance.
Dave Langford (MA) is a long time New England dance fiddler and guitarist who combines multiple styles of fiddling with fierce energy and drive. He has been a staff member for music and dance weeks at Pinewoods, Ogontz, Mendocino, Augusta and Christmas Country Dance School at Berea KY as well as hundreds of weekend dance events around the US and beyond. Dave helped to found and has been an integral part of numerous diverse bands, including Les Z Boys, Big Bandemonium, The Latter Day Lizards and Stomp Rocket. For 20 years Dave also performed with the mega fiddle band Childsplay. He started fiddle at the relatively late age of 18, and then mixed university based classical training with workshops and lessons, including attending weeks at the Augusta Heritage Arts Workshop in Elkins WV where he was smitten with Irish, Old Time and French Canadian music.
Dave will play for ECD and square dance.
Jonathan Werk (QC) has played oboe with the Kanata Symphony Orchestra since 2007, when he joined as a way to continue playing music while studying engineering at university. Jonathan received his Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering in June 2011 from Carleton University, and in September 2012, he started a Bachelor of Music at the University of Ottawa, studying oboe with Charles Hamann. At the University of Ottawa, Jonathan has performed with the university’s wind ensemble, orchestra, choir, and played in the pit orchestra for the university’s opera production. Outside of his studies, Jonathan has played in many Ottawa musical ensembles, including the Ottawa Wind Ensemble, Ottawa Chamber Orchestra, Carleton University Chamber Music Ensemble, Carleton University Baroque Opera Ensemble, Sinfonia Ottawa, and the Ottawa Youth Orchestra. In addition to playing classical music, Jonathan’s love for music extends into many genres of folk and world music, and has led to him playing oboe, penny whistle, bombarde, and didgeridoo in the contra dance band Stolen Goods and for ECD at Pinewoods and beyond.
Jonathan will play for ECD and teach a music workshop.
McKinley James (QC) is a cellist living in Montreal. She soloed with the Filarmónica del Café in Colombia in 2022 and the Champlain Philharmonic Orchestra in 2017. She has played with the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra, Middlebury College Orchestra, McGill Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, and the New England Conservatory Symphony. McKinley also toured in China with her piano trio in 2018.
She is a founding member of the band Night Tree, which was named New England Conservatory’s Honors Ensemble for 2016-2017. Awards for this title included a sponsorship from NEC, a headlining performance at the historic Jordan Hall, and a year of working with Winifred Horan, fiddler and co-founder of Irish super-band, SOLAS. Together they toured throughout the US, opened for Solas in Portsmouth Music Hall, and played in Jordan Hall, Caramoor Festival, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Public Library, and Rockwood Music Hall. They released their debut album in 2017 and toured in Europe in 2018. She studied with Yeesun Kim at the New England Conservatory for her bachelor’s degree and graduated from McGill University with her master’s degree studying with Brian Manker. McKinley was member of the 2021-2022 Global Leaders Program cohort, receiving an Executive Graduate Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship, Cultural Agency, Teaching Artistry, and Civic Leadership.
McKinley loves playing for English country dance and was most recently on staff at Youth Dance Weekend. Find out more at mckinleyjamescello.com
McKinley will play for ECD and teach a music workshop.
Rebecca King's (CA) classical piano training took a detour when she began playing for folk dances. She found that English Country Dance music was the perfect combination of classical chamber music with the improvisation of jazz. She plays for dances throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, and has played in England, Italy, and throughout the US. She has recorded 3 albums with the trio Persons of Quality, including Farnicle Huggy for Andrew Shaw, played on Dances from the Greenery for Sharon Green, and released a solo piano CD and book of her own compositions titled Nearer & Farther. Listen at rebeccakingmusic.com
Rebecca will play for the ECD Open Mic.
Hey Days Sound Staff
Alan Roberts (WA), will return as our fabulous sound engineer. A regular sound engineer at dance events in the Northwest and at CDSS weeks at Pinewoods, he is also a fiddle player and dancer. Aware of the nuances that make us happy, he is able to provide a great experience for callers, band members, and dancers.
