2010 Staff

Music - Goldcrest and Second Nature

   Three seasoned musicians of national reputation and steeped in the folk dance traditions of Appalachia, New England, and the British Isles come together to form the band Goldcrest. Named for a British songbird with close relatives in the Americas, Goldcrest features fiddler Daron Douglas, pianist Dave Wiesler, and multi-instrumentalist Paul Oorts in a trio producing country dance music of exceptional quality and unsurpassed variety.

Since its inception in 2002, Goldcrest has played for the following events, among others:

Daron Douglas combines the precision and tone of a classical violinist with the energy and soul of an Appalachian fiddler. She grew up in the Appalachian hills, learning traditional ballads from her grandmother and studying classical music through college. Daron has been on the staff of numerous CDSS dance camps and at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC. Daron also plays with dance bands Foxfire and Misbehavin', with pit orchestras, and with blues bands. She now lives and plays music in New Orleans. In addition to playing for dancing, Daron will be leading singing workshops at Stellar Days & Nights.

Paul Oorts is much in demand on the dance circuit for his driving world rhythms, improvisations and stylistic versatility. Paul plays an astonishing array of instruments, including mandolin, tenor and five-string banjos, cittern, musette accordion, dulcimers, and guitars in many different tunings and styles. A native of Belgium, he is well versed in Flemish and continental European music and performs regularly with his wife, flutist and dulcimist Karen Ashbrook. Paul is an adjunct professor of Italian at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore. He also founded, conducts, and arranges music for Carillon, a hammered dulcimer orchestra. His recordings include Celtic Café with Karen Ashbrook, Momentum with Steve Schneider, and numerous appearances on albums released by the Azalea City label. In addition to playing for dancing, Paul will be leading two DADGAD guitar workshops at Stellar Days & Nights.

Dave Wiesler has built a national reputation for his rhythmic and innovative piano playing. At home in a huge range of styles, Dave plays for concerts and dances of many sorts: contra, swing, vintage, couple dance, English and Scottish country dance, Viennese waltz. He has performed at the Kennedy Center, the Washington Folk-Life Festival, the Honolulu Academy of Arts, and the Smithsonian Museum, and he has played at festivals and dance camps across the country as well as in Canada, Scotland, and England. Dave has played on over a dozen recordings, many featuring tunes and songs he wrote, and he is also a capable guitarist and singer. Some of his other bands include Laura and the Lava Lamps, Cabaret Sauvignon, The Avant Gardeners, The Gigmeisters, Green Light Karma, and Thistle House. Dave presently lives in Newark, DE, and is a stay-home dad of two young boys. In addition to playing for dancing, Dave will be leading several music workshops at Stellar Days & Nights.


Dave's versatile piano playing

 

  The high energy contra duo, Second Nature, came into being in 2003 when fiddler Karina Wilson asked pianist Della O'Keefe to join her for some kid camp dances. Soon thereafter they became one of the more prominent contra dance and one of the only English Country dance bands in New Mexico. They weave together a tapestry of music by bringing together the influences of English, New England, French Canadian, Celtic, Appalachia, old Timey, new modern, Classical, and world folk. This musical cocktail is served up with a side of sweet harmonies, haunting melodies, and foot-stomping-hand-clapping-just-can't-sit-still raw juicy fun.

Karina Wilson has studied classical and folk music from all over the world for almost 20 years. Karina went on her first musical tour in 2000, and in the years since then has toured through much of the West, Southwest, and Hawaii, and been able to play and perform with great musicians such as Lunasa, Bare Necessities, Veronique Marcell, Gerald Fried, Bobby McFerrin, and the late great Bo Diddley. At the moment Karina teaches the "Mozart y Mariachi" violin in the the Santa Fe Youth Symphony schools program, is an active member in the Santa Fe Community Orchestra, and teaches private violin and fiddle lessons. She is also a co-choreographer for the dance troupe "Djun Djun Dance Santa Fe" and has several independent music projects. In addition to playing for dancing, Karina will be leading African dance and singing workshops Stellar Days & Nights.

Della O'Keefe has been playing piano since the age of five. She was classically trained at the Hartt School of Music in Hartford, CT. She taught paino for many years and was the musical director for a children's theatre group in Santa Barbara, CA for 5 years. Soon after moving to Santa Fe in 1982, she discovered traditional English and Celtic dance music and became an instant devotee. She has accompanied several young fiddle players for the National Scottish Fiddle Contest, as well as playing for children's fiddle classses in the Santa Fe schools.In addition to playing for dancing, Della will be leading the open mic band and Camp Gatherings at Stellar Days & Nights.

