Pinewoods
   quick links

What does it cost?

How do I register?

Where will I stay?

What should I bring?

Meals at Pinewoods

Can I bring my kids to Pinewoods?

FAC Pinewoods home

Dance & music camps

FAC Pinewoods Weekend and FolkDays

About FAC Pinewoods | Staff | Registration | Camper info | Kids at Pinewoods

Staff, 2008

Teachers

Cristian Florescu and Sonia Dion:

A native of Bucharest, Romania, Cristian danced and choreographed for several Romanian folk ensembles starting in 1982, and studied with folklore specialists including the renowned Theodor Vasilescu. In 1991, Cristian received his certificate from the Romanian Ministry of Culture as a recognized solo dancer and choreographer in the field of folklore.

Sonia was born in Québec and has been a professional dancer for over twenty years. She was lead dancer and choreographer for Les Sortilèges Dance Company, Canada’s oldest folk dance ensemble. Together, Cristian and Sonia taught Romanian folk dance at FAC’s memorable Pinewoods sessions in 2005, and have toured the US, Canada, Japan, and Taiwan to great acclaim.

Alix Cordray is an active Scandinavian dance instructor in Oslo, Norway, where she has lived since 1975. She currently teaches three recreational groups, two of which perform regularly and have visited the US. Alix grew up doing international folk dancing in the San Francisco Bay Area. She danced in, and later directed, Westwind International Folk Ensemble, and taught at the Mandala Folk Dance Center in San Francisco. She has given Scandinavian dance workshops at camps throughout the US, including FAC’s 1987 Pinewoods session. In 2008 she will be assisted by her partner Dag Stian Baltzersen.

Gideon Morse joins the teaching staff for the Weekend Session, leading classes in Norwegian hallingdans (also known as lausdans) each afternoon. The halling is one of the most athletic solo dances found anywhere. Halling dancers demonstrate their coordination and strength in traditionally-styled improvisational moves to the driving rhythm played by a fiddler. This is a centuries-old form of breakdancing!

Marianne Taylor leads workshops geared toward helping beginning dancers feel comfortable with basic footwork, partnering, and repertoire. Marianne’s ability to ease beginners’ qualms is legendary, and camp would not be the same without her enthusiasm!

Musicians

The Pinewoods Band, led by Tom Pixton, showcases the diverse talents of an eclectic and spirited group that has been playing international folk dance music throughout the US since 1991. Tom, Barbara Pixton, Susan Worland, Patrick Yacono, Ralph Iverson, Julia Poirier, and David Skidmore share with us their energy and amazing repertoire (from Romanian to Ragtime) at all the evening folk dance parties.

During both sessions, expert musicians lead singing, rhythm or instrumental workshops for all ability levels, to continue the FAC Pinewoods tradition of making wonderful music together.

Coordinators

Mari Young and Liz Tyler are FAC’s 2008 administrative Camp Coordinators.