15 DC Bios - the Dancing Bears

MAY 22ND-25TH, 2015, THE DANCING BEARS WILL PRESENT OUR 34TH
ANNUAL DANCE CAMP AT KING'S LAKE CAMP IN WASILLA, ALASKA.
INTRODUCING OUR AMAZINGLY TALENTED GUEST ARTISTS…
Bands:
THE MEAN LIDS:
(www.meanlids.com)
Ben Smith has been playing dances and
dancing dances since he was just a wee laddie.
Ben has played his characteristic black fiddle
with many bands, across many genres,
including bluegrass, swing, Old-Time, Irish, jugband, Cajun, country, western, rock, and
classical. He is also a father, computer
programmer, and kite flyer.
Miriam Larson brings smooth, sweet sounds
and pulsing jaw-harp beats to the mix. An artist,
a burgeoning librarian, a former union president,
Miriam's signature haunting waltzes and twisted
tunes fill every Lids show. She is also a school
librarian in Champaign and an avid historian of
the Rational Dress
Society (formed in
England in 1871,
in part to advocate
for rational
bicycling clothes).
Matt Turino has been playing music since he was born. He
started dancing a month before that. He has performed so
many shows with so many groups that you wouldn't be able to
list them all in one breath. In addition to driving the heart of the
Lids, he also owns a house, builds stuff, and eats his
vegetables. And, oh yeah, he plays guitar and fiddle and
indulges in many genres of music!
THE MOON RIVER RAMBLERS:
Toni Williams was a founding member
of the Green Grass Cloggers in the
early 70s, where her interest in OldTime music began. Banjo was her first
instrument, followed by the stand-up
bass and banjo ukulele. Her first band
was Rattlesnake Chili with husband,
Andy. She's been a member of two
female bands, the Fluvanna Gals and
Stay Tuned. Toni has also taught
clogging, called square dances, and
been a player, singer, and music
director in several theater productions,
including Cotton Patch Gospel. She's
been the director of the popular
Rockbridge Festival in Buena Vista, Virginia for 16 years. She hopes to someday form a
classic country band called Honky Tonic.
Andy Williams’ driving rhythmic style is well known and especially appreciated by dancers.
Coming out of the Lexington, Virginia Old-Time scene in the 70s, he twin-fiddled with Brad
Leftwich in the Plank Road String Band. Recipient of numerous festival awards through the
years, Andy continues to play at local and regional festivals but maintains a fairly low profile
when it comes to recording and promoting. His current band is Fustercluck, an electric
Zydeco/old time fusion group. His most recent recording is on "Bad Dog", a 2005 Carryon
production with Mark Olitsky, Jason Sypher, and Leo Lorenzoni.
Brian DeMarcus has a music and dance career dating back
over four decades. He spent 12 years touring professionally
with the Green Grass Cloggers, a music and dance group
from North Carolina, taking the rich traditional sounds of OldTime string band music and Southern Appalachian clogging
out of the mountain regions and into venues around the
world, from Europe to South America to Carnegie Hall in
New York City. Brian has been calling dances worldwide and
teaching (clawhammer banjo, bass, guitar, ukelele, and
dance calling) at music and dance camps around the
country. Over the years, he has played with a multitude of
bands and has won many awards at fiddlers' conventions.
He is currently active with several bands in Alaska, playing
Old-Time, Cajun and Zydeco music.
Carter Bancroft is a talented musician (and computer
programmer!) hailing from Michigan and living in
Anchorage, Alaska since 2008. He plays Old-Time fiddle
and guitar with the popular local Bluegrass/Old-Time
group High Lonesome Sound and Gypsy Jazz guitar for
Anchorage’s own Hot Club of Nunaka. Carter is no
stranger to dances and if you wind up at a festival you
might even hear him play some Old time fretless banjo.
CALLERS:
Mary Wesley is a dance leader, caller, and organizer for
contras, squares, morris, and family and community
dances. A native of Vermont, she travels throughout New
England and beyond to follow and share her love of
dance. She is a founding member of Burlington's "Mad
Robin Callers Collective," a group dedicated to fostering
new callers.
Mary works in the Education Dept. at the Country Dance
and Song Society and makes radio and video
documentaries. Her friendly enthusiasm is delightful and
sure to please.
Will Mentor started calling contra and
square dances at the Jefferson County
Fairgrounds, in Fairfield, Iowa at 8:00pm
on January 7, 1995. Since then he has
called dances, dance weekends, and
weeklong dance camps all over the
United States. Canada, and Denmark.
Now from Northern Vermont, Will is
known for his clear teaching, upbeat wit,
and relaxed stage presence. He loves to
choreograph evenings with a variety of
dances and tempos that at times
surprise and always delight. All this
while keeping intact his guiding principle
as a caller: "It's about the dancers!”
Wait! Who is this?? OK…it’s a Will Mentor
Wannabe!! The man is much loved!! (This
is Dana Parkinson—and according to Will,
she’s a very good caller who is not only
skilled but fun!) Alas, she won’t be at Camp!