Gumby Falk (MA) will be an assistant sound engineer. Her main priority is making sure the band and caller can be heard fully and completely throughout the hall without being too loud. She is an avid English and Contra dancer, as well as a contra dance organizer.
Hey Days Committee
Bridget Whitehead has been calling and organizing English country dances since 2009. She served on the Hey Days committee in 2019 with a focus on youth recruitment and again in 2022 as programmer-in-training, and is now our Program Director. It is a great pleasure and honor to contribute in this leadership role to the ECD community that gives her so much.
Loretta Guarino-Reid is our Camp Co-Manager. A long time co-manager of the Peninsula English Country Dance in the San Francisco Bay Area, she has been on the Hey Days committee in various roles since 2009, serving as manager, treasurer, and most recently, running the bookstore.
Bonnie Richardson has been an avid English country dancer for over 20 years. She also enjoys contra, ballroom and is passionate about waltzing. She and Rebecca King founded the Napa English Country Dance in 2015. She has been teaching, calling and managing English dances 2-3 time a month in this small, but vibrant dance community ever since. After retiring as a Family Physican from Kaiser Permanente in 2018, Bonnie was able to attend far flung dances and camps and lend her organizational skills to promoting ECD. She currently serves on the Board of the North Bay Country Dance Society, the Fall Frolick Committee and the Mad Robin Ball Committee. She joined the Hey Days Committee last year as a manager in training and is delighted to serve as co-manager with Loretta Guarino-Reid for Hey Days 2024.
Alex Bradley is our Hey Days Registrar. He is a VFX artist and illustrator based in Los Angeles. To get away from the screens, exercise, and connect with others, he loves nothing more than English country dancing. With his wife, Renée Camus, he performed in the Centuries Historical Dance company, a highlight of which was joining a production of The Merry Widow, graduating from dancing in one scene to being full-blown singing cast members overnight. They have also danced professionally at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They are owned by three cats.
Rebecca King starts her first year as our site liason. She joined the Hey Days Committee as Camp Manager, just in time for our pivot to an online camp. Her former job as a classroom music teacher and band director with the Sonoma Valley Schools gave her a lot of experience in large groups, patience, and working towards goals, which she hopes to put to good use at Hey Days in June. Besides playing the piano, Rebecca enjoys hiking and the great outdoors.
Alisa Dodson is an ECD dancer, organizer, caller and choreographer, and has been a member of BACDS since the early 1980s. She has been on Ball committees and has served as a series dance manager. Alisa has been on the Mendocino/Gualala/Hey Days committee for many years, taking the position of programmer, bookstore honcho with Allen Dodson, and camp manager. She will run the bookstore and auction in 2024, working with Allen Dodson.
Allen Dodson became involved with English Week/Hey Days when he and Alisa lived in Berkeley (1993-1999). When there’s time, he loves to sing, play melodeon, dance, and cook paella. He will run the bookstore and auction in 2024, working with Alisa Dodson.
Brooke Friendly joined the committee in 2007 as program director and has remained involved ever since, in charge of the website and other marketing. She was program director again in 2017-19, including the transition from Bishop's Ranch to SSU. She has taught dance using global/positional language and strategies since 1981 and as a result of the pandemic now teaches a variety of online workshops for callers. Happily retired from arts education and managment, her other loves are theatre improv, gardening, hiking, birding, and singing, dancing, and playing 'instruments' with her grandchild.
Rachel Pusey has enjoyed ECD since her student days, and now divides her affections evenly between Scottish and English. She is the treasurer for the committee.
Renée Camus has been organizing and calling English country dance for many years, and currently serves as caller, committee member, and webmaster for Culver City English Country Dance. She has taught various styles of dance, including folk, ritual, historical, and ballroom dance, in schools and camps around the country, including Pinewoods and Hey Days 2021 Virtual camp. She has written several English country dances (published on her website), one of which won a dance-writing competition in 2022. She is delighted to be joining the Hey Days committee.