August 15–21, 2005
Portsmouth and Newport, RI

Greetings!

We are looking forward to welcoming you to the Eighteenth Newport Vintage Dance Week. The Commonwealth Vintage Dancers, once again, are excited to bring you a delightful week filled with dancing and other period activities. We are especially excited about the classes the teaching staff are preparing. We have added a new event, not advertised earlier: a dinner cruise around Newport harbor on the recently christened Harbor Queen!!! We will also revisit many of our favorite venues: Wednesday we are at Astors' Beechwood for the late 19^th century ball, Thursday we return to Glen Manor for the ragtime dinner and ball, and on Friday the Rotunda Ballroom at Easton's Beach will be the setting for our mid 19^th century ball. As you prepare for your trip, here are some further details about the activities and hints on preparations you may want to make.

Hannah Roberts Artuso,
Conference Director

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

On-Site Registration

Early Check-in: Sunday, August 14 (3:00 – 9:00pm)     Winter Garden

Participants may, for an extra fee, arrive on Sunday to sight see in Newport. The fee is $45 per person for a double room or $55 for a single and includes Sunday dinner and Monday breakfast and lunch. Space is very limited; reservations for Sunday accommodations must be made no later than July 31^st.

Participants arriving on Sunday August 14 should pick up their room keys between 3:00 and 9:00pm in the Winter Garden and should register for the conference on Monday. There is no 24-hour security office on campus, so we must staff a check-in table. No keys will be given out after 9:00pm on Sunday. If this causes you tremendous inconvenience because of a flight you have already booked, call Hannah at (781) 662–8344 and we will try to work something out.

On-Site Registration: Monday, August 15 (4:00 – 5:30pm, 7:30 – 10:30pm)      Winter Garden

Registration will open at 4:00pm on Monday, August 15, PLEASE NOTE THE LATER START TIME, in the Cortazzo Administration Building's Winter Garden at Portsmouth Abbey School and will remain open until 5:30pm, when it will close for dinner. Registration will also be open, for latecomers, during the evening Welcome Party. Everyone is urged to arrive in time for dinner.

All fees are due upon registration.

Payment (in US dollars) can be made in the form of check, money order, travelers check or cash and should be made payable to: CVD. We are unable to accept credit cards.

Key Deposit:

It is necessary to charge each participant a $20 key deposit. A separate check for the deposit, made payable to CVD, will be required. Deposit checks will be returned after the conference to all who return their key.

Check Out:

All rooms must be vacated and keys returned by 11am on Sunday, August 21^st.

Orientation (Monday 4:30 – 5:15pm)    near registration

The Commonwealth Vintage Dancers will host an informal, optional, open discussion to introduce newcomers to various aspects of the Dance Week and to answer questions. First timers to the dance week are encouraged to drop by for a few minutes (or longer) to hear about the events and customs of the week. Experienced participants are welcome to come by and hear about the new events for this year and to offer insights to first timers.

Volunteer Jobs:

There are a tremendous number of details to be attended to in order to make a week such as this a success. We accomplish this feat by asking each participant to assist CVD members at one or two events during the week. With everyone pitching in, no one has to devote a major amount of time attending to these tasks, and the disruption to everyone’s dancing pleasure is minimal. A description of the jobs and a sign-up sheet will be available at registration. Please sign up to help, and Thank You!

For Further Pre-Conference Information:

Please feel free to call conference coordinator Hannah Roberts Artuso at: (781) 662–8344.
You may call as early as 7:30am and as late as 10:00pm (eastern time).
All correspondence should be sent to:
         CVD Newport
        99 Malvern St.
        Melrose, MA 02176.
Some conference information is on our website: Newport homepage
Or you may e-mail your questions to:

In Case of Emergency:

Participants can have messages left for them at the Portsmouth Abbey Summer Program Office at: (401) 683–2000 x225. When the switchboard is closed at night, voice mail can still be left by dialing the number above or a caller may dial the main number (401) 683–2000 and press "1" for an emergency, when the recorded voice instructs. In either case the caller should indicate that you are with the Vintage Dance Conference. Also each dormitory has a pay phone at which you might be reached. In cases of emergency during the week, you may also call Hannah Roberts Artuso's cell phone at: 781-799-9228.
During the Dance Week mail may be sent to:
    c/o Summer Program Office
    Vintage Dance Conference
    Portsmouth Abbey School
    285 Cory's Lane
    Portsmouth, RI 02871–1352.

