Camp Savoy - anyone been, anyone going?

[clevedonboy]

Really tempted to try this out - I've heard it's good from Lindy teachers, but haven't heard from a mere mortal dancer.

So has anyone been? anyone going in August? Any tips?

[buca]

It's a great camp, the band are fantastic, teachers are good, Ryan and Jenny are very hard but then the best often are. If you haven't come across them before they are the Lindy teachers on Strictly Come Dancing.

IMHO it's a choice between that Harrang or Beantown for the best camp, though it's the shortest and the easiest to get to.

::adam
www.londonlindyexchange.com

[TiggsTours]

I'm thinking of doing it this year, really hoping I can fit it in, Ryan & Jenny are just superb!

[Minnie M]

Originally Posted by buca

..... Ryan and Jenny are very hard but then the best often are. If you haven't come across them before they are the Lindy teachers on Strictly Come Dancing...

woops - you mean Strictly Dance Fever

You'll find me 'on the door' again this year - I have been part of the crew since it started

It is a great event, very well organised - the accomodation is not bad (given it is Student accom) the main hall is enormous with a great floor. The teachers are the best - but most of all CASEY MAGILL & his band

The band are incredible and the cabaret is the best I have ever seen as Casey and his boys are actually part of it

BTW it is held at Surrey Uni (Guildford)
If you like lindy this is a MUST - see you there

Originally Posted by buca

IMHO it's a choice between that Harrang or Beantown for the best camp, though it's the shortest and the easiest to get to.

I've done Herrange (hated it) plus got bitten to death almost - Beatown sounds great but just got back from Boston - IMHO prefer The Boston Tea Party - but you can't really compare a weekend in Surrey to a week in foreign lands

[Msfab]

Originally Posted by Minnie M

I've done Herrange (hated it) plus got bitten to death almost - Beatown sounds great but just got back from Boston - IMHO prefer The Boston Tea Party - but you can't really compare a weekend in Surrey to a week in foreign lands

And whats wrong with Surrey?

Do you have to do the whole thing, or can I just go for an evening?

[Minnie M]

Originally Posted by Msfab

And whats wrong with Surrey?

Do you have to do the whole thing, or can I just go for an evening?

Camp Savoy

Surrey is lovely but you can't get any duty free stuff on the way home

[Lindsay]

The cabaret at Camp Savoy is AMAZING!!!
One of the best I've ever seen, and it's done to live music. Whole w'end highly recommended.

[Minnie M]

Just got back from the crew meetin at Camp Savoy - can't say too much, but it will be better than last year AND Casey's band on Saturday night will have extra musicians

If you like swing - this must be one of the best camps (if not the best) we have in the UK

Does anyone know if the Swing Jam is on this year ?

[Lindsay]

Originally Posted by Minnie M

Does anyone know if the Swing Jam is on this year ?

Site is down... has if folded?? Hmmm...

[Minnie M]

Originally Posted by Lindsay

Site is down... has if folded?? Hmmm...

I have been told that it was announced last year that the organisers Fred & Beckie were retiring from weekend events and that 2005 would be their last - I have emailed them to ask what is happening. but they haven't replied. The people I have asked said it was NOT on ........... No Frankie this year now

BTW Camp Savoy is getting booked up pretty fast, as many who were going to JATW have booked CS, plus those who could only afford one swing weekend in August now do not have a choice.

[Lindsay]

Thanks 4 the info....
That's a shame, but there's so much choice now!
Won't make Camp Savoy, but am going 2 Beach Boogie What u doing this year holiday-wise?

[jezzyjj]

The thing I'd say that's particularly good about Camp Savoy [and there are lots of good things about it] and that is that Ryan + Jenny are very keen on making sure the beginners get looked after and taught properly. Their view is that beginners are the future of the dance and quite sensibly realise that getting basics sorted is a good foundation for dancing. Very well organised event.

Herräng is much better from an overall experience point of view, but comparing a month long event to a long weekend do is really fair. You're not comparing like with like. But if you go, do make sure you have lots and lots of anti mossie spray or a girlfriend who mosquitos love to munch.
Minnie M, sad to hear you hated Herräng, never come across anybody with that reaction b4. Why didn't you like it?
Ryan + Jenny teach at Herräng too!

EDIT
I should add R+J have recently approached me to do some to do some pics for this years camp. But I was very impressed with last year's camp and went on the strength of their excellent teaching at Herräng.

[Minnie M]

Originally Posted by jezzyjj

.......Minnie M, sad to hear you hated Herräng, never come across anybody with that reaction b4. Why didn't you like it?

Firstly .... I hates the mossies ........... I had bites on my bites !!!!

I was humiliated in the classes (not going to publicise the story) so I ended up only doing about 2 or 3 classes the whole week

At the evening dances NO-ONE ask me to dance (other than the people I came with) and I felt far too intimidated to ask anyone However, I did really enoy the fun night it was "Woodstock" and we had a real ball - but no one danced Lindy all night

The only good (dance-wise) thing about the week was a private class I had with Cookie (Angela Andrews) which was amazing, and I possibly learn more in that one half hour (she was too busy to give me an hour) than I would have the whole week ! And I could have had that in England !!

I am not the only one who does not enjoy Herrange, many many good dancers feel the same. Just think about it, you don't see a lot of the regular faces on the Lindy dance scene at Herrange Most go once, but not that many go back You either love it or hate it

[jezzyjj]

Originally Posted by Minnie M

At the evening dances NO-ONE ask me to dance (other than the people I came with) and I felt far too intimidated to ask anyone

I would agree it's very intimidating, actually a bit frightening if you aren't a good lindyhopper, though as you are a follower it's a lot easier than being a leader with all those amazing dancers around. I think at that sort of thing one has to make the effort to ask for dances as people outside of you class probably won't know you, but I got to know lots of people during my time there and met others from home, which was nice.
I learnt lots of good stuff, which due to the dearth of Lindy freestylye in area I have all forgotten.

[Minnie M]

Originally Posted by jezzyjj

I would agree it's very intimidating, actually a bit frightening if you aren't a good lindyhopper, though as you are a follower it's a lot easier than being a leader with all those amazing dancers around. I think at that sort of thing one has to make the effort to ask for dances as people outside of you class probably won't know you, but I got to know lots of people during my time there and met others from home, which was nice.
I learnt lots of good stuff, which due to the dearth of Lindy freestylye in area I have all forgotten.

It helps if you are slim and young (BTW under 35 is young for me) you have no problem asking - at my age and size there is the young fit swedes just looked down there noses at me and that is BEFORE I even asked them for a dance

[jezzyjj]

Originally Posted by Minnie M

It helps if you are slim and young (BTW under 35 is young for me) you have no problem asking - at my age and size there is the young fit swedes just looked down there noses at me and that is BEFORE I even asked them for a dance

I always think you should judge a dancer by their footwork not their size. Though, something I noticed when dancing in London a while back at Ceroc venues was that the curvier ladies were [on the whole] far nicer to dance with than the very slender ladies. Which seemed a bit odd. So I wondered if the skinny dancers had decided they were 'so attractive' that they didn't need to put the effort in to being a good dancer as being rake thin, they'd always be asked for a dance anyway.
Also many 'young' people aren't mature enough to socialise outside their age group.