The Pinewoods Summer Session for Country Dancers takes place at Pinewoods Camp, a rustic and much-loved dance and music retreat nestled in a 25-acre forest of pine and beech trees between Long Pond and Round Pond in historic Plymouth, Massachusetts. Established in the early 20th century, Pinewoods has long been a home for traditional dance and music communities, offering a setting that feels both timeless and deeply connected to nature. The camp features four open-air dance pavilions, cozy cabins, two clear-water lakes for swimming and boating, an open-sided Dining Hall with views across the water, and a Camp House where musicians and dancers gather into the night.

Scottish Country Dancing—the social and elegant ballroom tradition of Scotland—has been part of Pinewoods for generations. With roots in 18th-century court dances, French quadrilles, English country dancing, and native Scottish reels and strathspeys, it evolved into a distinctive form marked by precision, grace, and joyful collaboration. Danced in sets with partners and changing neighbors, it is both a technical and communal art.

At the Summer Session, this tradition comes alive each day. Dancers of all levels join morning and afternoon classes led by experienced teachers, always accompanied by live music—fiddles, piano, accordion—played in tune with the movement of the dancers and the rustle of the surrounding woods. Sessions balance skill-building with fun, laughter, and the pleasure of shared rhythm.

Evenings are when the magic deepens: ceilidhs, socials, and formal balls unfold under the stars or in warmly lit pavilions, where generations mix and the music carries long into the night. In 2003, to mark the 50th anniversary of Scottish dancing at Pinewoods (1953–2003), Joel LaMarre of the Salem Class designed a commemorative tartan—an emblem woven with memory, celebration, and the enduring beauty of dancing beneath the trees. 💙 💚 💛 🕺 💃