Comments received from various participants at Camp
Fareta 2006
The camp was great! The quality of teaching and drumming for the classes
was unsurpassed in any camp I've been to. The vibe was sweet and supportive
from both the teachers and fellow students. A rare non-competitiveness
for the dance world! I loved the food, I REALLY LOVED the African food.
I personally thought that the food and accommodations top of the list.
The facilities for class also great. The instructors the best. I would
and have recommended this camp to anyone.
Great job on everything. I am very happy that I took this opportunity
to grow. Looking forward to the next Camp Fareta. I will promote in Texas.
WOWOWOW!
I am still running with some of that energy from Camp Fareta. I want
to appreciate you and all the hard work, sweat, and love you put into
putting on this camp. I sure do hope that it happens next year. I would
be confident to say numbers would double, easy.
Blessings!
I had such a great time. Next year we'll be there the first day of camp
until the last. I really appreciate how well organized the classes and
meals were. My body still hurts in all the good ways. :) I hope next
year more kids register. That would be wonderful for us, if the kids
had a more organized camp schedule too. Other wise I will definitely
see you next year. I would love to put fliers around Arcata and southern
Humboldt as well next year. Let me know if I can help in any way...
Camp was awesome! As I mentioned while I was there, the atmosphere was
great...so supportive and welcoming. That was great. I also loved:
- the food, although it seemed to take awhile to get the quantities figured
out so there would be enough of everything
- the weather—although I love hot, humid weather, I have to admit
that the cool, dry breeze was a lot more comfortable for dancing
- the fire circles
- the enthusiasm of the artists—I’ve been at camps where
the artists didn’t interact with the participants, didn’t
support each other’s classes, etc. At your camp, it seemed like
the artists were having as much fun as everybody else.
- the setting—it was great being far away from the “real
world.” The scenic, peaceful setting contributed to the relaxed
and invigorating nature of the experience.
- the shuttle service to/from the airport. I appreciated not having to
worry about how to get to and from camp on my own.
I hope you have another camp next year. I’ll be there if at all
possible and will tell my fellow dancers and drummers in Oregon about
it.
I just wanted to give you the BIG HUGE THANKS, once again! I was so
blissful, happy, inspired, awakened…at the camp, and it was the
most loving vibe I’ve felt at a dance camp! Truly, the food was
unbelievably yummy!!!, and the dance floor with the cool breeze from
the lake was equally yummy! Best of all, of course, were the dance and
drum teachers – I found myself jaw dropped half of the time. What
beautiful people with deep spirit! The only thing I regret was my own
ego…not being able to just let go and dance by the fire “in
front of the masters!” Surely the Africans must find us (many of
us) foolish, just sitting there trapped in our little frightened Western
ego packages, afraid to just bust out in joy, no matter what form the
expression takes on!
I thought it was a fantastic camp. The teachers were incredibly high
quality, as well as many of the students. I was glad to see newer students
there, too. It was inspiring, and I felt grateful - even privileged -
to be able to take part.
The food was awesome! The facilities were very nice, too, although
it took getting back to San Diego for my lips to heal from the dry
air. But it made doing hand laundry so easy...washed before the first
dance class, dry before the last one!
We had a great time at the camp!!! We are telling our friends all about
it!
Gracias por todo, again thank you a loooooot. I'm so happy to know you
and your family. : ) The Camp Fareta is the beeestt felicitaciones un
millon dos millones,
From a more formal letter written by a camp participant in support of
a grant application for Camp Fareta 2007:
The program afforded enthusiasts of West African Drum and Dance an excellent
opportunity to learn from numerous Master artists day after day in the
peaceful and beautiful setting of Camp Fareta. The camp setting also
allowed for students to interact with one another and their teachers
to share valuable cultural information and ideas. Being a part of the
amazing enthusiasm and high spirits of all the classes was the high point
of my camp.
The food provided at Camp Fareta was excellent, catering to a wide variety
of dietary needs. The camp’s location in the Kings Canyon National
Forest area was perfect for drum and dance as it was secluded enough
to prevent the loud drum music from being a nuisance to neighbors. It
was also a very peaceful and serene setting with a swimming pond complete
with rowing boats, a volleyball beach and a lifeguard station, hiking
trails, clean bathroom facilities with hot running water, and simple
but comfortable cabins to relax in at the end of the day.
The atmosphere of the camp was amicably social, allowing for interpersonal
sharing of information and experiences on many levels among all present.
Family members who did not dance or drum also seemed to be having a good
time swimming, rowing, hiking, playing ball games, simply observing dance
and drum classes, or sharing songs and stories round a fire before bedtime.
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