J4 2023 was wonderful! See you next year!
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Great dancing, beautiful music, rejuvenating singing, brilliant tune swaps, exuberant parties—CDS-Boston Centre's July 4th Session has it all. Come for English and American dancing called by Joanna Reiner and Lisa Greenleaf, ritual dancing taught by Ben Moss and Shona Kearney, a singing class with Lily Kruskal Leahy, couple dancing with Andy Taylor, a tune-writing workshop with Rachel Bell, social singing led by Jamie Beaton and John Mayberry, and lots of time and space to make music. The session celebrates both the depth of traditions and the exciting new possibilities in English and American music and dance. Join us!
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Featuring teaching by
Joanna Reiner—English Country Dance
Lisa Greenleaf—Squares & Contras
Ben Moss—English Ritual Dance & Music
Shona Kearney—Longsword and Step Dancing
Lily Kruskal Leahy—Harmony Singing
Andy Taylor-Blenis—Couple Dancing
Jamie Beaton & John Mayberry—Porch Singing
Lisa Greenleaf—Squares & Contras
Ben Moss—English Ritual Dance & Music
Shona Kearney—Longsword and Step Dancing
Lily Kruskal Leahy—Harmony Singing
Andy Taylor-Blenis—Couple Dancing
Jamie Beaton & John Mayberry—Porch Singing
and music by
AlchemyKaren Axelrod, Rachel Bell, & Eric Martin
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Night WatchElvie Miller, Owen Morrison, & Naomi Morse
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joined by Alex Cumming!
Sound engineering by Dereck Kalish
Read more about the program staff on the Program & Staff page.
This session will feature gender-free calling styles!
J4 plans to use the following calling styles: larks and robins for contra dances and English Country Dances, and ladies and gents for square dances.
We understand that folks have had mixed reactions to this plan. Some have experienced this plan as a welcomed continued progression towards creating a more inclusive space for historically marginalized communities at this session. Others have found it upsetting to learn that some dance styles, specifically English Country Dances, will use the “larks and robins” terms this year. We have set aside time at Camp for a workshop space, with our ECD caller and volunteers from the community, to try out different styles of non-gendered calling for ECD! While there may be minimal discussion, we hope it can primarily be a space to try out different dances with different kinds of calling terms and styles.
We are still working out the details of this workshop, so please be in touch with any question, comments, or ideas!
We are still working out the details of this workshop, so please be in touch with any question, comments, or ideas!
The July 4th Session at Pinewoods Camp is a program provided by the Country Dance Society, Boston Centre (CDS-BC), an Anglo-American dance organization based in the Greater Boston Area.
The session is held at Pinewoods Camp, a traditional dance and music camp in Plymouth, Mass. that is owned and operated by the non-profit organization Pinewoods Camp, Inc (PCI).
For more info, contact the 2023 Co-Chairs, Natty Smith, Meredith Langstaff, and Gillian Stewart, at july4@cds-boston.org.
The session is held at Pinewoods Camp, a traditional dance and music camp in Plymouth, Mass. that is owned and operated by the non-profit organization Pinewoods Camp, Inc (PCI).
For more info, contact the 2023 Co-Chairs, Natty Smith, Meredith Langstaff, and Gillian Stewart, at july4@cds-boston.org.
Banner photo by Jack Honeysett, 2021.
