Almost Heaven

Almost Heaven Message

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:06:00 GMT

LAST CALL FOR ALMOST HEAVEN AT CURRENT RATES!

With gasoline prices on the rise, saving pennies is important for all of us, we know. Here are several suggestions from the Almost Heaven Dance Committee and the Annapolis Traditional Dance Society for ways to save money:

**A postmark of April 28 (THIS MONDAY) will assure you of the discounted rate for registration for the Almost Heaven Dance Camp to be held on Memorial Day weekend in High View, West Virginia. We suggest that you printout our web-based registration form TODAY. If you are planning to join this annual celebration of all things dance, then save $20 by registering NOW.

**We have many first-time campers and many from out of our region coming to join in the fun. We are excited about this influx of new faces. Some of these dancers are finding that transportation to camp from the metro DC/Baltimore area is another challenge, financially and logistically. When you share a ride to the camp with a new or old friend you can also save more dollars. We are about to release our ride-sharing list so both riders and drivers can participate. Don't miss the chance to help out fellow dancers and the environment and save some more money yourself.

Our dance weekend, with featured bands, Wild Asparagus, the Avant Gardeners, and the OpporTunists; featured callers Becky Hill and George Marshall; and featured workshop leaders Wayne Albright, Ellen Engle, Gaye Fifer, and Marc Schepanek; is a "don't miss it" kind of event.

We look forward to seeing everyone in wild and wonderful West Virginia, May 23-26, just four short weeks from now.

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Almost Heaven Message

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:15:00 GMT

Hello Fellow Dancer!

Here it is, mid-April already! Almost Heaven Dance Camp is being held for the 21st time on Memorial Day weekend. As mentioned in earlier messages, we have moved the event to Timber Ridge Camp, which has proven to be a delightful place for a dance weekend. Almost Heaven was a big success last year in this new-found location.

If you have not already signed up for Almost Heaven, now is a good time. If you get your registration in the mail by April 28, you can save $20. You can download a registration form from our website or find a flyer at many dance halls across the country. We are especially encouraging those single men who hope to join us. Why keep the women waiting any longer?

If you've never been to Timber Ridge, then you might want to know, it is on several hundred acres in an area of West Virginia that we have all come to love. It is situated on a bend of the Cacapon River. And, as if that is not enough, all the cabins at this camp are fully enclosed and have inside bathrooms and showers. There's plenty of space for camping, if you prefer.

There is a large hall with a sprung wood floor that was installed for us to dance on. Also the camp features an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a variety of other sports facilities, and a dining hall that can handle 400 people. Other halls provide space for additional dancing and get-togethers. Go to our website to see photos of the camp.

For performers this year, we are fortunate to have Wild Asparagus for the entire weekend, including the Friday night opening dance. They will continue our tradition of Play with the Band workshops. Yes, after attending these workshops you can say you played with one of the greatest contra dance bands of all time!

We are also excited to introduce you to the sound of the OpporTunists, a group hailing from San Jose, California. Our weekend will be filled out by our homegrown, East Coast favs, the Avant Gardeners. Also, on hand for first rate workshops and dance sets will be Marc Shepanek, Ellen Engle, Wayne Albright, and Gaye Fifer. If the pool is not enough, there will be children's programs to keep the little ones entertained. And family outings including nature walks and fossil digs.

For more information, camp photos, or to access a registration form, go to:
http://www.contradancers.com/heaven/

You may also contact Marti Schweitzer, camp registrar. Best is by email: ALMOSTMARTI@GMAIL.COM, but you can also call 703 437-0766. Please do not call before 10 a.m. or after 10 p.m. EDT.

Come on out and join in the fun!

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Almost Heaven Message

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:26:00 GMT

Calling All Dancers:

It might be wintry, cold, and gray outside your homes, like it is outside ours, but if you turn your thoughts to spring and light, you might see it is a good time to register for Almost Heaven Dance Camp, Memorial Day weekend, May 23-26, 2008. Our wonderful new location at Timber Ridge Camp in High View, West Virginia will be warm and inviting, but now is the time to plan.

