Pinewoods English & American Week 2008
Our Amazingly-Talented, Fun-Loving, and User-Friendly Staff
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Dave Langford is a veteran of over 20 years of playing for all manner of dance events, Dave combines multiple styles of fiddling with fierce energy and drive. Dave is featured on recordings of the "mega-fiddle-band" Childsplay, and plays with several bands including The Latter Day Lizards and the Big Bandemonium. | |
| Chloe Maher, a Pinewoods camper since childhood, has enjoyed English country, contra, clogging and rapper for many years. Currently, she plays piano with The Contraptions and several other bands for both English and contra dances. Chloe dances with Fiddlekicks Cloggers and sings gleefully whenever an opportunity arises. She is usually in the midst of organizing something fun. www.chloemaryam.com. | |
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Anna Patton plays clarinet with verve, clarity and harmonic whim. Besides English and contra dance tunes her repertoire includes Balkan dance tunes, Brazilian choros and early jazz. Anna has spent much of her young life on tour around the U.S. and abroad, singing and playing for dancers, concert goers and pedestrians. She also teaches music and writes arrangements. | |
| Emily Troll's exciting fiddling has been featured at NEFFA, Pinewoods, and many contra dances. Never content with a single instrument or style, Emily also plays country music shows with the Vowelettes, coffee-houses with the Well-Beings, and accordion -- whenever the music police are off-duty. | |
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Karen Axelrod is highly regarded for her creative piano playing at English, American, and Scottish dance events around the country. Recent accomplishments include recording a new CD with her band, Foxfire, competing in several marathons, and earning her PhD in dog walking. As our Gathering emcee, Karen also draws on her comedy improv experience -- be ready for fun surprises. | |
| Jan Elliott is widely known for her infectious enthusiasm, her broad knowledge of morris and sword and her concise teaching style. Jan has taught morris and sword for 25 years and performed with teams from California to Oxfordshire, England. She currently dances with the Martha's Vineyard Swordfish and Thames Valley International and plays concertina for the Pinewoods Morris Men. | |
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Suzannah Park comes from a family of three
generations of ballad singers and storytellers, and has been performing
folk music most of her life. Her interest in traditional music has taken
her from music-filled kitchens to concert halls across the U.S. and
Europe. Suzannah is known for her powerful voice, infectious laugh, and
her ability to inspire others with her love of music.
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| Peter Barnes has inspired dancers for over 30 years, playing piano, flute, whistle, oboe, guitar and assorted other instruments. He has published four dance music books, toured 12 countries and appeared on over 50 recordings. His current bands include Bare Necessities, Latter Day Lizards, Yankee Ingenuity, and The Dactyls -- for the NPR radio program Says You! | |
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Lisa Greenleaf returns to English &
American Week to share her love of community and her sense of humor. She
has been busy calling at dance camps across the country and in Europe and
looks forward to sharing old and new dance favorites.
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| Shona Kearney is a goldsmith, step dancer, teacher and leader of Toronto Women's Sword, with whom she has performed since 1989. When not clogging, making jewelry, or brandishing swords, Shona presents subway musicals for unsuspecting transit riders around Toronto. | |
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David Knight's fiddling has ignited lively dancing up and down the East Coast since 1991, in a wide range of dance traditions. He plays most frequently with the the Evil Twins, Thistle House, and Waverley Station. David has published two books of tunes, and is featured on several recordings. www.music.davidknight.us. | |
| Kathy Anderson has been calling squares for many years, and has pleased audiences all over the U.S. and in Europe with her clear teaching and enthusiastic presentation of a great variety of dances. Passing the skills along to keep this tradition alive and well is something she particularly enjoys. | |
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Mary Lea has been playing violin and viola for dances for over 20 years, from contra, square and English country to ragtime era and couple dance music. Her bands include Bare Necessities, Yankee Ingenuity, Crazy Quilt, Dark Carnival and Paradiso. Mary has performed throughout the U.S. and abroad, and is known for her mastery of many musical styles. www.dancefiddler.com | |
| Scott Higgs has led dances and organized events for over 25 years. From Seattle to Antwerp, dancers praise Scott's engaging programs, dynamic presentation and emphasis on fun. His ten-word business card: Playful, spirited, elegant, zesty, joyful contra, English and couple dancing. www.scotthiggs.com |
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Joanna Reiner has taught English dance, Scottish dance, and longsword for over a decade. Her calling has taken her from Amherst to Ann Arbor, including several festivals and teaching at multiple Pinewoods sessions. Co-leader of GCD's English Country demonstration team and avid dance gypsy, Joanna uses her limited spare time to work to support her dance habit. | |
| Paul Prestopino plays all the fretted instruments, plus harmonicas and the occasional recorder. He began his professional musical career in 1961 with the Chad Mitchell Trio and has recorded with numerous folk, pop and rock-'n-roll artists. He currently divides his time between designing, building and maintaining audio equipment, and once again touring as accompanist with Peter, Paul & Mary. |
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Cynthia Shaw has been singing and playing the piano forever. She is musical director of the New York Christmas Revels, and arrives at Pinewoods fresh from directing the music (and playing a role) in My Fair Lady. An accomplished choral singer, Cynthia has sung with the NY Philharmonic on a Grammy Award-winning CD, and has backed up Paul McCartney at Carnegie Hall. Cynthia plays country dance piano regularly in New York. | |