CAMPUS AND FACILITIES

The Campus:

The Portsmouth Abbey School’s 500-acre campus is situated on the edge of Narragansett Bay, 7 miles from downtown Newport. Enclosed is a map with driving directions as well as a map showing the campus. Transportation information is given on the last page of this booklet.

Housing:

We will be housed in dormitories on the lower campus. Most rooms are doubles with twin beds. Linens and bath towels will be provided. Each participant has a closet. In most rooms, full length closet space is approximately 18" wide. Most rooms have two half-length closet areas next to the full-length section. No rooms have private baths or air-conditioning.

Parking:

During the week cars must not be parked at the dormitories except for brief periods while picking up or dropping off people or goods. After unloading upon arrival, all cars must be parked in the lot adjacent to the hockey rink.

Meals:

Several entrees, as well as a salad bar, will be available at each meal. Although the kitchen cannot meet special dietary requests, a vegetarian entree will be available at each meal. Meals are included from Monday dinner through Sunday breakfast. Please note that alcohol may not be brought into the dining hall. Each dorm is equipped with a soda machine. Limited space for storing drinks and snacks is also available in the refrigerator located in each dorm.

Noise, Smoking & Pets:

Resident monks, as well as faculty and their families, make their permanent home at the Abbey. For this reason, late night noise is not permitted. The School does not allow smoking in or near any of the buildings, including dormitories. Pets may not be brought to the Portsmouth Abbey campus.

Laundry Facilities, Telephones & Computers:

Each dorm has a coin-operated washer and dryer, as well as an iron and ironing board. There are no telephones in individual rooms, but pay phones are available in each dorm. Each dorm does have a computer room with Internet access.

Beach and Facilities:

Participants are welcome to use the small, stony beach adjacent to the campus. A pair of bathing shoes is recommended, as well as a beach towel; sandy beaches are available in nearby Newport. School facilities (such as tennis courts, library, etc.) are available to dance week participants. We will be the only conference on campus during the week.

SPECIAL EVENTS AND SIGHT SEEING

Special Event: Newport Harbor Dinner Cruise with Informal Dancing

CVD is delighted to announce the addition of a very special event on Tuesday evening. We will take an elegant dinner cruise around Rhode Island’s jewel: Narragansett Bay and the Newport waterfront, aboard the Harbor Queen. This beautiful brand new cruise boat, built in a local shipyard, was christened only a month ago. The boat offers a fine wood paneled interior, brass appointments, comfortable seating, full galley and bar. The vessel is fully air-conditioned inside and also has an outside deck. The cruise leaves from Bowen’s Ferry Landing in downtown Newport. Those who want to check out Newport’s nightlife can do so when we return to the dock!

Sight-Seeing:

This year our optional group tour will be on Thursday afternoon. We will be visiting one of the most famous Gilded Age mansions, The Breakers, home to the Vanderbilts. If interested in this group tour, please sign up on the enclosed reply form; the cost is $11 per person, payable at registration.
 
Time is also available Thursday afternoon for personal outings. We highly recommend a tour of the Astors’ Beechwood. The tour is led by members of the Astor family and their staff. We will be holding our 1890's ball there Wednesday evening, but will not have a tour then. If you would like to tour additional mansions, or enjoy a stroll along the Cliff Walk, you might consider arriving on Sunday or early Monday to view a mansion or two before check-in.
 
