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!

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.

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!

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!

“Beantown is a wonderful place: Incredible instruction, bands that swing hard, a kind community of dancers and the ocean for a dip after hours of sweating. I always return home feeling completely inspired and rejuvenated.”

“The teachers are fantastic, the music is phenomenal, and the social dancing is wonderful, but my favorite part of the week was mealtimes. It’s special to be able to sit with people of all dance levels and get to know them off of the dance floor. A great opportunity to build community in the lindy hop scene!”

“Dance workshops in the morning & afternoon, fantastic meals throughout the day, fun early evening activities and then Swing dances to great live bands every night (and everything located on a beautiful campus): ideal swing-dance vacation! Been going every year since 2014 and will continue for as long as I’m physically capable.”

“I really love the opportunity to do a full week. Thank you!!” “Beantown is such an amazing event - great bands, great instructors, beautiful campus, lots of other activities to keep us busy. I love it that they have awesome food options. Every. Single. Meal. Seriously, it’s awesome that so many attendees are taken care of.”

“Beantown is a wonderfully fun learning experience! I was too intimidated as a newbie dancer to attend, but after seeing what it’s like, I shouldn’t have been. It’s perfect for all levels!”

“Beantown is one of the rare places where I can fully immerse myself in dance and friends for a week. It’s somehow always exactly what I need. As a dancer. As a person. You can come as you are and Beantown will scoop you right up.”

“I love the atmosphere there. I’m happy to see everybody, and feel welcomed by everybody. It’s a wonderful island of tranquility and goodwill in turbulent times. Oh, and it always improves my dancing.”

“Everything was amazing as always; the bands, the instructors, the food, the venue, the company. Beantown is the perfect place to get away from your daily routine and be immersed in a joyful world of music and dancing. It is always hard to leave that magical world. Looking forward to next year!”

“Wonderful teachers fantastic food glorious beach…an amazing week! Best camp in the world!”

“This is a world class event! From the dining hall staff and the food (daily ice cream floats!), to the bands, the instructors, the organizers, and all the dancers! Beantown is a welcoming place to learn to dance, make new friends, bring the swing community together. The location is amazing, the ocean side campus is relaxing and soothing. It’s a delight to dip your feet into the water when your brain is filled to capacity with syncopations! The worst thing about Beantown is having to leave.”

“Beantown camp is simply amazing. It is the ultimate retreat and vacation for lindy hop dancers!”

Thank you so much for yet another fabulous Beantown! Once I catch up on my sleep, I’ll start looking forward to next year. :)

Hope you are enjoying the rest of the summer now that camp is over. The Show was a wonderful addition to Beantown, pulling together terrific performances in a much more effective setting than the dance floor. I hope you continue it every year. It’s worth the price of admission.

As always the wonderful instructors are the biggest draw for me. Ryan and Jenny are unsurpassed, of course, but I enjoyed Skye and Naomi’s classes a great deal as well. Michael and Evita just blew me away with their performances and are always among my favorite teachers. Their teaching skills match their performance skills and they are as unpretentious as any instructors I’ve ever worked with.

Thanks for the months of work you and Tony put in to make Beantown such a terrific experience. See you in the fall.

Beantown was such a wonderful time. Thank you Tony and Aurelie! It was an honor to come and be apart of it all. Can’t wait to see what you create for next year!

Cheers to you, and thanks for ALL your HARD WORK for a great BEANTOWN!