learn french and polish songs with alison gowan and aleksandra bragoszewska and watch a shadow puppet show!
To celebrate the Harvest Season we will gather at a private lodge near Golden Lake, Ontario and learn a variety of French and some Polish polyphonic songs and canons, as well as some French call and response songs for dancing. As some of these songs are designed to accompany dancing, we will also learn some simple dance steps and move together as we sing.
We welcome beginner through advanced singers, and all movement activity can be adapted for those with alternate mobility realities. Some sheet music will be provided, but as these are all songs based in oral tradition, each song can be learned by listening and singing along. No experience with music reading or knowledge of the languages required. Registered participants will receive recordings and sheet music to help you familiarize yourself with the repertoire in the week before the workshop (via Google Drive). You are not required to learn the material before the workshop.
On Saturday evening, Birdbone Theatre will delight you with a performance of Broom Dance, a shadow puppet show for short days and long nights, in the Great Hall.
Weekend Schedule
Friday evening: Greeting songs and vocal warm ups
Saturday: Singing throughout the day, with a focus in the afternoon of songs for dancing (bal à la voix)
Saturday evening: Public performance of Broom Dance
Sunday: morning singing session
registration
OVER 60: $75 valid until Monday, September 22nd, 2025 (2:19 pm)
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: $130 per person valid until Monday, September 22nd, 2025 (2:19 pm)
REGISTRATION after September 22nd: $150 per person valid until midnight of Wednesday, October 22nd
Contact Nathalie Roy for registration and details at nathalie@orphanwisdom.com
broom dance tickets
$15 SPECIAL: under 20/ over 60
$25 EARLY BIRD: valid until Monday, September 22nd, 2025 (2:19 pm)
REGULAR ADMISSION: $35 until midnight of Wednesday, October 22nd
NIGHT OF: $50 CASH ONLY
ACCOMODATIONS & MEALS
Shared accommodations in the Guest House and camping spots are available for registrants. Guest House accommodations cost $40 per person per night, check-in is on Friday 4-5pm, check-out is Sunday by 2pm.
A home-cooked meal plan is also available for residents ($50), which will nourish you from Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast. Please be in touch with Nathalie to make arrangements.
ABOUT ALISON AND ALEKSANDRA
Alison holds Bachelor degrees in Music and in Education from Queen’s University, where she specialised in ethnomusicology, classical voice, and Community Arts Education. She is a professional musician, musical director of Birdbone Theatre, and has extensively studied and performed folk dance and singing traditions of Central and Southern France.
Aleksandra is a puppeteer and artistic director of Birdbone Theatre, loves singing, and has a keen interest in learning the music and mythologies from her cultural heritage and regularly employs them in her puppetry work.