Pawling 2026 May 15-17, 2026
Teachers:
Rebecca Blackhall-Peters
Rebecca Blackhall-Peters
Rebecca was born in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia. She has now moved to the Okanagan Valley and is residing in Summerland, BC. In 1995 she took up SCD and earned her Teacher’s Certificate in 2001. As she had a background in classical ballet, pointing her toes was not a problem, however, it took quite a bit longer to learn the formations and dances! She has taught a General class in Fort Langley for the last 18 years, and taught at the Vancouver Branch. She now teaches the Naramata Scottish Country dance class in Penticton.
She has taught workshops throughout North America, and has been a core teacher at TAC, St Andrews and New Zealand Winter School.
Arthur McNair
Arthur McNair began Scottish Country Dancing in the late 90s, and received his Teacher’s Certificate in 2004. Arthur teaches classes weekly in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and has taught workshops throughout North America. Arthur's first emphasis in his teaching is for all dancers to enjoy dancing to whatever level they are able, with a secondary emphasis on the beauty that comes from dancing well with others. Arthur also plays accordion with the Scottish dance band, Highland Square.
Musicians
Pianist Dave Wiesler (Newark, DE) began playing traditional Scottish music for dances and concerts in 1993 and started dancing it two years later. Since then he has become highly regarded for his strong rhythm, his technical skills, and his deep knowledge of the genre, as well as for his versatility in other styles careening through classical music, classic rock, jazz, song parody, and many other dance forms. Most often he plays SCD with his band Thistle House, but he regularly joins other musicians. Dave is a capable guitarist, a prolific composer of tunes, a dabbler in more complex musical pieces, and a proud father of two boys, one of whom has just decided he likes to do SCD.
Paul Woodiel is a New York–based violinist whose work spans American and British Isles fiddle traditions, ragtime and traditional jazz, and the music of Charles Ives. He has appeared at venues including the 92nd Street Y, Caramoor, Yale University, and the New York Festival of Song at Carnegie Hall. A three-decade veteran of Broadway orchestras, he began his New York career performing the title role in the Tony Award–winning 25th anniversary production of Fiddler on the Roof and has played in dozens of productions including Ragtime, Sunset Boulevard, The Music Man, and West Side Story. A three-time New England Fiddle Contest champion from Hartford, Connecticut, he has also performed with artists and ensembles including Steve Reich, Dick Hyman, Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks, and the American Composers Orchestra. Paul is married to celebrated violinist Robin Zeh. They live in Manhattan.
Christopher Layer is a multi-instrumentalist specializing in traditional wind instruments including Scottish smallpipes, Highland pipes, Uilleann pipes, musette, flutes, and whistles, as well as electric and acoustic bass. Over a long and varied career, he has performed as an orchestral soloist, toured with the Trinity Irish Dance Company, The Clayfoot Strutters, The Brandos, and The Waterboys, and played Scottish dance music with the trio Local Hero alongside fiddler Paul Woodiel and pianist Susie Petrov. During 27 years in New York City he worked as a studio musician, performed in on- and off-Broadway productions and Irish pubs, taught widely, and collaborated on numerous traditional-meets-classical projects. He later spent nearly two decades as Artist in Residence at the Moab Music Festival, where he founded the Moab Community Dance Band. He now lives in New Harmony, Indiana, where he restores and sells flutes and bagpipes, teaches, and writes music and stories
Registration
Scholarships
Scholarships are available for this event. Interested? See the scholarship page for full information.
Accommodations
This year’s event will take place at The Ashokan Center, a beautiful new venue that allows us to offer an even better experience for everyone attending. Because of the increased costs associated with the new space, prices have been adjusted for this season. The improved facilities help ensure we can continue presenting a high-quality event and welcoming our community for years to come.
Housing will look a little different from our previous location. A range of accommodations are available, from dormitories with multiple beds to semi-private rooms, and there are also tent camping areas on site. All bathrooms are shared.
The base weekend price includes dormitory housing. If you have a group of dancers who would like to stay together in a semi-private room, please email our housing coordinator, Carolyn at Pawlingweekend@gmail.com. Pricing for these spaces will vary depending on the room type, availability, and number of people sharing the room.
