I have had decades-long relationships with three very special
and very diverse camps, which can give you an idea of the
range of groups I work with. Each of these camps has in time
developed their own set of favorite dances and dance traditions.
I think what I love most about these dances is that
in all three groups some of the young adults who are
now leaders began dancing with me at the camps when they were
small children!
Emandal
A large family-run farm on the banks of the Eel River
in a gorgeous part of Mendocino County, east of Willits. The
children are of all ages, and over the years I've called for
their summer camps (kids and counselors) and for their family-camps
(kids and parents), sometimes as many as six dances a year,
rarely less than two.
Westminster
Woods A Christian camp set in the cool shade
of the beautiful redwoods of western Sonoma County, in the
Occidental area. Each year, I call dances for their two sessions
of High School Camps, plus a pre-season dance for the counselors,
most of whom danced with me as campers! I never get to do
all their requests, but we cram in as many as we can in before
the call to campfire.
San
Francisco Girls Chorus Camp This one is held
on the hilltop directly across the Russian River from me,
at the Rio Lindo Academy, an annual dance for these talented
Bay Area girls at their camp in Healdsburg, 150 girls (and
a dozen chorus leaders and advisors) on a large ballfield.
The girls are all musically gifted and most have danced with
me at the camp in past years, so we race through the dances
one after the other, trying to get them all in, although of
course we never succeed! Sometimes I get to hear the girls
singing as they are coming or going, their beautiful voices
echoing off the stone walls of the Academy. In 2007, I called
for the camp alumni, the beautiful women all the girls grew
up to become!
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