Andrew Thigpen and Karen Turman, The Show at Beantown Camp 2010.
Testimonials
I am a longtime Beantown fan and have attended for 16 years. I love this gathering of friendly like-minded dancers, brilliant instructors, fabulous musicians and a deeply-caring management team. Aurelie and Tony pour their love and attention into every detail, and it shows. Yaaay, Beantown! I’ll be back. Thanks for everything.
Diane
It was my first time at Beantown camp, and I totally loved it. All was so well organized it was incredible. The many lessons were all excellent, the food was good, the campus is beautiful, the people fun, I made many new connections. It also felt very safe in all ways, even during Covid. If you like to dance, what more to ask for? It’s heaven!
Rhoda
Anyone who has ever spoken to me about swing dancing will *eventually* hear me talk about Beantown and how it is a permanent fixture in my annual dance schedule (since my first attendance in 2016) - and should be in theirs, too! It could be the world class instructors and musicians you can dance with and learn from on a daily basis. It could be the several consecutive days of immersion into swing dancing and music. It could be the excellent food and daily doses of ice cream on a college campus that understands how important it is to prioritize keeping the coffee urns full. It could also be the panel discussions and presentations on the history of this rich art form in which we all participate. Mostly, I think it is the thoughtful way that Tony and Aurelie have curated this camp to create a welcoming and delightful experience that attracts a certain brand of person and dancer that makes you not want to miss a single day and has you coming back year after year!
Kathleen
Beantown is family. Beantown is an easy choice. Beantown is nonstop fun and excitement. Beantown is the only event I need all year. Beantown is generous with Ambassadors. Beantown is opportunity. Beantown is mine and yours and all the past and future attendees.
Renny
I had a blast at Beantown Swing Dance Camp!! Camp was extremely well-run, the instructors were top-notch, the dancers were friendly, and the social events and food were awesome! I had such a natural high the entire week from all of the dancing and fun-filled activities!!
Lauren
You can make your Beantown experience as vacation-y or dance-intensive as you want. The community and content are absolutely worth the time and investment. It’s like a family reunion each year - the good kind :)
Maria
Beantown was a wonderful dance plus experience — plenty of dances, lindy-related classes, but more, classes that encouraged thinking from a wider perspective about dance and the role of this activity we love in life. Endicott College – on the ocean – is a location to die for – a great place to spend one’s precious summer vacation!
Deborah
This was an amazing week. I was a first-timer, and felt welcomed the entire time. The program and schedule were well organized, the atmosphere was friendly and welcoming, and the teachers top notch.
Sarah
This was my first time at Beantown. I got so much out of it! I learned so much! The instructors were really high caliber. I felt so fortunate to be able to immerse myself in the dance with a group of people who were all doing the same thing. Beantown helped me to hone my skills, while at the same time giving me the confidence to move outside my comfort zone and continue to learn and improve. Thank you for providing this very rich dance camp experience! It’s a gem!
Brenda
This was my first time attending Beantown and I loved it! I did the Extended Weekend, taking Beginner Plus and a few other classes. The instructors were great, enthusiastic and knowledgeable; the bands were top-notch; people were friendly and welcoming; campus environment was beautiful; food at the dining hall was good (and the staff working there were helpful). Dancing every day brought me joy, and I appreciated the overall positive energy during my time at camp. I learned a lot from the classes, and from the special guest interview as well as the live podcast. I definitely plan to return next year, and stay for the whole week!
Lisa
This event was perfect!! I loved the classes, instruction, performances and all the fun activities. the venue is amazing. teaching amazing. but what makes this event special is how easy it was to build new friendships and relationships. in the past I’ve been to dance weekends that have been outrageously cliquey but this event was the exact opposite. everyone was so accessible even the instructors and I made soooo many friends.
Kalz
This was my first time at Beantown Camp and it was a blast! During the week, I challenged myself physically, socially, and even emotionally. I met lots of people, learned a bunch of new things, and got to dance to my heart’s content. There were plenty of options for classes, activities during free time, and even food in the dining hall (hello: 12 flavors of ice cream! lol). And it all was run very smoothly on a beautiful campus at a bargain price. Highly recommend!
Dawn
It was my first time attending the camp but it changed my life. I was able to experience the joy of dancing, which I had heard others talk about, at the camp.
William
Beantown is a gift we all need to appreciate, If you have the opportunity GO! Don’t wait! The pandemic has shown us that things can change in an instant, don’t take for granted that it will just always be there. Here in the northeast we are so incredibly lucky to have this event available to us within driving distance, I don’t know how many more years Beantown will continue, but I plan to go every single year that I can. Nothing improves your dancing faster than the blending of dancers from different scenes and first class instructors. If I were having any more fun it would be illegal.
Dusty
I absolutely loved the Beantown dance camp. The instructors were great, there were a variety of classes for every level, and Endicott College provided a beautiful backdrop for all the activities. There were a number of not-to-be-missed social events, such as a Camp Social right on the beach and an oral history provided by Sugar Sullivan and Barbara Billups. I strongly recommend this for Lindy Hoppers of all levels who want to up their game and meet fellow dancers that share their passion.
Camille
Summer camp for adults-SWINGDANCE camp for adults…what could be better?!! So well organized, with great teachers, set on a beautiful college campus, with great food, on a beautiful section of New England coastline…Beantown is the BEST…something to look forward to all year long. Come once and you will be back every year!
Gayle
Beantown is one of my favorite dance events! I love the opportunities to socialize outdoors! Endicott campus is a wonderful location for a dance vacation! I enjoy walking past the fountains and sitting at the beach. It’s fun to stay in the dorms with friends and share meals, and the food is really good! The instruction is top-notch, and the fellow campers are friendly. I will be back!
Pamela
I came to Beantown from Seattle, primarily because it fit my schedule. Having gone once, I will 100% attend any time I’m able to! The instructors and dances were great, but what I particularly enjoyed was the opportunities to spend time hanging out and being social with others. Not only are there opportunities for this explicitly built into the schedule, the fact that everyone is staying at the same place, and eating at the same place and time as everyone else makes for a great, social environment!
Rachel
Tremendous value, lots of fun; a chance to learn from the very best in the industry, and to make friends with other swing dancers from all over. Just a great event.
Elaine
I just appreciate you so much!! The whole team who made this happen — amazing! Such a communal, wonderful experience, and so lovely after years away too.
Finally, again: I am so grateful to Tony and Aurelie for how much love they put into this. Beantown is hands down my favorite dance experience. Communal, friendly, warm, beautiful campus, all needs met, great schedule and instructors. I can’t believe how wonderful this camp is, year after year.
R
As a new dancer experiencing Beantown for the first time, I felt like I was at Dance Disneyland. The venue is fantastic, the instructors masterful and the amount and variety of extracurricular activities were perfect. I loved my Beantown experience & I feel my dancing improved dramatically. I will definitely be back!
