The San Francisco Bay Queer Contra Dance is hosting its fifth annual dance camp within the lush redwood forest of Monte Toyon, a beautiful camp facility near Santa Cruz, 79 miles south of San Francisco, where you'll be housed and fed and offered a weekend of gender-role-free dancing. Beginners are welcome. Contra is an exuberant, friendly, easy-to-learn American barn dance with roots in English folk dance. While many of our dancers are LGBT, we cheerfully welcome folks of any and all persuasions! Take a weekend away to dance, relax, make friends, and enjoy the lovely California redwoods.

Band: Perpetual e-Motion (Ed Howe & John Coté)
Contra Dance: Chris Ricciotti
English Country Dance: Lise Dyckman
English Musician: Rebecca King
Sound: Nick Cuccia

Perpetual e-Motion: "Captivating, passionate, and propulsive" are adjectives that best describe the music of this young power duo from Maine. Perched at the convergence of traditional and electronic dance music, Ed Howe and John Coté integrate technical and sonic innovations with old school traditions to create an enormous sound full of momentum and groove. Perpetual e-Motion comes enthusiastically recommended to us by our friends back East as the hottest contra band in America right now. Prepare to be uplifted and transported!

Chris Ricciotti: Gender-role-free contra dancing began with Chris, who created the band/bare arm method over 20 years ago and has since helped to establish several non-gendered dances across the U.S. Famous for his warmth and supportiveness as a contra caller, Chris is adept with dancers of all levels of experience. Based in Boston, he's been calling dances in New England and throughout the country for many years and is a founder of the Lavender Country and Folk Dancers organization and LCFD Dance Camp.

Lise Dyckman: Lise began leading English country dance in Philadelphia and New York City and since 1995 has been calling and organizing dances in the Bay Area. Reconstructing old dances and composing new ones are complementary interests for Lise, and her ECD repertoire is as varied as it is lively. Known for her empathetic, encouraging teaching style, she strives to "create space for dancers to discover their own delight." Queer Contra Dance began with a discussion around Lise's kitchen table, and she's one of our founders.

Rebecca King: A much sought-after Bay Area musician, Rebecca will play for our English sessions. She is a classically trained pianist with roots in jazz and folk music, and in addition to solo performing, Rebecca also plays in bands Flashpoint and Luceo. Her emotional lyric style with strong rhythmic accompaniments makes her a favorite for dancers and musicians alike.

Nick Cuccia: A longtime favorite of dancers and musicians, Nick brings his sound expertise back to QCDC. Nick strives to enhance the dancing experience by providing sound that is both clear and enjoyable. In addition to our first three camp weekends, Nick has been sound engineer for BACDS' Family Week, English Week, Fall Frolick/Fall Weekend, Playford Ball, and Fall Ball, as well as NBCDS's Mad Robin Ball. Nick also leads and teaches contra, English and barn dances throughout northern and central California.

Monte Toyon: Nestled in a grove of coastal redwoods, Monte Toyon camp is adjacent to the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park in Aptos, California. Accommodations include shared rooms in Cary Lodge and Miller and Morris Dormitories, ranging 4-10 people a room. (If you have a lodging preference, including co-ed or same-sex options, please arrive when camp opens at 6:00 p.m. on Friday; rooms are not pre-assigned.) Meals are served buffet-style with vegetarian and vegan options. (Refrigerator space is available for those on special diets.) Monte Toyon also offers hiking trails and a beautiful rhododendron garden.

Bedding: Campers bring their own sleeping bags or sheets, blankets, and pillows. Local dancers can help those coming by plane: please provide bedding to help lighten a traveler's load and save on baggage expenses. If you can provide/would like bedding, please check the box on the registration form.

Non-gendered Housing: The second floor of Cary Lodge (including bathrooms) will have no gender designation--neither will bathrooms in the dancing and dining hall areas. If you require a bed in a non-gendered room, please indicate so on the registration form and space will be reserved for you. Priority is given to transgender individuals and their companions.

Dance camp opens at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, March 30. Dancing begins Friday night at 8:00 and runs through 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. Expect a weekend full of contra dance (accessible to all levels), to include special sessions for beginning and advanced dancers. There will also be English country dancing as well as waltzing.

If you can offer a ride or need a ride to/from camp, please let us know on the registration form. We will help match riders with drivers. Flying? Consider San Francisco, Oakland, or San Jose airports. There is shuttle service from S.J. Airport to downtown Aptos; campers can then take taxis to Monte Toyon or call organizers for rides.

A minimum $50 deposit is required. Work exchange positions are limited, so register early. Everyone doing work exchange must help with either pre-camp setup or post-camp cleanup, along with some work shifts during the weekend. A limited number of first-come, first-served $80 scholarships are available for people who would otherwise have difficulty affording dance camp. Scholarship applicants must sign up for work exchange. Download the registration form to register by mail, or register online now!

You can help your fellow campers by donating to the scholarship fund: please include a separate check to SFBQCD with your mail registration or click the "Donate" button below to make a contribution online with a credit card or PayPal account. We are a nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status, so your donation is tax-deductible. Many thanks!

The San Francisco Bay Queer Contra Dance & Dance Camp is an affiliate of Lavender Country and Folk Dancers (LCFD) and Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS)