the Dancing Bears      

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Contra Dancing in Anchorage, Alaska
Camp in your own tent or RV, or bunk in one of many available cabins.  The camp property is large, so there is plenty of room spread out, stroll through the woods, and get away for quiet time when you want to.
Your Dance Camp registration fee includes meals, camping space or cabin, dance workshops, and evening dances.  

An action packed three day weekend of Fun!
 REQUIRED!
      REQUIRED!
It is BEST to use the Button ONLINE REGISTRATION. It will take you through all of the necessary forms you need to Register for Dance Camp.

You may choose to pay by credit card or by physical check, which you will need to mail to the Registation Bears, Bob and Peg at the address shown below.  A convenience fee is added to credit card payments.

If you do not use the Online Registration option, you will need to snail mail the forms to the Registration Bears. Address below.
The Registration Form and the Waiver Form must both be filled out and signed and returned to register for camp. 
CAMP 2023 ACCEPTANCE PACKET 

Dance Campers! We have made many changes since previous years, so please read all about them to help make your Camp experience the best it can be! Please check out all the NEWLY REVISED and UPDATED Camp info by clicking on each of the tabs below! We ask that you read the info thoroughly...even if you have been to Camp before. You can print any pages that you may need. Thank you for helping our Camp to run smoothly. 
Acceptance Letter Basic information about Camp—what to bring and what to expect. 


Parents’ Information What you need to know if you’re bringing kids to Camp. 
Guardianship Paperwork -- THE FORMS AND INFO YOU NEED TO HAVE IF YOU ARE BRINGING MINOR CHILD TO CAMP WHO IS NOT (LEGALLY) YOURS. 
Read more about the Dance Camp Auction. 
 Click, Auction SOLD!
Camp Rules -- Yes it does!! 
 Dance Camp is located at King's Lake Camp 
​3313 Lakeview Road, Wasilla AK 99654
Dance Camp Notices and Announcements:  

PLEASE SHARE THIS INFO WITH YOUR DANCING FRIENDS!
Please tell your dancing friends that we strongly encourage them to sign up for the listserv if they are not on it already. We will post all the latest info on Camp to the listserv and we would hate for them to miss some significant tidbits because they aren't getting listserv messages. Signing up is easy...just jump online and go to: thedancingbears.org where they will find a white box 3/4 down on the right-hand side of the Home Page to “Subscribe to Listserver”. Clicking on the box will get them to another box in which to type one’s email address.It is also easy to remove one’s name from the list after Camp should one not want to continue to receive Bears and dance-related emails.


DANCE CAMP NEEDS YOUR TALENT! JOIN OUR CADRE OF AMAZING WORKSHOP TEACHERS AND MUSICIANS!
Dancing Bears Dance Camp is Memorial Day weekend, May 26 - 29, 2023. We are looking for folks who want to teach us to dance, as well as musicians who will play for those classes. In past years, in addition to our "usual" dance and music classes, our classes have included yoga, massage, Irish dance, juggling, rounds, and shape note singing--all taught by talented locals. It's a great way to be a part of Camp and you even get paid a little!

We have kids coming to Camp every year so a kid or family workshop could be just the thing. If you have a workshop in mind that you would like to offer, please send me a short description and information on what your workshop would need in the way of music/supplies/space and we'll give it our consideration. If you know of folks who might be interested but aren't on this listserv please share this request with them. contact me via email at nearingmb@hotmail.com or call 907-360-9448 (Anchorage).

We will have online registration available again this year. The link will go live on March15. The simplest way to register is to use the
​link button labeled Online Registration.

 If you choose to use a credit card, there will be an added convenience fee. You are welcome to send a check if you prefer not to incur that cost. Details will be online.

The Playshop Schedule is still being created and is not available at this time.

AGAIN THIS YEAR—DANCE CAMP DISCOUNT RATES FOR STUDENTS 19-25!

We are pleased to offer a discount for students 19-25 —Perky Student Bears (with an ID and registering before April 30)
will be able to attend Camp for only $240. Student Bears on Scholarships will pay half; if you want a scholarship please read the information below. 

