Our camp has moved to Gardiner, Montana and the Gardiner Community Center, at the northern edge of Yellowstone Park.
Spend time during the day seeing Yellowstone and join us for late afternoon and night time dance filled fun. We expect to have experienced late afternoon dances, then community oriented evening dance parties. The timing of this dance vacation is intended to be at the peak of Spring, when the flowers are singing loudest and the birds their showiest... also to avoid the Summer rush of park visitors and the usual schedule of other Summer dance weeks. With Gardiner one mile high, nights will be chilly with any kind of weather during our week, from hot sunshine to snowstorms. So prepare for both, pack warm and stock up on warm sleeping gear at the second hand stores on your way to the camp. DANCING The dancing in not only contra dancing, but lots of squares, English country dance, and couple dances like polkas, hambos, Salty Dog Rag, and even mixers. More the old-fashioned barn dance theme, rather than only contras. TRANSPORT Most will want to be sharing a car to get around the park, but there are also Yellowstone buses that tour the park. https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/connect/yellowstone-hot-spot/the-coolest-way-to-tour-yellowstone/ CAMPING/LODGING See Accommodation section for more info. DINING There are restaurants in both Gardiner, outside the park, and Mammoth Hot Springs Village, just inside the north entrance of the park... or cook your own, whether camping or renting a cabin or house. No doubt there are tourist-oriented grocery stores in Gardiner with inflated prices. If you prefer economy and selection, bring the majority of your food from outside the park. A new camp stove at Walmart or Target on your way to camp would probably pay for itself the first meal you fix at your campsite. And those flying and camping may find it just as cheap to buy new camping gear on their way to camp, rather than pay for an extra checked bag on their plane. TRAVEL For people flying in, Bozeman and Billings would be the nearest major commercial airports, but it's no doubt cheaper to fly to Seattle, Spokane, Denver, or Salt Lake City and then rental car it to camp. Another idea is the cheap gamblers' fares to Las Vegas and Reno, and the commensurate car rental prices there. DANCE ON! For those from faraway who might be thinking of extending their dance trip to further horizons, the Northwest Folklife Festival with lots of dancing and music is two weeks before in Seattle, the Bozeman Folklore Society's new Summergreen contra weekend starts as Jellystone ends, and the Spokane Folklore Society's Lady of the Lake dance week on Lake Coeur d'Alene in N Idaho is a week later. |