Thank you for your understanding and for supporting this event, we’re excited to welcome you this year!
Directions
Driving from New York
Follow NY 9A to NY-495 W. Get on NJ-17 N and I-87 N. Take exit 19 from I-87 N for NY-28 W in Ulster. Continue on NY-28 W to your destination in Olivebridge
Driving from Boston
Follow I-90 W and I-87 S. Take exit 19 from I-87 S to NY-28 W in Ulster
Continue on NY-28 W to your destination in Olivebridge
GPS
477 Beaverkill Rd. Olivebridge, NY 12461
As cell service is spotty near camp, we recommend printing or downloading a map of your chosen route before you leave.
Public Transportation
Arriving Near Camp
To Camp
Lyft
Uber
Nearby Restaurants and Shops
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Location
The Ashokan Center
477 Beaverkill Rd.
Olivebridge, NY 12461
Schedule
2026 Class Schedule -to come
Classes
Foundation —For dancers who wish to firm up their understanding of the basics or brush up on their dancing and supporting skills. The focus will be on social dancing.
Sky-Scraper — For dancers who are well grounded in the fundamentals and want to reach for the stars. The focus will be on footwork and less-common formations. This is a high impact class.
Satisfying Simples — There’s something so wonderful about a dance that you can dance with joy, enjoying the music and the interaction with your partners and the others in the set. These will be dances with well-known formations that flow beautifully from one formation to another so you can relax and enjoy the fun.
Tricky Tracks — Do you love brain teasers danced in two-bar phrases, not one standard formation in the bunch? These will be dances that turn those formations on their heads and twist them around into something else entirely. Bring your GPS just in case.
Teacher’s choice — TBA
Evening Dance Programs
Dances Taught by Linda Henderson:
Class 1
Taylor’s High Five (J)
Sharon Heights Reel (R)
Topsy Turvy (R)
Class 2
The Sheltered Cove (S)
Jean’s Delight (S)
Promise of Spring (R)
Dances from CA & HI
Kathleen McAdam’s Scroll (J)
The Rose Garden (S)
The Lava Tree Reel (R)
Champagne Class
Alan Ross’s Reel (R)
The Craven Twelvesome (R)
Early Spring (S)
Dances Taught by Charles Liu:
Foundation
Reekie Linn 32J 2/4L Alexander Leaflets
Netherby Hall 32R 2/4L Bon Accord
Tricky Tracks
Moments in Time 32S 4/4L Imperial 4-5
Jack o’ Caron 48J 4/4L Imperial 1-3
M-J-P 32R 2/4L Stoneywood
Fun and Games
The Stow Alert 40R 4/4L Friendship 1
Milton’s Welcome 32R 3/4L RSCDS Bk 33
New England Dances
The Legacy 32J 3/4L Pinewoods 2
Fill the Fetters 32S 4Sq Boston 50
Flights of Fancy 32J 3/4L Boston 50
The Matriarchs of Salem 32R 3/4L Liu
Champagne Dance
A Wee Nothin’ 32J 2/4L Between the Rivers
Katherine Hamilton 32S 3/4L Del Val Gold
Trip to Timber Ridge 32R 3/4L RSCDS Bk 52
Welcome Dance Program 2025
Highland Ball Program 2025
Programs from Previous Years
Pawling Bazaar
Please bring dance-related items that are clean and in good condition to be sold at the Pawling Bazaar. Gowns, skirts, vests, shirts, blouses, cummerbunds, jabots, ties, jackets, kilts, gloves, sashes, tiaras, etc. The Bazaar will be open from 3:00 to 6:00pm Friday to accept articles for sale; no browsing allowed until the Bazaar opens at 8:30am on Saturday. All unsold articles must be retrieved by 2:00pm Sunday when the Bazaar closes. A minimum of 50% of proceeds must be donated to The Joan Treble Scholarship Fund. The Fund aims to promote Scottish Country Dancing in the New York area by encouraging dancers to improve their skills through participation in workshops and training courses.
Contact Us
Email: pawlingweekend@gmail.com
Phone: Deborah Leary 1-201-694-4646
Gallery
