Weekend and Week-long Dance and Music Camps

BACDS operates a number of weekend and week-long dance and music camps catering to the needs of our community. Our camps cover a wide range of family friendliness and coverage of dance and musical traditions. Many are fragrance-free events.

Weekend Camps

Spring Fever

BACDS Spring Weekend ("Spring Fever") is a high energy multi-tradition dance and music weekend at the Monte Toyon camp near Aptos. Its program features an eclectic mix of dance, music, and singing workshops embracing both English and American traditions with a focus on high quality dance. The March 15-17, 2013 camp features three programming tracks from which you can mix and match: 1) Contra dance, 2) English Country Dance, 3) Music/singing/choreography/teaching including a community band. Staff includes national talent with The Syncopaths and Goldcrest joined by Susan Kevra, Sue Rosen, and Gary Roodman. For more information about this camp's program and schedule and talent, please visit the camp website.

Balance the Bay!

Balance the Bay is an urban Contra dance weekend held in San Francisco just a quarter mile from Ocean Beach. The weekend features high energy contra dancing, plus workshops in couple dancing, music, and calling. In 2013, Balance the Bay returns to the Janet Pomeroy Center overlooking Lake Merced, August 9-11, 2013. Come experience the cool of summer in San Francisco! For more information, please visit the website

Fall Weekend/Fall Frolick

2013 dates are October 18-20. Click the link above for the camp website with details on the amazing staff.

Through 2007, BACDS Fall Weekend was a family-friendly multi-tradition camp at the Monte Toyon camp near Aptos. Since 2008, Fall Frolick has been a primarily English country and display (morris/sword, etc) dance weekend, with a strong music and singing track.

Contra College

Contra College is an intimate group retreat focused on teaching Contra dance to new and intermediate dancers in a gorgeous location. Experienced dancers can improve their skills, help newer dancers, or practice the other gender role. Organizers are encouraged to come and discuss issues related to attracting and retaining new dancers.

Week-Long Camps

American Week

Thirty-two years after its first camp at the Mendocino Woodlands, BACDS American Week continues this long tradition at a new location. Join us for contras, squares, music, singing, and general fun in our new home on the San Francisco Peninsula at Jones Gulch YMCA Camp in the redwoods of La Honda, June 30 - July 5. For more information about the 2013 camp's program and schedule, please visit the camp website.

Family Week

Looking for a fun-filled week of dance, song, crafts, and activities for families of all sizes and ages? BACDS Family Week is the camp for you. Its program includes both age-specific and age-neutral activites, and is the ideal activity for families of all sizes (including families of one). For more information about the most recent camp's program and schedule, please visit the camp website.

BACDS Family Week celebrates its twenty-first year, at Foothill Horizons camp in Sonora in 2013, June 30 - July 6.

Hey Days (formerly English Dance Week)

With our new location at the beautiful Bishop's Ranch in the Wine Country of Northern California, BACDS English Dance and Music Week will continue the tradition of offering a fabulous array of workshops and music presented by the finest regional, national and international musicians and leaders of English country dance, display dance, song, and more. Featuring an ECD Callers course taught by Scott Higgs. In 2013, the camp will be held August 18-25. For more information about the camp's program and schedule, please visit the camp website.