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With Callers

Joining us again this year is GAYE FIFER originally from Charlottesville, VA but now lives in Pittsburgh, PA. She's known for her energy, enthusiasm and sense of fun. She has been a caller and teacher at almost every dance weekend in the eastern US, delighting dancers with her clear walk-throughs and smooth-flowing contras.

Into her fourth decade of calling dances, CAROL KOPP is northeast Ohio's premiere dance caller. More than any other single individual, Carol, who shares all she knows to help others develop their skills, is responsible for the wealth of good callers and thriving dances in our corner of the state.

  
GLEN R. MORNINGSTAR JR. is a recreational dance leader, dance caller, dance historian, traditional fiddle and banjo player, band director and folk singer.  Glen holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree from General Motors Institute in Flint, Michigan and held engineering, supervisory, managerial and leadership positions with General Motors and Electronic Data Systems from 1965 through 1999.  He completed the Master of Arts in Education Degree Program at Central Michigan University of Mount Pleasant, Michigan in May, 2007.  He blends his leadership skills with his music and dance abilities to benefit schools, dance groups and communities in recreation, music, social interaction and group achievement.                                                  

Glen has taught and led traditional dance for K-university schools, adults, and intergenerational communities in the subjects of English country dancing; contra dancing; house-party square dancing; new England square dancing and 17th through 19th century dances of the United States.  He has led workshops for dance callers, dance writers, dance musicians and dance community organizers across the United States, Canada and overseas in Denmark and Belgium.  He led the American Contra Dance series at Lovett Hall, The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan from 1981 to 2005.  

Glen has been the director for The Olde Michigan Ruffwater Stringband since its inception in 1978.  The credits of this stringband include publishing three compact discs of traditional music recordings and playing for two of Michigan Governors as well as all the Governers of the Midwest States.  He serves on the board of directors for Michigan Dance Heritage of Midland, Michigan and has been on the board of directors for Paint Creek Folklore Society, Rochester, Michigan, and the Country Dance and Song Society of America, Haydenville, Massachusetts.  As part of his affiliation with Paint Creek Folklore Society, he directed two Folk Music, Song and Dance Performance and Cultural Exchanges between Michigan and Denmark.                                                                                            

Two of Glen's special pursuits are leading traditional and recreational dance for home school associations, and dance-through-history programs for K-6 public elementary schools.  As part of his MA in Education, Glen has constructed a curriculum for 5th grade elementary students to be used by educators in public and private schools.  The subject is "Dance Your Way Through American History".

 

 

 

And Bands

HOTPOINT STRINGBAND again foregoes “retirement” long enough to rejoin us with their legendary energy that heats up the hall and keeps dancers’ feet moving. MARK BURHANS on fiddle, HILARIE BURHANS on clawhammer banjo, MARK "Pokey" HELLENBERG on percussion and banjo uke, MARLENE SHOSTAK on piano, NICK WEILAND on bass pour everything they have and then some into that music that makes the dancers go “WOO!” .

 

The HILLBILLIES FROM MARS, comprised of KEVIN CARR, PAUL KOTAPISH, RAY BIERL and DANIEL STEINBERG, have been rocking the contra dance scenein the San Francisco Bay Area since 1982. They combine their love and dedication to Celtic and American traditional fiddle music with a healthy dose of their own “folk roots” of rock ‘n’ roll, swing, Latin and African beats, forging a new tradition of dance music and earning rave reviews from all over the planet.
   Says ROOTS & RHYTHM: “This band could probably get dead people to dance...”

Pittsburgh’s delightful AMARILLIS with MARO AVAKIAN on piano, DONNA ISAAK on fiddle and ALLISON THOMPSON on accordian and concertina return to delight us with lush, romantic waltzes and elegant English country airs.

 

A contra dance weekend in Coshocton, Ohio. Pre-registration required.

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