Musicians – Taste of Haven 2025

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The Dam Beavers

Scotty Leach - piano

Ben Schreiber - fiddle

Ness Smith-Savedoff - drums

The Dam Beavers are Ben Schreiber on fiddle, Scotty Leach on piano, and Ness Smith-Savedoff on drums. With roots in a wide variety of styles and genres, their music comprises an eclectic mix of old and new, familiar and unfamiliar. Let the current sweep you away as the Dam Beavers build a dam of rhythm beneath your feet!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pABROJK7tHo (2019)

https://thedambeavers.bandcamp.com/track/strong-as-hell (bandcamp)

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Bobcat Opossum

Ellen Coplin - piano, cello, guitar, bass and ukulele

Sean Hoffman - Fiddle

Bobcat Opossum is Sean Hoffman and Ellen Coplin. They draw inspiration and repertoire from traditional music across several genres including Irish, Americana, bluegrass, classical, and old-time music.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=If-hEpOEthc

Callers – Taste of H’aven 2025

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featured caller ...

Gaye Fifer

Gaye Fifer is an accomplished caller from Pittsburgh, PA. An active dancer herself, Gaye understands the subtleties of making dances 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 at the microphone. Gaye calls contra and English dances throughout the U.S. and Canada. She is also an enthusiastic advocate and instructor of contra-style waltz. Gaye is the former President of the Board of CDSS.

introducing workshop caller ...

Katie Zanders

Katie is from the Tampa Bay area in Florida and grew up rigorously training in classical ballet her whole childhood. She first got onto the contra dance floor in 2012 as a senior in high school. In 2022 she began with calling gigs and since then has called in 5 different states for local and week/weekend dances. Dancers have described her calling as “clear, concise” and “enveloping with a soothing quality to it”. The way she sees it “as long as you’re smiling and having fun you’re doing it right, after all it’s only a dance”.

featuring secondary caller ...

Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne is from Elkhart, Indiana and has been dancing for 45 years. His first dance weekend was at the Knoxville dance weekend, 3 years after his introduction to dancing and he became hooked. He moved to West Virginia and started calling in Athens, Ohio. He then moved to Austin, Texas and started a weekly dance with the help of some local musicians who were jamming together just for fun. His wife, Tonya, says, “He’s a natural with new dancers, and can get a group of new dancers easily and quickly progressing through a dancing evening, with new and experienced dancers enjoying themselves immensely. He does it so effortlessly!”

sound technician ...

Hanno Meingast

Hanno is from Lansing, Michigan. He is a master with mixing the acoustical instruments of contra dancing and can quickly get the crowd dancing as he stirs up his electronical brews and potions, which dazzles the ear with such perfection of sound. He is a great addition to the dance weekend.

Schedule – Taste of H’aven 2025

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Weekend Dance Schedule

5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Check-In

Check-in at the gymnasium or find Dwayne or Tonya.
Campground opens at 4 PM.
Register for your camping/housing areas – starts at 6:00 PM.
Please let us know if you plan to check-in after 9:00 PM.
Dancing from 7:00 PM – 10:30 PM.

7:00 pm - 10.30 pm

Friday Eve Dance

7:00 – 8:30 – Contra dance featuring Dwayne Johnson – The Dam Beavers.

9:00 – 10:30 – Contra dance featuring Gaye Fifer – The Dam Beavers.

8:00 am - 9:00 am

Saturday AM Breakfast

Breakfast begins promptly at 8:00 AM. The camp starts with a blessing for the meal, so they want everyone present at the start. Other campers are fed at the same time and the food may not last if you are late.

Please sign in prior to seating yourself at a table. Our designated tables will be marked. Please sit only at those tables. Please bus your plates, cups, and utensils when your meal has been completed. No dishes are allowed outside of the cafeteria.

9:15 am - 10:15 am

Saturday AM Workshop #1

Workshop featuring Sensible Flourishes/Styling Workshop- Caller: Katie Zanders – Band: Bobcat Opossum

10:30 am - 11:30 am

Saturday AM Workshop #2

Workshop featuring Waltzing Style and Embellishments – Caller: Gaye Fifer- Band: Bobcat Opossum

12:00 am - 1:00 pm

Saturday Lunch

Lunch begins promptly at 12:00 PM. The camp starts with a blessing for the meal, so they want everyone present at the start. Other campers are fed at the same time and the food may not last if you are late.

