Imagine having a dinner party at your house with 10-14 guests. Now imagine they were all great dancers and they all decided to stick around for 3-4 whole days so they could share their love and knowledge of dancing with each other... The friendships and positive group dynamics would make learning from each other much easier, and people would leave energized and inspired.
What main benefits do retreat participants report?
Andrew Sutton, an international lindy hop instructor from Sacramento, invited a number of people to his house for the first get-together in May 2005, during the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee. Mihai was there and loved the idea so much that, with Andrew's blessing, organized the first blues retreat in September 2005, around a Bill Borgida workshop.
When's the next one? Can I come?
Just like dinner at somebody's house, you need to either host or be invited. Please contact Mihai to express your interest; it helps to first answer the questionnaire. Anybody can offer to host a retreat, with or without Mihai or Andrew's help.
What do you look for in a dance retreat invitee?
In the past, it has been by mass e-mail. Mihai's current approach is to (1) discuss the possibility of a retreat with various dancers, (2) maintain a growing list of people who are interested in the retreat and have answered the questionnaire, and (3) invite people from that list by phone, one by one, whenever there is an opportunity for a retreat. See the history page for past attendees and an attendee profile. See also Andrew's article on how he invites people.
Isn't that exclusive and elitist?
The very definition of "retreat" implies a certain exclusivity. A regular dance at a studio can be a lot more inclusive than dinner at somebody's house. The main question is, do the organizer's choices do more good or harm to the community in which the retreat takes place, or the blues dance community in general?
First of all, the choice to have a retreat or not. Inviting great out-of-town dancers to any community is a plus, as long as (1) they come out and dance in public at least one night, (2) some members of the community participate in the retreat, so they bring some inspiration back to the community and (3) the retreat is organized with sensitivity and good communication.
Second, the choice to let people know that the retreat is happening. Past retreats have taken place without public announcements. Based on further feedback and thought, Mihai chose to be as open as possible, at least for the next couple of blues retreats, and mentioned the January retreat in the weekly Beyond Blues newsletter. This question will certainly come up again and could get answered differently in the future.
The intention of the dance retreat is to provide excitement, knowledge and inspiration to a group of dancers who have contributed and will contribute to their local dance communities. If you have further suggestions on how the retreat can be more inclusive without losing its essence, please don't hesitate to contact Mihai at 415.734.0129
How much does the dance retreat cost?
So far, the organizers have covered the costs themselves so that participants could come for free (besides their own travel and food expenses). Andrew had a suggested donation in 2006, which everyone gladly paid. The upcoming Half Moon Bay (January '07) and Memphis (February '07) retreats will also feature a suggested donation.
Charging a fee could actually be the difference between having one retreat a year (the current status quo) and having one or even two a month. Stay tuned to this website for more info...
What is the timeline for a retreat?
What kind of classes are taught?
Fun stuff. Read the questionnaire page for the instructions on what to teach, and ideas page for past and future classes.
Can the classes be videotaped and shared?
It is up to each individual retreat group to decide that. In the past, there has been either no videotaping, or the footage was sent only to participants with a request to not give it away.