BACDS American Dance and Music Week — June 30–July 5, 2013 BACDS American Dance and Music Week, June 30–July 5, 2013

Registration Information and Details

Camp Was WONDERFUL!

but now it's in the past. Keep an eye on this page for announcements about next year's camp!

Here's the information for our most recent camp:

The full camper fee of $625 includes room, board, and tuition.

All registration applications must be accompanied by the required minimum deposit of $150 or the full fee, and will be considered in order of receipt of payment. Please mail check or money order in US dollars drawn on a US bank, or use the online payment by credit card.

We reserve the right to refuse registration or admission to anyone whose behavior has been judged by the dance organizers to be disruptive, harassing, or dangerous.

Detailed camper information will be sent out in early May.

T shirt image

Register by May 30 and a FREE Camp T-Shirt is included in your registration! Dance gypsies will want to include this unique design in their collection.

Final payment is due on May 30.

If final payment is not received by June 5, your registration may be canceled (and subject to $30 cancellation fee) and your slot offered to the next camper on the wait-list. Registration after May 30 must be paid-in-full online by credit card, in person by cash, or by mail with cashier’s or traveler’s check.

If you are planning air travel, it may be helpful to know that camp is a little less than a one hour drive from either the San Francisco or San Jose, CA, airports. Many airlines fly into one or both airports which are equally convenient, so airfare and schedule convenience can be your guide. The Oakland airport is the other Bay Area airport, and may be an option for you if you are planning to spend extra time here before and/or after camp.

The camp program begins with dinner 5:30pm Sunday, June 30. Campers can begin arriving at camp after 1:00pm. If you are assigned setup chores (see your detailed information which will be sent in May), please plan to arrive at camp no later than 1:00pm to help with camp setup.

All cancellations incur a minimum $30 fee. $150 will be retained for cancellations received after April 26. $400 will be retained for cancellations received after June 5. The entire registration fee will be retained for cancellations received after June 16. To protect your investment, you may wish to consider purchasing trip cancellation insurance.

Only full-time registrants will be accepted. Participants 13-17 years old are welcome if accompanied by a responsible adult. Smoking is not permitted in any area of the site, and pets are not allowed. Alcohol is prohibited on the YMCA grounds. The YMCA camp requires all campers to complete and submit a release form prior to camp.

In keeping with the community-building character of the American Dance and Music Week Camp, all campers are expected to contribute by performing light daily chores. For the health of all camp participants, please use fragrance-free personal hygiene products (provided by the camp). Detailed information regarding products provided, as well as those you might choose to bring yourself will be provided following your acceptance.

The new camp location and revised schedule allow for a greatly reduced camp fee, only $625. To encourage participation by younger campers and unemployed or under-employed members of our dance community, we have a new sliding scale for reduced camp fee. We ask all campers who are able to pay the full $625 camp fee to do so. But if that would make it impossible for you to join us at camp, please consider the sliding scale reduced fee, and sign up for additional chores (including helping with setup and take-down). The number of reduced-fee spaces is strictly limited by the number of full-fee campers, so please help support your fellow campers by paying the full fee if you can.

Housing is dormitory-style cabins, each holding up to 12 people. For more privacy, you may wish to bring a tent and gear, and camp in the meadow or among the redwoods. Please indicate your housing preference with your registration. We're sorry, but semi-private rooms are not available this year as they had been in the past.

BACDS offers two other summer dance camps in 2013: English Week at Bishop Ranch near Healdsburg in Sonoma County, and Family Week at Foothill Horizons in Sonora at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Key Deadlines

  • November 15
  • Online Registration Opens
  • March 9
  • $150 Deposit Due
  • (All cancellations incur a $30 minimum cancellation fee)
  • March 23
  • Notification of Acceptance
  • April 27
  • $150 Cancellation Fee Retained after this date
  • May 30
  • Final Balance Due
  • $400 Cancellation Fee Retained after this date
  • June 16
  • No Refund upon Cancellation
  • June30
  • Camp Begins!
Hey, 4 for 3

Transportation to Camp

[Picture of a Bus]

We will send an e-mail to registered campers to ask about your transportation needs, dietary restrictions, medical needs, etc.

There is no shuttle service from San Francisco area airports to the dance camp. The Jones Gulch camp is inland from the coastal village of Pescadero, less than one hour driving time from either San Francisco or San Jose airports. You can also rent a car at either of the airports.

I appreciate the friendliness of the BACDS organizers. Makes first timers feel welcome. [I] enjoyed the little extras—coffee bar, dress-up, costuming, etc.

- Craig Meltzner, Santa Rosa, CA