Ten mansions are owned by the Newport Preservation Society and discounts can be obtained by purchasing multiple tickets at the first mansion you visit. (Note: The Astors’ Beechwood is not one of the Preservation Society mansions.) From past experience we have found that it is wise to plan to see no more than two mansions in an afternoon. For further Newport information visit Newport Preservation Society Website or the Astors' Beechwood Website or call the Newport Information Center in Newport at: (800) 976-5122.

WHAT TO BRING AND WHAT TO WEAR

Things you may wish to bring:

A full-length mirror, extra hangers, beach towels, flashlight, change for washer/dryers and soda machines. In past years, sea breezes have usually made up for the lack of air conditioning, but if you are concerned about heat, you may wish to bring a window fan. If you tend to get chilled at night you might bring an extra blanket. Each dorm has an iron and ironing board, but you may want to bring your own so that you can use it in your room.

Clothing for Classes:

Modern dancewear or any light-weight clothing that provides freedom of movement is ideal. Ladies may wish to wear a full skirt to classes to practice the art of dancing in a ball-dress. Lightweight, flexible-soled, shoes that have not been worn out-of- doors are required for all dance surfaces. Ladies should have flat shoes or slippers for the 19^th Century classes and shoes with 1 - 2" heels (e.g. Capezio character shoes) for ragtime and 1920’s. Gentlemen should wear jazz oxfords or some other lightweight shoe with a moderate heel. Sneakers or other high traction shoes do not lend themselves to many dance movements and are dangerous to the wearer in some circumstances. Leg warmers are recommended for everyone.

Clothing for Social Events:

After some debate within The Commonwealth Vintage Dancers, we have included a set of fairly detailed costume sheets illustrating ideal outfits for events that we will be hosting during the week. Several members of CVD felt that including such a sheet would carry an unwritten implication that elaborate costuming was expected even if not required, and therefore argued that these sheets should not be included. Others, who agreed that no one should feel obliged to spend more work on their wardrobe than they wanted to, felt that it was unreasonable to deprive those attendees who were interested in doing more costume preparation of information that could help them produce the most appropriate looks.

Please regard all the information that we are including in that light. It is not necessary to have perfectly reproduced period outfits for any of the week's events. Some participants do have large vintage wardrobes and while this can be intimidating to newcomers, it must be remembered that these participants have usually spent many years and considerable effort building up these wardrobes. Everyone understands that many dancers have had neither the time, nor possibly the inclination, to devote to this particular aspect of vintage dance.

For further information on costuming please feel free to e-mail or call Katy Bishop at (781) 593–3038 or Barbara and Patri Pugliese at (781) 396–2870. Please don't call earlier than 9am or later than 10pm eastern time.

CLASSES AND INSTRUCTORS

Classes:

Classes are offered for all levels of dancers. There will be three class periods each day, and two classes to choose from during each class period. For classes covering core material, participants will have a choice between beginner/intermediate and intermediate/advanced classes. The distinction here is intended to reflect a dancer's familiarity with the specific material of vintage dance rather than his or her overall ability as a dancer. Specialty classes are intended to be accessible to dancers at a wide range of experience levels. In the Quadrille class we will teach this year’s quadrille to all participants, as this dance will not be called at the Friday Ball.

Warm-ups:

Warm-ups will begin at 8:50 each morning in the upper Gymnasium. For safety’s sake, to help avoid injury, we urge everyone to take the responsibility to be properly warmed-up.

Instructors:

Martha Griffin will lead warm-ups and teach a class in Nineteenth Century dance.

Richard Powers will teach a classes in Nineteenth Century and Early Twentieth Century (Ragtime) dance.

Patri Pugliese will teach a class in Nineteenth Century dance and Quadrille Class.

Joan Walton will teach classes in early Twentieth Century (Ragtime and 1920's) dance.