A REMINDER ABOUT DANCE CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS
Cost for this year's Dance Camp will be $330 for Perky Bears and $165 for Perky Student Bears. If you are looking for a way to lighten the financial load for Camp, we have several scholarships available. Scholarships cover half the cost of your Camp fee and entail participating in 7-8hours of Camp work, generally helping in the kitchen, but there are also some for other activities such as helping with the Silent Auction and Camp cleanup.

Scholarships are awarded on a first come, first served basis. A scholarship does NOT guarantee that you will get into Camp...you need to register as usual. You must be CONFIRMED as a Scholarship Bear BEFORE registering as one. The details of the tasks and the registration process may be less confusing if we chat about them. If you are interested in a scholarship or have any questions please contact Barbara Rowland in Anchorage, or email [email protected] soon to get the scoop!





Buttons to pdf file links
You Want to Go -- 
Here is what you Need to Do
  BUT WAIT ! THERE'S MORE !
Really important stuff
***DO NOT SEND THIS FORM TO THE DANCING BEARS P.O. BOX! ** 
Send registration form with check to:

Dancing Bears Camp                 (Make check out to“The Dancing Bears”)     
 c/o Bob Hume and  Peg Faithful 
3101 Brookside Drive
Anchorage AK 99517-1867
 The full schedule of everything to do at Dance Camp!   What! Where! When!  
Details of Camp Schedule and Playshops are Currently under development and will be available as soon as possible.
​What are Playshops? They are like workshops, except they are Fun!
 King’s Lake Camp. Wasilla AK. May 26-29

Callers

Wendy Graham Settle of Durango Colorado serves up delicious and nutritious dances for all. She hosts folk and social dances in her hometown and calls community dances, and dance camps in the U.S. and abroad.

Jacqui Grennan of Los Angeles choreographs many of the dances she calls, paying special attention to transitions, connectedness and timing. She is the dance organizer for the Fiddling Frog Dance Festival in Pasadena CA.

Bands

Free Raisins. An energetic dance band from Boston, San Francisco and Vermont, the Free Raisins fuse New England roots with a modern groove. They promise a versatile mix of extremely danceable tunes- come out and get your two scoops worth!

KGB. With fiddle, mandolin, guitar and piano, KGB creates subversive music, lulling the unwary with traditional New England contra tunes, then jumping off into Balkan modalities, tango riffs and bluesy jigs.

COVID Policy

The Dance Camp Covid policy is based on Center for Disease Control recommendations and Country Dance and Song Society Community Guidelines. We will assess the situation just prior to opening registration. If you register and become ill before camp, if someone in your household becomes ill, or if you are otherwise exposed to COVID, please stay home - we will refund your fee.


THIS IS OUR COVID PLAN in a NUTSHELL

We will require documentation of up to date vaccinations.
● Send a picture of vacc card by email or picture by text prior to 5 pm 5/25/23

OR

● Wait in line at Thursday Dance (or camp) to show your vaccination card.

We will require proof of a negative test (Thurs. dance & camp).
● Documentation of negative PCR test will be accepted.

OR

● Picture of test strip (rapid self test) with your name on it & time stamp less than 72 hours; text or email to
[email protected] and [email protected] prior to 5 pm 5/25/23

OR

● Wait in line to test at dance on Thursday, or at camp Fri.
We encourage all to reduce exposure by masking 1 week prior to camp for all Indoor exposure.
We encourage masking at camp, but will not require masking.
The Dancing Bears invites you to our Dance Camp for a full weekend of dancing, camping, recreation and community over Memorial Day weekend! The fun begins with a Welcome Dance Friday evening, and ends Monday afternoon after our final dance. All weekend long, we’ll partake in contra and square dances, workshops of all sorts, catered meals, activities on the scenic Kings Lake at our rustic camp, and so much more. Our camp is kid friendly, and entirely self-contained. Please join us!

We have some terrific talent from Outside lined up, and some important health protocols:
Get the best Perky Bear Rares!   Register before April 30
Perky Bear, $330.
Perky Student Bear (19-25, with student ID) $240
Scholarship Bear (work 7 hours during camp) $165.00
Student Scholarship Bear (19-25, with student ID, work 7 hours during camp) $120.00
Direct questions about Scholarships to Barbara Rowland
907-223-2327 [email protected]
​See more about Student Rates and Scholarships in the Notifications box below.