You may already know that we are featuring some of the nation�s finest:

1) Wild Asparagus; well-known beyond their home territory on the East Coast.

2) The West Coast phenoms, the OpporTunists, who will make you wish you lived in California.

3) And let�s not forget the Washington metro area favorites and always reliables, the Avant Gardeners.

4) With a teaching and calling line-up that includes Wayne Albright, Ellen Engle, Gaye Fifer, Becky Hill, George Marshall, and Marc Shepanek, how can you miss?

The Annapolis Traditional Dance Society invites you to another exciting weekend that is always enjoyable for families and adults. The weekend features the best in contra dancing along with many other dance styles that you have been meaning to try. We have children�s and family activities each day. The pool is a big draw for anyone who cannot wait for the official start to summer. You can count on evening parties, impromptu music, new friends, and so much more.

Timber Ridge is located in wild and wonderful West Virginia. There we use a large dance hall with a wonderful sprung wood floor. The camp also features an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a dining hall that can handle 400 people. Other facilities provide space for additional dancing and all kinds of get-togethers. The cabins are all enclosed and have bathrooms and showers.

Further information, including camp photos and access to registration materials can be found at our website: http://www.contradancers.com/heaven/. Or contact Marti Schweitzer, registrar, at almostmarti@gmail.com or 703-437-0766 with questions.

We hope to see you all on the dance floor in May in West Virginia. It�s Almost Heaven!

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Almost Heaven Message

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:04:00 GMT

Friends of Almost Heaven Dance Camp, it�s time to plan your 2008 Memorial Day weekend. Our wonderful new location at Timber Ridge Camp in High View, West Virginia is beckoning us to return. Be sure to mark May 23-26, 2008 on your calendar now. Let�s continue to create new traditions at this idyllic location.

The Annapolis Traditional Dance Society invites you to another exciting weekend that is always enjoyable for families and adults. This year we are featuring vigorous, New England-style contra dance music from Wild Asparagus; the OpporTunists, a versatile band of musicians, providing a California slant for our weekend; and the Avant Gardeners, providing energetic contra dance and a wide variety of couple dance music. Becky Hill and George Marshall will call contras and more. Gaye Fifer and Wayne Albright as well as Ellen Engle and Marc Shepanek will mix it up a bit with workshops to help you fine-tune your waltzes, tangos, swing, and other dancing styles. The weekend also features children�s and family activities, daytime and evening swims in the pool, late-night parties and so much more.

Timber Ridge is on several hundred acres and is situated on a peninsula of the Cacapon River in wild and wonderful West Virginia. There is a large dance hall with a recently installed, sprung-wood floor. Also the camp features an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a dining hall that can handle 400 people. Other halls provide space for additional dancing and get togethers. The cabins are all enclosed and have bathrooms and showers.

Further information, including registration materials, can be found at our website http://www.contradancers.com/.

Or contact Marti Schweitzer, registrar, at almostmarti@gmail.com or 703-437-0766 with questions. Please, no calls before 10 a.m. or after 10 p.m.

Come on out and share the fun! See you on the dance floor.

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Almost Heaven Message

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 02:39:00 GMT

Hello Almost Heaven Attendee.

Thanks again for joining us for our Memorial Weekend bash.

We now have photos posted.

Jean Frye has her photos at http://www.spittinimages.com/DanceAlmostHeaven2007/index.html
Thanks Jean!

Jim Hoyt has posted photos to http://data.widgetworks.com:591/ahphotos/

Also remember to drop Marc Shepanek a line at mailto:flyingfeet@mac.com.

We are formulating plans for next year and we are looking forward to another fun weekend. Hope you can make it again!

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Almost Heaven Message

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 14:20:00 GMT

Hello Dancer!

Here it is, late April already! The Twentieth Anniversary of the Almost Heaven Weekend is being held on Memorial Day weekend. As mentioned in an earlier message, we have moved the event to Timber Ridge camp, which has proven to be a delightful place for a dance weekend.

If you have not already signed up for the Almost Heaven dance camp, now is a good time. If you get your registration in the mail by April 28, you can save up to $30.

