The Lenox Assembly

Q. What special COVID-19 protocols will be in place for this weekend?

A. 1. All participants must provide proof of being fully vaccinated (including booster shots recommended by the CDC). A photocopy of your vaccination card(s) enclosed with your application will suffice as proof. (If you wish, you may obscure your date of birth.)

​2. All participants will submit with their application a signed waiver of liability to protect the venue and the paid and volunteer staff, who are making a good-faith effort to ensure maximum safety for all.  You may download the waiver from Dropbox by clicking here. (After clicking the Download button in Dropbox, check your PC’s Downloads folder for the file.) 

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If this doesn't work for you, click here for the waiver on this website.

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​3. All participants will present a negative rapid antigen test, administered within 24 hours of the 8PM Friday night dance (per our medical advisor, we accept only the Abbott BinaxNOW Self Test or the Quidel QuickView At-Home test).

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While you can request that we order the test kits for you for pickup at the Lenox Community Center Friday evening, purchasing them yourself will help get you into the dance with minimum delay. Instructions on how to submit the test results will accompany the acceptance email.

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4. Masks will be required at all times while inside the Lenox Community Center, except when eating or drinking.

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Q. Is there a chance the weekend will be cancelled?

A. Unfortunately, yes, but for now, we feel confident that the weekend can proceed with the safety precautions we’ve put in place. We will make a final decision by March 15, 2022. If you’re flying in, check with your carrier about their refund policies.

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​Q. Who should come to the Lenox Assembly?

A. Those who value and practice standards of good dancing, such as those that Fried Herman imparted to her dancers, both as individuals, as participants in a set, and as members of a wider dance community. Specifically:  

• Teachers of English country dancing. Lenox Assembly has as a primary focus sharing repertoire, standards of good dancing, and teaching strategies with teachers of ECD.

• Model dancers, considered as such in their communities, who teach by the excellence of their dancing and who aspire to incorporate what they learn at the weekend into their approach to the dance.

• Advanced dancers who are thoroughly conversant with the figures of ECD, who learn dance patterns quickly and retain them without extensive prompting, who are agile, and who show a commitment to improve their own ECD dance technique.

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Q. If I have attended in the past, can I be certain of acceptance?

A. Unfortunately, no. In our recent experience, interest in the weekend has far outstripped the capacity of the hall. Our admission procedure is to accept a balanced “core” of teachers and model dancers, chosen based on teacher discretion. When necessary, a lottery will determine admission among the remaining applicants who fall within the guidelines above. A short wait list will be developed as the final step in the process.

 

Depending on how oversubscribed the weekend is, dancers who have attended any two consecutive years in the recent past stand the greatest chance of being passed over to give others the opportunity to attend.

 

Q. How will the workshops differ from the evening dances?

A. The workshops will have a higher ratio of talk to dancing, as you might expect. We aim for good energy and a balance between the work and the fun aspects of learning.

 

Q. How does the schedule allocate time between dances and workshops?

A. The workshops occur during the mornings and afternoons; dances include a Welcome dance Friday evening, a party on Saturday night, and a Farewell dance Sunday afternoon.

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Q. Will I receive any personal feedback about my dancing?

A. We believe no teaching tool is more effective, but with 64 dancers in the room and with limited time, personal feedback is unlikely. That being said, unless you request otherwise, you may receive gentle, constructive personal feedback, in the moment, from the instructor within the context of the workshops.

 

Q. Will the round-table discussion session be open to non-teachers?

A. Yes. The session will focus on matters that normally concern teachers of ECD. But non-teachers interested in participating are welcome to attend.

 

Q. Are there scholarships available for new ECD leaders and/or

younger dancers?

A. Yes, following the lead of CDSS’s New Leaders, Good Leaders initiative and youth outreach, we can offer a very limited number of scholarships to young ECD callers and younger dancers who show promise in English country dancing. Please mention your interest in financial support and tell us a bit about your calling and/or dancing experience and aspirations, either in a note enclosed with your registration or in a separate email message sent to “Lenox.Assembly@gmail.com.” If you’re studying with someone, let us know whom. Be sure to include “Lenox Assembly Youth” in the subject line. You may ask your teacher to send a supporting statement.

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Q. May non-dancing guests attend?

A. Unlikely. Because of COVID-related capacity constraints we are severely limited in our ability to welcome non-dancing guests this year.

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Lodging:

Lenox Assembly attendees make their own lodging arrangements. A list of local inns and motels, with discounted Lenox Assembly rates, if offered, will be sent to your email address with your registration acceptance.

 

Food:

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• Saturday lunch: The lunch buffet will have something for everyone, including a hearty soup, veggie salads, drinks, and desserts.

• Sunday breakfast: Just what you need to get you through the final workshops, including fresh fruit, hard boiled eggs, whole grain breads, cheese, spreads, and beverages.

• Dance Party Snacks: Participants are encouraged to bring individual servings of simple desserts and savories to accompany our drinks during dance party breaks.

• Saturday Dinner: On Saturday after the last afternoon workshop, dancers should plan to have dinner on their own at one of the many neighborhood restaurants in the town of Lenox.

 

Application:

•Applications may be obtained by requesting one from the registrar, Deb Karl, at lenox.assembly@gmail.com

•Admission is limited to 64 dancers and will be at the discretion of the instructors.

Applications postmarked by Monday, January 31, 2022, will be considered together. Only full-time registrants will be considered. Applicants without U.S. bank accounts can delay payment until they have been accepted to the weekend.

•Fee: The cost of the weekend, including Saturday lunch and Sunday breakfast, is $195 per person (plus $15 per test kit if ordered from us). Please make checks payable for the full amount to Deb Karl, and mail to her with the application form, and, for each person applying, proof of vaccination, and signed liability waiver at 599 Chestnut St., Waban, MA 02468. The status of your application will be communicated by email.

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If you prefer to email the proof(s) of vaccination and the signed waiver(s), you may send a photo or scan to lenox.assembly@gmail.com with the Subject line “Vaccination & Waiver.”

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•Cancellation Policy: $10 per person is non-refundable. Should you need to cancel, we will refund the balance, if we can fill your slot. Cancellations due to changes in program or staff are subject to the same policy. If you are feeling ill, please cancel and we will refund all but $10 of your fee. We want you to come, but only if you're healthy.

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•Questions: Please contact: Deb Karl (617) 721-0600•Lenox.Assembly@gmail.com