Beantown Camp registration has been open for almost two weeks! Of course we sweated it out on opening night when everything went to overload. Once it all got rolling, it was excellent to see registrations pouring in.

Early Bird discount prices are currently available. Plus there are still some First Time discounts for those attending the week or whole shebang for their very first Beantown. Great bargains are still to be had!

Some of the housing options have filled, although there is plenty of available housing on campus. Be sure to check out some of the new options for 2016.

More exciting announcements are on the way!

Join the Beantown Camp 2016 Facebook event.

Beantown Camp Opening Soon!

Who knew back in 1997 when we held our first Beantown Camp that here we’d be in 2016 just about ready to open Beantown #20! So much has happened over the years and we are excited and grateful for how Beantown has evolved to become the amazing event that it is today.

This year Beantown runs from June 23-30 and will be back at Endicott College in Beverly, MA, a beautiful oceanfront location just north of Boston.

Here are just some of the reasons why you want to attend Beantown Camp 2016:

• Immersing yourself in a week of classes with an amazing collection of the world’s best Lindy Hop instructors!
• Dancing to some of the hottest Swing bands: Taryn Newborne and The Real Deal, Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five (two nights) and Gordon Webster (two nights)!
• Being entertained, awed and inspired watching the instructors perform in Beantown Bounce!
• Dancing with awesome Lindy Hoppers from all over the U.S. and beyond!
• Spending time with Norma Miller, living legend and original Lindy Hopper!
• Saturday Camp Social in a gorgeous shoreline setting!
• Fun competitions!
• Good times at Beantown Karaoke!
• Camp BBQ with lawn games in the beautiful Misselwood Tent!
• Bonding with classmates while trying to master that new move!
• Entertainment galore at Beantown’s Got Talent!
• Finding your Soul at a late night dance party!
• Three fabulous meals per day with many options to choose from!
• Rolling out of your bed and down to the beach for some relaxation time!
• Hanging at the pub with your new and old friends!
• Finishing your week filled with joy, exhilaration and lots of Lindy Love!

Important Beantown News

The past year presented some major challenges with Endicott College and Beantown, with the biggest issue concerning having minors on campus. The college has been undergoing some changes and starting with this year we will not be able to have anyone under 18 on campus. We were provided an exception for a handful of specific minors coming with key staff.

The changes taking place at Endicott are similar to many colleges these days. Some are eliminating all their summer programs to avoid the extra risks. Much of it has to do with all the scandals we hear about in the news. We were very worried about our being able to return this summer and, after meeting with the college president, were incredibly relieved we would be welcome back, although with some new parameters.

We are sad about having to restrict those who may come to Beantown, however, we are extremely grateful to have the opportunity to continue to hold our camp at this wonderful venue. So much of what Beantown has become is due to the spectacular setting, facilities and staff at Endicott. We can’t imagine being anywhere else.

Beantown Registration Announcement!

Registration is going live on Saturday, January 30 at 5:00pm EST!

Here’s what to look out for: 

• First Timer Discounts
• Special Tiered Early Bird Discounts
• International Discounts
• New On-Campus Housing Options

Much of the current info on the website is from 2015. Although this year’s camp will have many similar features, there are always some changes. More details will be available soon as the website is updated this week.

If you’ve never done the whole shebang, THIS is the year!

View the website for more information!

Join the Beantown Camp 2016 Facebook event.

On Saturday, January 16, Uptown Swing will be hosting a special Swing & Soul Dance at KI in Brookline. The dance will feature the fabulous Racky Thomas Band and guest DJ Javier Johnson, bringing a great mix of fun get-up-and-dance music.

There’s more! Included with dance admission, a special Intro to Partnered Soul lesson with Javi Johnson and a Soul Competition (with prizes)!

Full Uptown Swing details.

Join the Facebook dance event.

2015 is just about over and what a year it was! Some of our most wonderful highlights contrasted with some of our biggest challenges.

Of course there was the snow! For the first time ever we had to cancel a class session. Four cancelled Mondays in a row beat our previous record of one. We decided at that point to give up and try again with the new session. It was a longer wait than usual and very welcome when spring finally arrived.

Snow in Boston

May brought us one of our worst experiences when we almost lost Beantown about a month prior to opening day. The main issues had to do with some new insurance requirements that we were having an impossible time fulfilling. Thankfully we managed to squeak by under the deadline as we couldn’t imagine the alternative. It was a horrible experience which completely took us by surprise.

Despite any issues, Beantown managed to be the most wonderful ever. It was the best attended, however, it was the amazing week that reminded us why we do it every year. So much joy, so much love! We couldn’t be more grateful to every single person who attended and contributed to a most spectacular camp.

After a stressful summer wondering if we’d be back at Endicott, we were incredibly relieved in the fall to get a positive outcome. There are some new parameters to follow, but any cons are far outweighed by the positives. We are grateful to have such a beautiful venue which has contributed much to what Beantown has become.

September marked the 20th anniversary of Hop to the Beat, which was highlighted by an excellent Uptown Swing celebration. We enjoyed the most awesome jam ever and were particularly excited to reunite the Hop to the Beat Dancers. Mostly we were reminded of how grateful we are to have made so many friends and met so many fantastic people, all coming together through this fabulous dance that we love so much.

Uptown Swing Dance November 2015 photo album
Also available on Facebook

The year once again closed out with another awesome Skye-Naomi-Gordon weekend. We couldn’t have ended our dance year on a higher note, full of friends, fun, inspiration, spirit and sheer bliss!

Skye Humphries & Naomi Uyama Workshops 2015 photo album
Also available on Facebook

Now it’s time to look forward to the new year!

Wishing you much joy and happiness in the new year.

Happy dancing,
Aurelie & Tony