You can download a registration form here: http://www.contradancers.com/heaven/register.html

The camp is just a few miles on the other side of Capon Bridge from the old camp, so travel time will be the same. Timber Ridge is on several hundred acres and is situated on a peninsula of the Cacapon River. It is a lovely camp. All the cabins at this camp are fully enclosed and have inside bathrooms and showers. A definite step up from the old camp.

There is a large dance hall with a brand new sprung wood floor that was installed for us. Also the camp features an olympic sized swimming pool, and a dining hall that can handle 400 people (let's see if we can fill it!). Other halls provide space for additional dancing and get togethers. There is even a cafe/recreation room complete with foosball and a pool table. See our website for photos of the camp.

For performers we again have the sweet Irish influenced sounds of Swallowtail performing for contras Saturday through Monday, and conducting the famous Play with Swallowtail workshop. Yes, after attending this workshop you can say you played with one of the greatest contradance bands of all time!

Friday night will kick off with the new and exciting sounds of the Figments, with Ethan Hazzard-Watkins, fiddle; Anna Patton, clarinet; Owen Morrison, guitar; Will Patton, bass / mandolin / octave mandolin
with guest Dave Wiesler, piano. This is one hot band with plenty of youthful energy. Calling for the Figments will be Nils Fredland.

On hand for first rate workshops and dance sets will be Marc Shepanek, Ellen Engle, Wayne Albright and Gaye Fifer. If the pool is not enough, there will be children's programs to keep the little ones entertained.

For more info, including camp photos, and to access a registration form, go to:
http://www.contradancers.com/heaven/

Or contact Marti Schweitzer
11458 Orchard Lane
Reston, VA 20190

mailto:almostmarti@gmail.com
703 437-0766
Please do not call before 10 a.m. or after 10 p.m.

Come on out and join in on the fun!

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Almost Heaven Message

Fri, 16 Mar 2007 00:08:00 GMT

The Almost Heaven Weekend is happening again and as always is being held on Memorial Day weekend. Due to the uncertain situation at Buffalo Gap Camp, and the lead taken by CDSS and other dance events, we are moving to Timber Ridge Camp.

This was not an easy decision, but after seeing how well things went for CDSS last summer, and the eagerness of the Timber Ridge Camp personnel to make dance groups happy, we feel we are starting a new great tradition that will last for many years.

This camp is just a few miles on the other side of Capon Bridge from the old camp, so travel time will be the same. Timber Ridge is on several hundred acres and is situated on a peninsula of the Cacapon River, which is one of the best canoeing streams in the eastern U.S. The camp provides canoes, paddles and flotation vests at no cost.

There is a large dance hall with a brand new sprung wood floor that was installed for us. Also the camp features an olympic sized swimming pool, and a dining hall that can handle 400 people (let's see if we can fill it!). Other halls provide space for additional dancing and get togethers. The cabins are all enclosed and have bathrooms and showers. See our website for photos of the camp.

For performers we again have the sweet Irish influenced sounds of Swallowtail performing for contras Saturday through Monday, and conducting the famous Play with Swallowtail workshop. Yes, after attending this workshop you can say you played with one of the greatest contradance bands of all time!

Friday night will kick off with the new and exciting sounds of the Figments, with Ethan Hazzard-Watkins, fiddle; Anna Patton, clarinet; Owen Morrison, guitar; Will Patton, bass / mandolin / octave mandolin
with guest Dave Wiesler, piano. This is one hot band with plenty of youthful energy. Calling for the Figments will be Nils Fredland.

On hand for first rate workshops and dance sets will be Marc Shepanek, Ellen Engle, Wayne Albright and Gaye Fifer. If the pool is not enough, there will be children's programs to keep the little ones entertained.

For more info, including camp photos, and to access a registration form, go to:
http://www.contradancers.com/heaven/

Or contact Marti Schweitzer
11458 Orchard Lane
Reston, VA 20190

mailto:almostmarti@gmail.com
703 437-0766
Please do not call before 10 a.m. or after 10 p.m.

Come on out and share the fun!