Dance, music, drama and crafts will transform the Berea College campus this December holiday season, as they have for almost 70 years. Christmas Country Dance School, a folk arts leadership training course for adults and teens, will take place Dec. 26 through Jan. 1, 2006.

More than 300 peoples, ages 13 to 92, participate in Christmas School each year. Teachers who participate may receive Continuing Education or Professional Development credit. Registration information is available by calling (859) 985-3431 or online at ccds@berea.edu. For a complete schedule visit www.berea.edu/ccds

Christmas Country Dance School (CCDS) is devoted to the practice and enjoyment of authentic folk drama, storytelling, singing, crafts and of course, dancing, and offers teachers, youth leaders, recreation personnel and others wonderful activities and materials for recreation programs, classroom use or for personal benefit.

Daily classes offer a variety of English, American and Danish dance, music and singing traditions. Graded classes are provided, so beginners are given the special attention they need, while experts are provided with new insights and inspiration. Evenings are filled with dancing and Parlor, a time of sharing songs, stories and special talents. The week begins with an evening of dance on Dec. 26 and concludes with a gala New Year’s Eve dance. Music throughout is provided by live musicians.

A daily afternoon-long program for Berea area youth ages 7 – 12 years of age is also being offered this year from Dec. 27-31 in the Berea College Alumni Building Activities and Games Rooms. Activities will include dancing, puppetry, Danish gymnastics, singing, live music and more. For more information, contact: Joe Tarter, at (859) 985-3789; evenings at 859-986-1986.

The international teaching staff of 36 has been carefully selected to make the week one of the finest folk art courses available. Coming from Europe are instructors Svend and Anna Hamborg of Denmark, who will teach traditional Danish folk dance, and Dave Brown, a fiddler from Great Britain. Other internationally known experts include Glen Morningstar, who will teach contra and square dancing; Meg Ryan, instructor in English and Angl-American clog dance styles; Brad Foster and Mary Harrell, who teach English Country Dance and Ruth Pershing, a teacher of Appalachian clogging.

Several Kentuckians are on this year’s staff. Pat Napier teaches the classic Kentucky square dancing he danced in his youth in eastern Kentucky. This will be his 55th year of participation in Christmas School. Storyteller Octavia Sexton, a member of the National Storytelling network, grew up hearing folk tales, Jack tales and Cherokee legends that have been in her family for generations. Janet Northern of Rockcastle County will teach basketry, Mary Colmer of Berea will teach cornshuck doll-making and Eric Crowden, also of Berea, will teach Temari craft. Kentucky musicians include Al and Alice White, Atossa Kramer, Deborah Payne, Patty Tarter and Donna and Lewis Lamb, all from the Berea area.