OLYMPIA – June 25, 2015 – The Washington State Parks’ Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program invites the public to a series of family dances at Cama Beach State Park in July.
The “Kick Up Your Heels and Dance” events are free and run from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday July 11, 18 and 25 at the Cama Center at Cama Beach State Park, 1880 SW Camano Drive on Camano Island. (Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/CnNMC). A Discover Pass will be needed for day-use visits to these events.
July 11: Family Square Dance with the Barn Owls and Gabe Strand, Caller
The Barn Owls call themselves a “vintage country and old-timey band.” An all-female group, each grew up in a musical family and each brings an intuitive and inventive bent to the old-time and early country music tradition, mixing high energy dance tunes with tight three-part harmonies. The Barn Owls are Brittany Newell on fiddle, Hanna Traynham on banjo, and Kate Lichtenstein on guitar. Gabe Strand has called for traditional square dances up and down the West Coast in grange halls, Veterans’ halls and barns, learning by hitching himself to experienced callers in the Pacific Northwest. Co-founder of the Seattle Subversive Square Dance Society, Strand has gone on to create opportunities in Seattle for others to get involved in traditional square dance as musicians, dancers and callers. All ages are welcome, and no dance experience is required.
July 18: Family Dance with La Famille Léger and Dr. Squeeze, Caller
La Famille Léger is a family band whose patriarch, Louis Léger, has roots in New Brunswick. He has passed his love of French Acadian music to his family: Louis’s wife, Barbara, plays guitar, and his son, Devon, plays fiddle. Devon’s wife, Dejah, sings, plays piano and guitar, and sometimes stepdances. All members of the band play les pieds, or “the feet”—tapping along a rhythm to the music in a traditional Acadian way. Louis himself plays both accordion and fiddle. His alter-ego, “Dr. Squeeze,” will call the dances, which will include some Acadian dances as well as squares and contras. All ages are welcome, and Louis will walk everyone through the dance moves before the band gets going. No prior dance experience required.
July 25: Square Dance Club Event with Veteran Callers
Come watch local square dance club the Fidalgo Fogcutters dance with John Corrigan as Caller
and Caron Grasso cueing Phase 2 Round Dances. Summer attire is suggested, and club dancers need to make reservations for this July 25 dance by contacting Dennis or Sandy Peterson at 360-387-0165 or djpslp@msn.com. Audience members will be invited to learn and participate in some of the dances.
All of the programs are free of charge. A Discover Pass is required for parking at Cama Beach. All concerts are accessible to persons with disabilities. For special accommodations, please call the park at (360) 387-1550 or the Washington Telecommunications Relay Service (800) 833-6388. Requests must be made in advance.
About the Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program
The July 11 and 18 dances at Cama Beach State Park are part of a broader series of events celebrating Washington’s diverse cultures and presented by the Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program. The program is a partnership between the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and Northwest Heritage Resources, with funding provided by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Washington State Parks Foundation. For a full schedule of Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program events, visit www.parks.wa.gov/calendar.
About Cama Beach State Park
Cama Beach State Park is set in a spectacular, 433-acre waterfront location against a forested backdrop on the southwest shore of Camano Island facing Saratoga Passage. Cama Beach offers visitors a chance to step back in time to a 1930s-era Puget Sound fishing resort complete with waterfront cedar cabins and bungalows. It is connected by a mile-long trail to Camano Island State Park, a 134-acre camping park. Both parks are open for day use or overnight stays year-round. For more information about Cama Beach State Park, visit: http://www.parks.wa.gov/483/Cama-Beach
About Washington State Parks
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages more than 100 state parks and properties totaling approximately 120,000 acres. The Commission provides a variety of recreation opportunities for citizens and provides stewardship protection for a diverse array of natural, cultural and historic resources. State Parks’ statewide programs include long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation.
Follow Washington State Parks:
Share your favorite state park adventure on the State Parks’ blog site at www.AdventureAwaits.com.
Support state parks by purchasing your annual Discover Pass today, and enjoy a whole year of outdoor fun on Washington’s beautiful state-managed recreation lands. For more information, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
Media contacts:
Debbie Fant: (360) 902-8635
Toni Droscher: (360) 902-8604
Wash. Telecommunications Relay Service:(800) 833-6388
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