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, 2010

Teachers

Jaap Leegwater teaching Bulgarian dance: Jaap’s dance career began in his native country, The Netherlands, where he earned degrees in education and in international folk dance. Fascinated by the irregular Balkan rhythms and drawn to the expressiveness of Bulgarian movements, Jaap specialized in Bulgarian dance and choreography. During his frequent trips to Bulgaria in the past thirty years, Jaap has collected and recorded many original dances and songs learned from older people in villages throughout the country where folklore traditions are still a way of life. He has taught dance workshops in North America, Europe, and Asia, and is a frequent instructor at major dance camps and festivals. FAC welcomes Jaap back to Pinewoods for the first time since 1990. Dances that he introduced include Karamfil and Dobrudzhanska Pandela.

Jan Pumpr teaching Czech dance: Jan began his dance career in his native Prague in 1990 with Dvorana Dancers, where he continues as the company leader today. He studied traditional Czech dances with renowned dance master Frantisek Bonus and has performed with several professional folk dance groups. As a dancer and instructor, Jan’s interests are wide-ranging: Czech folk dances, 19th century social dances, Mexican folk dances, and clogging! At FAC Pinewoods, Jan will bring us dances from Bohemia and Moravia. He may tempt young (or energetic) dancers with Odzemek, a Moravian woodcutter’s dance, or with Appalachian clogging or Buck and Flatfoot dancing.

Julia Poirier leading vocal sessions: Julia has more than twenty years of experience singing in folk dance bands and leading singing classes. She has a Master’s Degree in Ethnomusicology, and is a member of The Pinewoods Band and the Bulgarian women’s chorus Divi Zheni.

Marcie Van Cleave teaching Essential Dance Repertoire: Marcie runs FAC’s Friday night international folk dances. She has led folk dance sessions at the New England Folk Festival and has been on staff as a caller at various Country Dance Society, Boston Centre Pinewoods Camp weekends. She has been a member of English ritual dance teams for over twenty years and currently dances on a rapper sword side. Marcie enjoys leading workshops in couple dances such as the waltz and hambo. At FAC Pinewoods her classes are geared toward helping beginning dancers feel comfortable with basic footwork, partnering, and repertoire.

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 FAC camp 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

Sue Flint and Elaine Winic are FAC’s 2010 administrative Camp Coordinators.