The Bay Area Country Dance Society Website

Program and Schedule:

We're still in the process of finalizing the details, but check out the preliminary offerings below.  Whether your focus is Contra, English, Music/Singing/Calling, or bits of all of it, you can't help but be excited (more details to come and all items subject to change):

• Contra Connections – Learn to find opportunities for satisfying connections in a fine selection of delicious dances.
   
• Dare to be Square - Squares and cool contras that you‟l love, with interesting figures and smooth transitions.
   
• Cavalcade of Contra Callers – we celebrate the range and variety of our community's many callers (if you would like to participate, let us know).
   
• Zesty Contra – you know we couldn't NOT have a this session. Take Contra to the next level with these challenging but eminently satisfying dances.
   
• The English Connection – We‟l focus on dances and techniques to help you maximize the enjoyment of dancing with others.
   
• Wow! That’s Rood, Man! – Gary showcases some of his newest and more challenging dances, including some of his new contra-style material. (2 sessions)
   
• Advanced English – this mix of elegant-to-energetic, romantic-to-rambunctious, smooth-to-silly, dance will challenge and delight.
   
• No Walk-thru ECD – it's back. This Spring Fever staple gets you up and dancing with a minimum of fuss and a maximum of musical enjoyment.
   
• Evening Dance Parties: Our evening and close-out dances will thrill, surprise, and have you screaming for more. Our callers and bands are some of the best, and equally versatile in Contra, English, and more.
   
• Crossing the Aisle – start off Saturday morning with our special workshops that welcome Contra dancers to English, or English dancers to Contra.
   
• Cross Pollination – A special session showing English dances with signature moves that appear in American dances, and American dances with moves that appear in English dances.
   
• Voulez-vous Danser Avec Moi? - We‟l have a soirée of French and couple dances, with wine and cheese. Ooh la la!
   
• Irish Ceili – Back from last year's "Pub night party" these lively longways and circle dances are simply too much fun! (1 intro, 1 possible advanced session)
   
• Après Breakfast Ballads – raise your voices to start the day. Bring a lyric or perform or share. Learn some new ones, too.
   
• Community Band – join the musical gestalt. Print out the music beforehand (listen to midi files of the tunes). Learn 'em, come to camp, meet and practice with your fellow band members then perform at our close-out dance! (2 sessions).
   
• Singing wherever voices are gathered – bring stuff for our song and ballad swap.
   
• Invitation to the Dance - In these two choreography sessions, Gary Roodman helps participants try their hands at actually writing a dance in this supportive and collabo-rative setting. He will bring along a tune or two to work with, or participants may bring one.
   
• Show & Tell: Before Saturday lunch, share your hidden talents: sing, dance, play, or recite for the entertainment of your fellow camper community during our Gathering in the main hall.

Our program is designed to appeal to new dancers, old hands, and everyone in-between. The staff will enlighten you to the Zen of dancing with workshops that are really playshops, designed to challenge you to think about dance in new ways. Celebrate those magic moments in a dance where you go “ahhhh!” Learn the secrets of how to make your dancing more enjoyable for yourself and those around you. Explore fiendishly challenging yet ultimately satisfying dances.

Musicians and callers will have the opportunity to share ideas with our talented staff on building energy and enthusiasm through presentation. We equally focus on both contra and English dance as well as other dance styles.  This abundance of options allows campers to indulge in a number of dance experiences.