SUMMER CAMP
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WORKSHOPS
TRADITIONAL SONGS FROM BELARUS & UKRAINE
WITH SIARHEI DOUHUSHAU
Siarhei Douhushau, a renowned Belarusian folklorist, musician, and singer will present several lyrical songs, traditional men's songs, as well as harvest songs from Belarus and Ukraine, including the Polissia region. Siarhei will present the history of these songs, facilitate group singing and teach specific vocal techniques. You will learn pronunciation and breathing methods, all of this contributing to the practice of natural sounds and assisting you in being spontaneous in your performance as well.
CERAMIC TALISMAN (OBERIH)
WITH FEDIR KURKCHI & ALEKSANDRA KULINENKO (QC)
Master potters Fedir Kurkchi and Alexandra Kulinenko from Ukraine, invite you to take their class in the making of Archaic Ceramic Talismans. Learn about the roots of Ukrainian & Eastern European sacred material culture, and archaic clay talismans; explore sculpting these sacred objects yourself.
Touch living clay and discover the secrets of this ancient human craft!
TRADITIONAL FOLK SINGING FROM CROATIA & SERBIA
WITH DINA CINDRIĆ (QC)
This week-long series of workshops, led by vocalist and choral leader Dina Cindrić, will introduce participants to traditional polyphonic folk singing from Croatia and Serbia.
Repertoire will be taught orally and will include call-and-response, drone, and multi-part singing. We will explore vocal techniques common to these singing styles and consider the language and traditions present in the songs.
Dina's engaging and playful approach will put you at ease and give you the confidence to explore your voice. The workshops will broaden your repertoire of traditional songs and develop your sense of listening, musicality and presence.
All ages, genders, and levels of experience are welcome.
FORGING*
WITH ROK CAPUDER
Delve in to a week-long learning experience in the art of reshaping metal with fire, hammer and an anvil. Forging is an ancient art form and craft that combines all four elements that results in creating a structural and artistic items solely limited to one’s imagination.
BODY PERCUSSION
WITH ANDREA KUZMICH
In this workshop, Andrea will introduce participants to rhythms that can be performed with the body and voice in a fun and energetic way. This is a physically active workshop, where layers of rhythm are introduced, practiced and overlapped to make some serious groove, and the voice is used both to vocalize rhythms as well as sing songs and riffs - sometimes in harmony.
While we work on different routines, a component of drilling movements/rhythms will allow room for some variation, giving the participants a chance to express individuality that can make a simple rhythm more interesting and alive! The workshop also allows for varying levels of experience, so that beginners can focus on building rhythmic skills while those with more experience can be challenged with more complex and varied layers of rhythm.
Musical and cultural context on relevant body and vocal rhythms will also be discussed. (E.g. hambone movements in the context of African American culture; using South Indian vocal rhythms (Sokaltu) to help divide the beat; swung vs straight feels; on vs off beat, etc.)
TACA/POLISH BREAD BASKET
WITH JOHNNY SUDERMAN
Participants will learn how to weave a taca/Polish bread basket from locally grown basketry willows.
As a group we will join in creating these functional pieces of art that will adorn our feast table on Friday night! They can then be brought home by the class members.
For folks who are keen to use their new found skills there will be an opportunity to weave a surplus which can then be sold at the bazaar, with proceeds going to support folk camp in bringing us amazing events such as this!
This is a great opportunity to get to know basketry willow, add magic to our time at camp and to support our community through our industrious nature.
INTRODUCTIO TO KLEZMER MUSIC
WITH ALEXANDER JONES
This workshop will be an introduction to klezmer music and Yiddish music history. We will discuss the roots of Yiddish folk music and the profound impact it has had on the world and on North America in the dawn of the 20th century.
There will be an introduction of Klezmer scales, Basic Ornaments and a lovely tune or two that we can all play together and have fun!
All instruments are welcome!!
MORNING
MOVEMENT
WITH KAROLINA KISIEL
Morning classes will cycle through:Yoga
A spiral class that is sequenced around rhythmic vinyasa and joint centration
Morning Practice
This is a standing practice that will tune the body for the day. We will use sensation, mobility, and coordination to move through the entire body. The class is grounding yet energizing.
UKRAINIAN
WEAVING*
WITH JOHANNA KOESLAG
Weaving in Ukraine has been done with flax, hemp or woolen threads for many centuries, for clothing, housewares, and ritual towels (rushnyky), much of it in the home, on wooden floor looms. In this workshop you'll have the opportunity to work on a similar floor loom and explore simple traditional Ukrainian patterns made with overshot weaving. No experience necessary.
*APPRENTICESHIP
As an apprentice, you’ll be committed
to focusing on one particular craft by serving as an assistant to the craftsperson teaching that craft.
LULLABIES
WITH ELIZABETH LAPRELLE + BRIAN DOLPHIN (USA)
In this workshop, we will sing a variety of traditional lullabies, mostly ones from Elizabeth's family that were arranged for harmony by Brian. We may also teach a couple of lullabies from Georgia and Lithuania, as well as sing through some of our own original lullabies. Expect a lot of beautiful, funny, and tender songs in 2 and 3 part harmony. Kids are welcome and can always sing melody or fall asleep on a comfy nest of blankets.
SONGS FROM THE UKRAINIAN STEPPE
WITH OLESIA LEWYCKYJ
In this workshop, we’ll explore the Dnipro Delta and Donbas regions of Ukraine through polyphonic songs from Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk provinces. From ballads and laments to ritual songs to raucous, humorous tunes, our choice of songs can be flexible depending on participant interest.
This workshop will be focused on sharing and enjoying these songs together, rather than on technique. While those who are comfortable singing harmonies with others or who speak Ukrainian may find these songs easier to learn, all can expect a relaxed and informal environment where no musical experience or knowledge of Ukrainian is required. By participating in a living culture of song, we can try to send our voices across the sea to the villages where these songs were born and stand in solidarity with their guardians, who are being persecuted by the Russian forces occupying their homeland.
HORTICULTURE*
The Earth wants us to play with her, to remember her secrets, to sing seeds into germination. Learn about, soil, seeds, grass, growing food, and inviting the birds to play and sing with you. Let's learn about how nature's principles work and how people can work with nature to grow food and work in cooperation (ie. permaculture )
"Keep a green tree in your Heart and perhaps the singing bird will come."
- Chinese Proverb
KIDS/YOUTH PROGRAMMING
Our summer camp will be offering a number of activities designed with younger people in mind, but with no age limit on participants. These activities include: pottery, body percussion & vocalizing, theatre and so much more.
FIBRE SPINNING*
WITH JOHANNA KOESLAG
Learn the basics of spinning wool into yarn. Learn about wool and its preparation, from combing and carding, to felting. You'll be guided in spinning on a wheel, but drop spindles are also available. No experience necessary. Beginners welcome.