Kosmos Dance and Music Camp
1 rating since posting on Tuesday, June 27, 2006
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Overall Rating  based on 1 rating |
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Kosmos camp, in its fourth year proved itself as a breeding ground for creativity, inspiration, joy, learning, sharing and partying. Winding your way past the giant Clear Lake rec area, up twisting desert mountain roads, served as a tatse of what was to come. In a small town located near Lucerne, California, where many dairy products originate in the southwest, Kosmos camp is nestled in a small valley, surrounded by trees and hills. While temperatures generally dont soar as high as the 108 degrees we encountered, evenings were very pleasant. The large swimming pool served sweaty campers well, who were rocked to the core by high energy dance and music classes. New attendees should note that with Kosmos being as new as it is, growing pains are to be expected. On the first two days, classes were overfull, causing us to drop out, rather than rub elbows, and simply take notes instead of participate. Also, many of the classes are not beginner level so one should also consider this intensive weekend of learning is better suited to the intermediate, advanced and performance level student. Many of the instructors geared their classes to be friendly to all levels of student, however, some raced through rather fast, leaving those with no knowledge in that style, scrambling to keep up. I was happy that some of my students had not come with me, as they may have been frustrated by the pace. Students and instructors had the choice of lodging in a dormitory, similar to hostel lodging, in self erected tents, in 10' by 10' easy-up tents with walls and air mattresses, or cabin rooms shared with other individuals. Attendees should prepare to be surrounded by happy folks and plan to have little in the way of private time. Between large classes, shared meals, shared bathroom situations, swimming at the pool and just hanging out, one doesnt get much quiet time. With the heat bearing down, many found refuge napping in shadey corners, lounging inside fan-blasted cabins (we brought our own fans from home), or relaxing near the musicians who lulled us off to nap time. Classes go on all day long, with several types and styles to choose from. Contradictory to most dance festivals, this event holds a diverse offering for both dancers and musicians, so the crowd was unisex. Master instructors from lands like Guinnea West Africa, Syria, Colombia, Cuba, Greece, and more, brought their specialized talents to share with hungry campers. One could choose from classes such as Afro-Columbian Folk Dances, Tribal Fusion, Hula Fusion, Greek Line Dancing, or those with a mucical lean like Middle Eastern Rhythms, Flamenco Ensemble, Morroccan Ensemble and many more! This is just a sampling of the classes offered at Kosmos each year. Attendees are well fed with 3 meals offered each day. Breakfast served up some tasty egg mixtures, bagels, potato dishes, coffee and tea. Vegetarians were pleased to have that option and the vegetarian line was almost always the longer food line. Lunches had tasty treats with goodies like baked salmon, veggies, salads, dolmades, tsatziki, hummus and other varieties. Dinner was generally a nice warm dish like tortellini, lasagna, chicken and veggies and others. Fortunately, water coolers were stationed all over camp so dehydration was kept at bay. Should one arrive during roasting temps like we did, you might consider that the camp facilities are not air conditioned. On the other hand, had the temps been chilly, small space heaters are in each of the rooms but outdoor residents might have been cold at night. We loaded up with blankets, sheets pillows and small comforts from home, not knowing what camp would be like. We were glad we brought what we did. Some campers found that earplugs are a neccesity as loud parties can go on into the wee hours of the morning, After all, those who work hard enjoy playing just as hard. A jacuzzi and on-site massuese served those with aching muscles, as did a nice swim across the pool. Frigid shower water provided a nice reprieve from the heat as well. If one did hanker for some private time, we learned that there are gorgeous nature trails for hiking. A short drive into "town" was where we got ice daily for our water logged cooler, and enjoyed some of the best pizza I have every had on the way out of town. A majority of the campers were from the bay area as well as Sacramento, however we Arizonans made an appearance and mingled with another long distance traveler from Australia. Friendships were made, tons of info learned, music styles and dance styles were shared, and the evening entertainment sent us off at each day's end with huge smiles on our faces. One member of our party stated that the evening shows were like traveling around the world. This experience was such a moving one that our group vowed to return each year, no matter where we live in this giant world. Kosmos will serve as an annual reunion for members of NATIUM and WHITE CLAWS for many years to come! - K-Lee, just K-Lee , posted 06/27/06 |
Kosmos Dance and Music Camp was recommended for:
- Tribe: UNMATA
- Tribe: ATS
- Tribe: NATIUM World Dance
- Tribe: Tribal Bellydance
- Tribe: Bellydance
- Tribe: Kosmos Camp
- Tribe: Bellypraise
- Tribe: belly dance and related events