DAILY SCHEDULE
(precise times may change)

MONDAY, AUGUST 15

Registration (4:00 – 5:30pm)    Winter Garden
Cortazzo Administration Building's Winter Garden at Portsmouth Abbey School.
Orientation (4:30 – 5:15pm)    near Registration

Late Registration (7:30 – 10:30pm)    Winter Garden

Welcome Dance (8:30 – 10:30pm)    Auditorium
This event is a chance to meet new and old friends in a relaxed atmosphere, with both Victorian and Ragtime dancing. Instructors will be introduced and will give an introduction to their classes at approximately 9:30pm. Dress can be casual, modern or vintage.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 16

Morning and Afternoon Classes    Gymnasium

Afternoon Tea (3:30 – 5:00pm)    Manor House Lawn
Come relax or chat with other Dance Week participants. Casual dress, modern or vintage, is appropriate.

Harbor Dinner Cruise (6:30 – 10:15pm)    Newport Harbor
Dinner cruise on Newport Harbor. Departing from Bowen’s Wharf Ferry Landing off America’s Cup Avenue. Boarding at 6:30pm. Please realize you cannot be late, the ship leaves PROMPTLY at 6:45pm. Return will be at 10:15 pm.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17

Morning and Afternoon Classes    Gymnasium

Swap & Sell (3:30 – 5:00pm)    Auditorium
Afternoon Tea (3:30 – 5:00pm)    Winter Garden
Perhaps you have a gown or dress-coat that you just can't wear any more, or maybe you have left your favorite gloves at home, or if you just want to own more (or less) stuff, then the Vintage Swap & Sell is for you! Participants are encouraged to bring items (vintage or not) to sell or trade. During the Swap & Sell self-service tea and cookies will be available. Casual dress, modern or vintage, is appropriate.

1890's Formal Ball (8:30 – 11:30pm)    the Astors' Beechwood, Newport
Come dance the latest 90's steps in the dazzling ballroom of Beechwood, 580 Bellevue Avenue, where Mrs. Astor welcomed Newport's social elite. The New River Dance Orchestra will be entertaining us with their splendid music.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18

Morning Classes    Gymnasium

Group Tour(2:15 – 5:00pm)     The Breakers, Newport
Outing Day(1:00 – 5:00pm)     Wherever you want to be
Afternoon Tea (3:30 – 5:00pm)    Winter Garden

Members of CVD will be leading an optional group to tour one of the most famous Gilded Age Mansions, The Breakers, home to the Vanderbilts. Reservations may be made at registration. We will carpool to the tour. Departure from campus will be at 2:15pm to travel to our 3:00pm tour.
 
This afternoon is also available for participants to schedule their own activities: a tour of Newport and its mansions; a walk along the Cliff Walk; a visit to the Newport beaches and carousel; an antique hunt; or simply enjoy a peaceful afternoon on the bucolic Portsmouth Abbey campus.
 
For those remaining on campus, self-service tea and cookies will be available in the Winter Garden from 3:30 to 5:00pm

Reception, Formal Dinner and Ragtime Ball (6:00 – 11:00pm)    Glen Manor House
We will be traveling off campus to the nearby French-inspired chateau of Glen Manor House, 3 Coelho Drive, Portsmouth, for a reception and formal dinner to be followed by a ragtime ball, with live music by The New River Dance Orchestra.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 19

Morning and Afternoon Classes    Gymnasium

Summer Garden Tea (3:30 – 5:00pm)    Manor House Lawn
We continue the tradition popularized by Queen Victoria: the taking of afternoon tea. A cup of tea, some fine pastries and pleasant company bring us a moment best described by Charles Dickens as one "in which we were perfectly contented with ourselves and one another." We'll even add a few rounds of croquet or badminton to our afternoon. Summer whites or formal daywear is encouraged; this would be the day to wear your most formal period daywear.