Please sign in prior to seating yourself at a table. Our designated tables will be marked. Please sit only at those tables. Please bus your plates, cups, and utensils when your meal has been completed. No dishes are allowed outside of the cafeteria.

1:15 pm - 2:30 pm

Saturday Afternoon Workshop

Workshop featuring Dutch Crossing – Caller: Dwayne Johnson – Band: Bobcat Opossum

2:30 pm - 5:15 pm

Saturday Afternoon Down Time

Relax, Enjoy, Recharge!
Swimming in the lake. boating, hiking, sleeping, or visiting with friends.

3:00 pm - 3:45 pm

Saturday Afternoon Boat Ride

Pontoon boat ride around the lake as a local staff member dictates the history of the lake and campgrounds.

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Saturday Dinner

Dinner begins promptly at 5:30 PM. The camp starts with a blessing for the meal, so they want everyone present at the start. Other campers are fed at the same time and the food may not last if you are late.

Please sign in prior to seating yourself at a table. Our designated tables will be marked. Please sit only at those tables. Please bus your plates, cups, and utensils when your meal has been completed. No dishes are allowed outside of the cafeteria.

7:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Saturday Eve Dance

7:00 – 10:30 – Contra dance featuring Gaye Fifer – The Dam Beavers

8:00 am - 9:00 am

Sunday AM Breakfast

Breakfast begins promptly at 8:00 AM. The camp starts with a blessing for the meal, so they want everyone present at the start. Other campers are fed at the same time, and the food may not last if you are late.

Please sign in prior to seating yourself at a table. Our designated tables will be marked. Please sit only at those tables. Please bus your plates, cups, and utensils when your meal has been completed. No dishes are allowed outside of the cafeteria.

10:00 am - 12:15 pm

Sunday AM Dance

0945 – 12:30 – Contra Dance featuring Gaye Fifer – The Dam Beavers

12:15 pm - 1:15 pm

Sunday Lunch

12:30 – 1:15 Lunch – included with the full weekend or one can pay at the dance on SAT by 5 PM. This lunch will be at the gymnasium. We will check your entry from a list of prepaid registrars.

1:15 pm - 2:00 pm

Check-Out

We must clear the campground by 2:00 PM to make room for a new group of campers. Please collect all your belongings and clear your living spaces. Place trash into the dumpsters outside of the cabins or camping area.

We thank you immensely for supporting this dance weekend. Spread the word!

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Upcoming Dances

Current Month

July

202512jul7:00 pm10:00 pmKalamazoo Contra DanceCountry Dancing In KalamazooOshtemo Grange Hall, 3234 N. 3rd Street Kalamazoo, MI 49009Event Type Regular DanceRepeating Event

202526jul7:00 pm10:00 pmKalamazoo Contra DanceCountry Dancing In KalamazooOshtemo Grange Hall, 3234 N. 3rd Street Kalamazoo, MI 49009Event Type Regular DanceRepeating Event

August

202509aug7:00 pm10:00 pmKalamazoo Contra DanceCountry Dancing In KalamazooOshtemo Grange Hall, 3234 N. 3rd Street Kalamazoo, MI 49009Event Type Regular DanceRepeating Event

202523aug7:00 pm10:00 pmKalamazoo Contra DanceCountry Dancing In KalamazooOshtemo Grange Hall, 3234 N. 3rd Street Kalamazoo, MI 49009Event Type Regular DanceRepeating Event

September

202513sep7:00 pm10:00 pmKalamazoo Contra DanceCountry Dancing In KalamazooOshtemo Grange Hall, 3234 N. 3rd Street Kalamazoo, MI 49009Event Type Regular DanceRepeating Event

202527sep7:00 pm10:00 pmKalamazoo Contra DanceCountry Dancing In KalamazooOshtemo Grange Hall, 3234 N. 3rd Street Kalamazoo, MI 49009Event Type Regular DanceRepeating Event

October

202511oct7:00 pm10:00 pmKalamazoo Contra DanceCountry Dancing In KalamazooOshtemo Grange Hall, 3234 N. 3rd Street Kalamazoo, MI 49009Event Type Regular DanceRepeating Event

202525oct7:00 pm10:00 pmKalamazoo Contra DanceCountry Dancing In KalamazooOshtemo Grange Hall, 3234 N. 3rd Street Kalamazoo, MI 49009Event Type Regular DanceRepeating Event