CAMP BLUES -- Instant inclusion and accelerated mastery with the vibrant and friendly
blues dance community.
Welcome to Camp Blues, the only Blues
Dance event where you get to "camp-out" with leading instructors,
elite and beginning dancers and emerge a transformed master of
the dance rooted in African movement, the juke joints of the early 1900's, and the deeply-grounded pulse of blues music.
Have you ever tried learning a new language?
It can be a difficult and intimidating process when you have to struggle
through new words and concepts on your own. It's a lot easier when you
do it through immersion, surrounded by the language all the time,
picking it up in a fun, social, supportive context.
At Camp Blues, you learn the language
of blues dancing in the best possible way: through total immersion
in a friendly community of instructors, experienced dancers, and the
newly curious.
Over the course of several days you will
grow into your new role as a blues dancer. You will make connections
and share experiences with dancers from different backgrounds and skill
levels, study with world-class dance instructors, and enjoy practicing
your new moves at our exclusive nightly dance events.
For those new to the camp, this is going
to be a journey that will completely change your life as a dancer.
With activities scheduled from 9 am until 1 am each day (don't worry, late night activities are optional, so you can get your beauty sleep), Camp Blues
is designed to build your confidence and mastery with blues dance, develop
your connection to the community, and cultivate friendships that will
last for years to come.
If you've been to Camp Blues before,
WELCOME BACK! Now you have the opportunity to fine tune your skills
and add layers of subtlety to your dancing. There will also
be lots of new faces at Camp Blues this year, so in addition to reconnecting
with your fellow dancers from the community, you will have the chance
to greet and usher in developing dancers, eager to learn with you.
LEARN, PRACTICE, DANCE (YOUR HEART
OUT)
One of Camp Blues most valuable offerings
is the rock-solid instruction from a host of
world-class instructors. Mike
"The Girl" Legett (Philly), Reuel Reis (Nashville), Brenda Russell (Portland),
San Francisco's very own Ruth Hoffman, just back from a Bali teaching tour, and
Ted Maddry.
Best of all, Camp Blues offers a 4:1
student-teacher ratio, which means you get hours of individual
attention. All the instructors share one unified vision: We meet
you at your level and take you well beyond the next. Classes fit together
seamlessly to give you a holistic sense of blues dancing in a number
of different contexts. You'll learn:
* blues style (what makes it blues)
* musicality and rhythm
* body control, solo movement, and isolations
* lead/follow technique
* dance vocabulary and styles
* creativity
* connection and various embraces
* tone and relaxation
* balance, core engagement, and leverage
* how to have fun (seriously :)
* presence, breath
* aesthetics and visual appeal
* pivots, turns, and lunges
* body shaping
* advanced partnering and improvisation
In addition to great instruction, the
camp offers you plenty of time to learn from others and to practice
techniques with dancers above and below your skill level. So the
next time you go out into the dance world you will know exactly how
to get the most out of every dance with every partner.
We'll show you how to comfortably and
confidently ask fellow dancers for feedback and how to "listen"
to their movements as the most powerful indicator of how to improve
your dancing. We ensure that what you learn sinks in.
EAT, PLAY, PARTY (TILL YOU DROP)
Every morning you'll be treated to
a deliciously prepared breakfast. Every afternoon you'll receive
a nourishing lunch and shacks. We provide everything you need to sustain
a full day of dancing and to enjoy the company of passionate people.
And then... WE PARTY!
Did you think Camp Blues was only about
classroom instruction and drills? We didn't forget to schedule in
the most important part of the event - time to dance! On Thursdy, Aug 12th, we'll have a
group dinner then invite the Camp Blues alumni to join campers and instructors-turned-friends for an
old-fashioned Blues House Party! It's the kind of party where
everyone knows your name, and no one is left out.
On Friday, we will raid Friday Night Blues together and take no prisoners
on the dance floor.
On Saturday night some people will need a break and go to bed early, and others will hit The Rent Party,
offering lindy and Blues dancing in the heart of San Francisco's Mission district.
On Sunday, after we officially close camp, we'll mosie over to Tenderloin district
for a top notch live blues jam.
Every night you get to show up, show
off, and the best part... The slumber party!
RELAX, RECOUPERATE, AND REJUVINATE
(TO DO IT ALL AGAIN)
We'll be askign the Bay Area residents to host the out-of-towners so everyone
can get a chance to know one another outside of the classroom and off the dance floor.
Come join the slumber party! There will also be 1-2 "quiet houses"
if you'd like to be social in a more bite-size way.
You'll want to bring comfortable clothes (in layers) and shoes
to dance in. For the evenings, bring clothes to go out dancing.
And if you have
any special talents you'd like to share, come prepared and let the craziness begin! In the past
we've had national-caliber talent in such wonderful and zany arts as baloon sculptors,
clowns, singers, a bubble lady (I now know how the world looks from inside a soap bubble), and
many more. We want to know who you are off the dance floor too.
MEET, MINGLE, CONNECT (FOR FRIENDSHIPS
THAT LAST)
The number one thing we hear from people
is that Beyond Blues events are a great place to meet new people. So
if you're an up-and-coming dancer, this is the perfect opportunity
to talk to experienced dancers and make new friends.
If you're a veteran, you'll reconnect
with some of the most talented dancers in the Bay area! You'll also get to meet all the new recruits.
GET YOUR MONEY'S WORTH
OK so you get all of this... the instruction,
the dancing, the parties, the accommodations, the food, the friends,
and the memories. And because we value your inclusion in our community
we would like to offer you the Camp Blues experience and give you a
discount of over $100 off.
So if you register for your all-inclusive
pass to Camp Blues NOW.. then we will take $155 off the door price.
That's a $650 value for $495.
What You Need To Know:
Camp Starts: Fri, Aug 12 @ 10:00 am
Camp Ends: Mon, Aug 15 @ 7:00 pm
Cost: $650 at the door, $495 if you register now.
P.S. MONEY BACK GUARANTEE
We're so sure that you will have a
great time that we're happy to offer a money-back guarantee. Come
join us for this unique experience. We guarantee that your dancing will
never be the same. But you don't want to get stuck paying full
price at the door. Act quickly, register now!
WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU THERE!!
**Make sure we know your sleeping arrangement
preference when you register.
***Please let us know about any special
diet requirements when you register so we can take care of you.
(We can accommodate meals for vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free, and
other special dietary needs!)
Registration