DANCE CAMP WALES
To my surprise, now in 2026, the concept of this project has remained unchanged since my participation in 2004, 2006, and 2010. I read that many of those who participated back then now come with their children and fulfil various camp roles, as this is part of the experience—both contributing and/or relaxing.
I’m using a photo from above that wasn’t available “back then”,
Photos and drawings in this report are my response to Dance Camp.
Translation from my sketchbook, end of July 2004
Dear Gerhard, dear Karin,
Here I am sitting in front of our
little fire with all the kettles, in South Wales, in the middle of a huge meadow with countless tents of all sizes.
It’s the Dance Camp that Jo and Louise have been attending for years now. I’m a newcomer, but
I’m slowly being drawn into this very unique atmosphere.
Today
Even the warmth of summer is on our side, and I sat down right in the middle of it all and actually picked up a few watercolours.
But around me, as on every one of the 10 days here, there were lots of workshops of all kinds. Dancing, circle dancing, drumming, singing, skills of all kinds, playing instruments, stilt walking, soccer, performances, lectures, etc.
Jo had offered it to me again and again,
but I always hesitated. Somehow, school still has me in its grip, and
I can’t quite let myself go in this creative way yet (that’s how I feel).
Now it’s only another year for me, and I feel pretty silly still to mentally participate in thinking about school life.
But the end is in sight.
And here’s the surprise for you! You’re invited to our real party next year in our garden and house, where 4 weddings have already taken place successfully, on July 23 2005.
The whole camp is organised like a large family event with many smaller families in circles. Everyone is very caring. Lots of hugs.
Workshops, meditation, stilt building, salsa, samba dancing,
circle dances, drumming, jazz, folk… and of course, no one has to participate?!
I first took part in the summer of 2004 with Jo and my daughter Louise, who was staying separately from us in the teenage area.
I didn’t take a single photo of the construction for the loos and the enormous amount of wood shavings used for it—hardly forgivable. Likewise, I only admired the technical area tucked away in a corner of the meadow.
Everything was not only there, but also a constant open workshop for independent learning.
The steering committee had planned everything very carefully and discussed it regularly with everyone present. The largest tent was reserved for discussions. It was a democratic and progressive process. And every meeting ended with all participants in a circle to perform a simple dance.
I felt like an outsider, but at the same time, I was deeply involved.
During my first stay, it even helped me plan my last year teaching before retirement, for classes of 17- to
19-year-olds, and later also helped me maintain my confidence in my alternatives.
A view from our tent during unloading and setup
before all the cars retreated to a parking slot.
It starts right away. Those who are ready gather in a circle around a small group of musicians.
This colourful chain that slowly swings to the right and left fascinated me, and… did the participants actually dress up for it?
Foremost, I noticed the movements. The information given was absorbed differently depending on people’s physical ability and capacity for learning.
This worked because everyone was considerate.
I myself had difficulties with the dance steps and took it to heart to improve.
However, this hardly happened, and ultimately it wasn’t that important to me.
What interested me were the diverse movements within this co-operative community.
That I thought about in relation to our coexistence in society.
The many patches of colour invited me to still life photography and to
watercolour paintings.
… and to run a workshop on it
I carried this idea of colour and movement with me.
That got me going. The camera helped me. It wasn’t so much to take part in the activities on offer, but to observe
the people in action.
Adults and children had a good time.
Here, we had found our way around living in a circle.
Someone even came from the healing tent and helped as we settled in.
Louise involved in acrobatics.
This is Eric with his tent behind him in my workshop 2010, recycling milk bottles as part of a procession in the end.
Back home and in my studio I tried to relive what I observed during my Dance Camp stays.
Being back home and in the exceptional situation
to have a Studio and time and money, I gave way to my own artistic developments.
In my teaching in the German School I run an afternoon course on woodwork and used a fret saw for cutting thin plywood. As a child I had used hand saws, but in the 90’s I bought an electrically run machine. The blades break easily. Therefore I had to be very patient to avoid any wrong pressures. Lines come out NOT totally accurately. But it became the character like in my sketching and a reminder on “Scherenschnitte” – cut paper designs.
I made layers of panels on sliding tracks as a kind of diary and reminder of Dance Camp impressions.
It was Sylvia who, very originally,
made us aware of this DANCE CAMP WALES, and it was she who invited friends to
her house for dance sessions in Caernarfon.
We also had sessions here where we live and on our lawn with experienced dancers.
