BandsJune 14-17, 2001
(Thursday Evening thru Sunday Afternoon)
Buffalo Gap Community Camp
Capon Bridge, West Virginia (2 hours west of Washington, DC)
| Featuring: Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas The Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band Andre Thierry & Zydeco Magic |
Dance Instruction: Jim Dugas (Cajun) Debra Seeck (Zydeco) Walter Dill (Blues & Waltz) |
"Ain't nothin' but a party," says Nathan Williams, who plays down-home, got-to-dance Zydeco. Nathan is a master of the piano-style accordion that Clifton Chenier played. Nathan's seventh recording for Rounder Records, Let's Go!, came out last year. His home base when he's not touring is El Sido's Blues and Zydeco Club in Lafayette, La.
Andre is one of the youngest and most gifted Zydeco musicians on today's scene. His first East Coast tour last year was a smashing success with both dancers and reviewers. Though his roots are in the Creole culture of SW Louisiana, he is a transplant to the San Francisco Bay area. Andre's put out his first CD, It's About Time!, last year at age 21.
Bruce Daigrepont was born and raised in a French-speaking household in New Orleans. Playing since he was 5, in 1978 he went to the Festival Acadiens, heard young people playing Cajun music, and was hooked by the accordion. This versatile singer-songwriter-accordionist-Cajun historian has led his own band since 1980.
A high-energy teacher from Salem, OR, Debra expands her zydeco repertoire by mingling with great Creole dancers from SW Louisiana. A hit on Zydeco Cruises 1998 and 2000, she's effective both helping beginners take their first steps and experienced dancers add fun and flare. As Zydeco Zena, she plays rubboard and sings in the Zydeco-dependents band.
Walter co-founded Living Traditions Dance in Seattle, WA, which offers world-class instruction in a variety of dance genres to a staggering 900 students every 6 weeks. "We excel at teaching beginners" he says. Living Traditions has held the wonderful winter dance camp known as "Wild Week" 9 years running in Port Townsend.
Veteran cajun dance instructor Jim Dugas hails from Houma, La. He is past president of the Krewe de Canaille parade and dancing group. Starting in 1990, he built up a group whose annual Veille' (Gathering of Friends) is a fun-filled party in the true Cajun tradition. He enjoys touring in his RV.
| Thursday
Friday Saturday Sunday |
Beginners Dance Lessons, Evening Dance
Beginners' & Advanced Dance & Instrument Workshops Beginners' & Advanced Dance & Instrument Workshops Afternoon Dance |
Instrument workshops will be taught by some of the featured performers, along with other musicians. Rub-board, accordion, fiddle, guitar, triangle, and other instruments will be taught as sign-ups warrant.
The 200-acre camp, nestled in the mountains near Capon Bridge, West Virginia, is about 30 minutes from Winchester, Virginia, and two hours west of Washington, D.C. The grounds include wooded hills with hiking trails, a lake with a sandy beach, sauna, dining hall, and an open-air dance pavillion. Housing is in rustic dormitory-style cabins which sleep 8-12 people. All-male, all-female, and couples cabins are available. Cabins have plumbing and electricity, but some have no indoor showers. Dancers must bring their own towels, toiletries, bed linen, pillows, blankets or sleeping bag. Tent sites are available, but no RV hookups. We serve 3 meals daily, plus a midnight snack after nightly dances.
Full Time Adults (Thursday eve. thru Sunday 4 pm)
$265 (through May 24)
$285 (after May 24)
Part Time Adults (Friday 6 pm thru Sunday 4 pm)
$220 (through May 24)
$245 (after May 24)
The fee includes all meals, snacks, dance events, workshops, and a bed. All campers must be preregistered & fully paid at registration time. Refunds (minus $15 cancellation fee) will be given through May 24. Sorry, no refunds after that date. Confirmation is dependent on maintaining a gender balance (bands and instructors not counted). Confirmation letter includes directions and what you will need to bring. Downhill cabins with indoor showers are assigned to earliest registrants first. Part-time campers should not arrive before 6 pm Friday.