About the Staff – June
June Week Staff – 2025 (June 22nd – 28th)
Registration opens February 1, 2025 at 7:00am PST. Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Contents: Bands / Calling / Art / Sound
Bands
Root System
Root System is a lively English Country and contra dance band that blends the traditional and modern rhythms, creating an energetic and engaging sound for dancers. In the contra dance world, their sound draws from old-time, Celtic, Quebecois, and Swing music, with a mix of familiar and fresh new tunes. In the English Country Dance realm, they add their outside musical influences to the repertoire for a unique sound that supports the dancers. This powerhouse trio should be familiar to everyone: Anna Patton has played clarinet for Elixir and the Figments; Amy Englesberg, on piano and accordion, and Audrey Jaber, on fiddle, have played together in Free Raisins and Wake Up Robin (with Noah and Andrew VanNorstrand). Anna, Amy, and Audrey share a love for both traditional music and improvisation. The name “Root System” reflects their connection to the folk traditions they draw from, like the roots of a tree, while also able to branch off into new sounds through their collaborative musical styles, creating an interconnected musical experience.
Fiddle Hellions
From an online collaboration on Fiddle Hell Online, Betsy Branch, George Penk and Sue Songer made it official by creating Fiddle Hellions. These Portland legends have played for bands that have built the foundation for one of the strongest music scenes in the Northwest: Joyride, Jigsaw, Night Owl, Campaign for Reel Time, Stage Crew, the Portland Megaband, The Quarks, and Wild Hair. Now together, they weave together melody and harmony that reflects their musical familiarity and long-time friendships with each other. Twin fiddlers, Betsy and George, interlace energetic, inventive playing with driving, rhythmic chording, unison melody and delicate harmony lines. Sue, on piano, brings decades of experience and depth to both contras and English Country. She is the co-editor of the Portland Collection, a three-volume set of tunes that CDSS has described as “the staple resource for musicians around the world.”
Dam Beavers
Ben Schreiber and Scotty Leach have charmed the contra dance community for many years with their energy and talent. As a fiddler, Ben shows a virtuosity and a range that is mesmerizing. Besides playing in contra dance bands such as Uncle Farmer, Off Beats, and Potent Brew, he manifests versatility and stature by playing in Long Story Short, a chamber-folk trio, as well as multiple English Country bands. Scotty has been immersed in music since birth, and started playing piano and fiddle at an early age. He is one with his instrument, at ease with his skill, and energizes dancers. The origin of the Dam Beavers is shrouded in a mystery, but like their brethren, they are a “keystone species who have disproportional effect on their community.” Their music drives the dance in unique ways and their engagement offstage helps create a friendly accessible community. It isn’t unusual to hear them affectionately referred to by campers as “those Dam Beavers!”
Calling
Calling will use the gender-neutral terms “Robins” and “Larks”
Gaye Fifer
Gaye Fifer has been active as a dancer, caller and community organizer for over twenty-five years, much of the time in Charlottesville, VA and more recently Pittsburgh, PA. Her pleasant style and graceful teaching put dancers at ease making her one of the most popular contra and English Country dance callers in the country. As an active dancer, Gaye understands the subtleties of making dances more satisfying. As a school teacher for thirty years, she uses language and words to break down dances one step at a time so everyone can be successful. While she loves contras and teaching waltzing, she has emerged as a sought after English Country dance teacher with the goal of making English more accessible to the contra dance community, “it is a positive thing for us to share and collaborate and not be two separate communities.” Gaye defines herself as a community builder in the service of building and maintaining communities. She has organized local dance series, local and regional weekends, national week-long camps as well as serving on the board of CDSS.
Lindsey Dono
Washington-based Lindsey Dono brings crystal-clear teaching and thoughtful programming to the caller’s mic. When not on stage, Lindsey can be found mentoring up-and-coming callers, geeking out over choreography, and exploring floorcraft across a range of dance forms. Both on stage and off, Lindsey is committed to building inclusive, intergenerational folk communities. Lindsey will run two workshops: English for All, and Adventurous Contras.
Luke Donforth
Luke Donforth finds great pleasure in calling in a wide range of settings, from family dances and local festivals to challenging week-long workshops. His goal remains the same: “I want everyone to succeed and have fun.” Luke attended his first contra dance while at graduate school in Ithaca, NY. He recalls ”it was vibrant and friendly and it was just amazing: I was hooked.” Luke almost immediately began composing dances, fascinated by “the puzzle-like aspect of the dancing.” Twenty years later, Luke is both an accomplished caller and a dance composer, now living in Burlington, Vermont. A founding member of Mad Robin Callers Collective, Luke’s experience calling in various settings has made him a versatile caller. He will offer a caller’s workshop addressing the needs and issues of multiple settings. In addition, he will offer a contra dance composition workshop.
Art
Patricia Montoya Donohue
Artist Patricia Donohue shares her love of nature through teaching art. While traveling, she’s learned techniques and styles from other cultures, and has for many years taught art to a wide range of ages. At June Week she will offer a variety of fun, accessible projects involving basketry and mosaics. She looks forward to finding natural materials at N-Sid-Sen to use in the projects. Patricia is on staff at the renowned John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina. She lives in Eugene, Oregon and is an avid contra dancer. Patricia understands how art and dance can foster community. “I love the magic that is made when a person feels they belong and I am a firm believer in making sure all folks are included by enriching spaces to foster community.”
Sound
Ken Glastre
Roy Curet
Brendan Biele
For your dancing and listening pleasure, Ken, Roy, and Brendan will be making sure the sound systems optimize the voices and music!
Registration opens February 1, 7:00am PST