Both Karina and Della play and dance regularly at New Mexico Folk Music and Dance Society contra and English dances.

 

Calling & Dance Instruction - Mary Devlin and Gaye Fifer

   Mary Devlin has called dances, taught workshops, and appeared at festivals throughout the US and in Canada and Europe. She's known for choosing dances that emphasize great connections and flow. Besides teaching contra, square and English country dancing, Mary teaches dance workshops designed to enhance skill and dancer pleasure, workshops for beginner and intermediate callers, and an advanced caller workshop teaching neurolinguistic programming (NLP) insights applied to dance leadership and teaching. Mary was President of the Country Dance and Song Society from 2003 to 2006. She also served on the CDSS Board of Directors and the Executive Board from 1996 to 2001. Mary has been program director for two CDSS English-American Weeks at Pinewoods and for two BACDS English Dance & Music Weeks at Mendocino.

In addition to calling during the Stellar evening dances, Mary will expertly lead workshops on How to Be the Perfect (Dance) Partner, English Country Dancing, and calling.

Read more about Mary on her website.

 

   Gaye Fifer is an accomplished contra caller and waltz instructor from Charlottesville, Virginia. An active dancer herself, Gaye understands the subtleties of making contras and waltzes particularly satisfying for dancers. Her instructions are clear and concise, as she is a teacher by profession. An easy smile and delightful sense of humor are part of Gaye's relaxed, pleasant style while calling and teaching. Gaye calls contra dances throughout the U.S. and Canada. She is an enthusiastic advocate and instructor of contra-style waltz at her weekly classes in Charlottesville and at the many dance weekends around the country to which she has been recruited.

At Stellar, Gaye will be calling, teaching rotary and cross-step waltz, and offering a special "Wake Up with Waltzing" time before breakfast.

 

Sound Operators Course - Warren Argo

Here's what Warren says: "I grew up messing with batteries, levers and gunpower - oh my poor mother!. I started playing music in high school using a ukelele to learn cords and sing folksongs with my pals. I learned about fiddle music in the early sixties and have never stopped trying to learn how to play it. I've been in lots of bands. I started calling dances in 1980. Often we needed sound systems, and I got interested in building and running them, and I've never stopped trying to learn more about that either." What he won't say is that he's in high demand around the country at contra dances because of the magic he works with sound systems and his loving, carefree demeanor. Country Dance & Song Society hired Warren to run a week-long workshop a few years ago and Stellar organizer, Andrew Fahrney, had the opportunity to participate. Since then, Andrew has been looking for a way to continue learning from Warren and expand the knowledge of sound operators in the region. This year, the New Leaders, Good Leaders Fund of the Country Dance & Song Society has made it possible for Warren to join us at Stellar. A limited number of spots are available in the sound operators course.

 

Food - Beth Gibans

Beth Gibans has been cooking for dance camps with Annie Johnston since 1992, including the last three years at Stellar Days and Nights. She branched out with her own catering business in 2000 and currently delights the palates of dancers at the Tropical Dance Vacation in St. Croix and has cooked on commercial river trips in the Grand Canyon. Beth is also an organic farmer and so always aims at serving up fresh, seasonal, delicious fare.

 
"Beth Gibans is a remarkable cook. Using whole foods and fresh produce whenever possible she designs memorable feasts that are delicious and versatile. With a flair for beautiful presentation, Beth makes the food a delight for both the eye and palate. Appetizing and healthy, her creative menus make you feel great! Over the past 8 years Beth has been cooking for the Tropical Dance Vacation on St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands. Our participants and staff always eagerly anticipate the meals that Beth and her crew present. It's only fair to alert you that when Beth cooks you may find yourself indulging in recreational eating..." - George Marshall, Wild Asparagus

 

Organizers

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Eleanor & Andrew Fahrney started Stellar Days & Nights in 2005 when they were living and working at Adventure Unlimited Ranches. Their abode is now "downtown" Buena Vista and they enjoy their annual return to the ranches to share traditional dancing and music with great people from all over. When not calling or organizing dances, Eleanor helps run a youth mentoring program in Buena Vista and Salida (Website) and Andrew fixes up houses.

Although Andrew and Eleanor continue to spearhead Stellar Days & Nights, the event is really made possible thanks to hundreds of hours of work by volunteers. Please check out the Thank You page to see other key volunteers.