Mid-Nineteenth Century Ball (8:00 – 11:00pm)    Rotunda Ballroom, Newport
We will turn back the clock and visit the mid-19^th Century, with an evening of dancing at the Rotunda Ballroom at Easton’s Beach in Newport. Live music will be provided by The New River Dance Orchestra. The adjacent carousel will be open for rides during the intermission

SATURDAY, AUGUST 20

Morning Classes    Gymnasium
(to make up for the Thursday afternoon class)

Dance Classes and Seminars (10:55 – 12:00noon)    Gymnasium
Schedule will be available at registration.

Lobster Lunch(12:35 – 1:25pm)    Cafeteria
What would summer in New England be without a lobster feast? Alternative fare will be available for non-crustacean eaters.

Afternoon Tea and Games (3:30 – 5:00pm)    Manor House Lawn
Members of CVD will be leading games during the afternoon. Come relax or chat with other Dance Week participants. Casual or sporty dress, modern or vintage, is appropriate.

Fancy Dress Ball (8:00 – 11:00pm)     Auditorium

THE GRAND TOUR

Join the well-to-do gentlemen and ladies of the 19^th century and take the "Grand Tour" of Europe. See the night life of Paris, the historic ruins of Rome, the art of Florence, the canals of Venice, the plains of Spain (where, contrary to reports, there is hardly any rain), the mountains of Switzerland and the ballrooms of Vienna. Visit each stop or observe exotic people, places and things from the window of your rail car. Or perhaps you fancy yourselves one of those exotic people: a Swiss shepherd, a Spanish gypsy, a French soldier . . . . Whether to see or to be seen, join us for the Grand Tour of Europe.

The goal of the Fancy Dress Ball is to draw upon the theme for costume inspiration in the manner of a party goer of the late Nineteenth Century, historical accuracy can take a back seat to fanciful interpretation. One may also wish to indulge in a particularly "punny" or representative costume. This will be an informal evening of dancing and merriment, featuring recorded music from the 19^th and early 20^th centuries.

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation to Portsmouth

Enclosed are a map and directions for participants who will be driving to Newport. Participants who are flying may go to either T. F. Green Airport in Providence or Logan Airport in Boston. Providence is closer and usually more convenient. Participants who fly into Providence may either rent a car or take the airport shuttle. The campus is about 7 miles from the center of Newport. You will not need a car to get around campus and transportation to off-campus events will be available. If you want to do extensive sight- seeing in and around Newport, you may want to consider renting a car.

From Providence/ T. F. Green Airport

To take public transportation from the airport, you will need to take the airport shuttle from the airport to Portsmouth and a taxi (which the shuttle driver can arrange) from Portsmouth to the campus. The Cozy Cab Company runs a shuttle between T. F. Green Airport, Portsmouth and Newport. Travel time is about 35 minutes. The shuttle leaves from in front of the Avis area, near baggage claim. Tell the driver you want to go to the Portsmouth Howard Johnson's and that you need a taxi to take you to Portsmouth Abbey School. The driver can call ahead and have a taxi waiting for you. The cost for the shuttle is a flat rate of $20 one-way. The taxi is a metered fare and usually runs around $17. The cab company's number is: 800-846-1502 or 401-846-2500. Cash or travelers checks (up to $20 denomination) are accepted. Reservations are strongly advised, especially for the late night runs.

Please be aware that a taxi from the airport will run $65-70. However, if two or more are traveling together, you can, with 24 hr. notice, reserve a sedan and the flat rate of approximately $65 will apply

From Boston/Logan Airport

The Peter Pan Bonanza bus company runs buses from Boston to Newport. The buses leave from South Station (700 Atlantic Ave). South Station is located on the Red Line of the subway. Travel time from South Station is about 1 hour and 20 minutes. The cost is one-way $18.50, round trip $32. Buses terminate in Portsmouth at the Clemens IGA Market. If we know in advance that you are taking the bus, we will try to have someone meet you. Otherwise, you will need to call a taxi to take you to the Portsmouth Abbey School campus. Boston’s Peter Pan Bonanza Bus Company telephone is 888- 751–8800.