​

​

Our Village Grounds

​

The beauty of nature and (some of) the comforts of home. Camp Hye Sierra is a secluded, rustic camp in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, about 10 miles from Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, 50 miles east of Fresno. It’s equally accessible from the Bay Area and Los Angeles, with travel times of about 4 ½ hours. Camp Hye Sierra is an old-fashioned group camping facility located on 160 acres at 4,300 feet elevation. Days are warm and sunny. Nights are cool to cold and the stars are amazing. You can enjoy the privacy of your own tent, share a group cabin with bunk beds (12 or 16-person capacity per cabin, but they're rarely more than half full), or bring your camper/trailer.

​

All cabins have electricity. Modern bathrooms are nearby with hot showers – a must for energetic dancers! The camp has a dining hall with a full kitchen where the meal staff do their magic and meet a wide range of dietery needs, so you don’t have to worry about packing or preparing food. (There is a refrigerator available for storing extra food items, if you must bring them, but keep in mind the refrigerator is shared by all of camp. There is also a room in the dining hall where you can store any other food items, to keep them safe from the wild critters who might find them in your tent.)

​

Camp Hye Sierra also offers all the traditional outdoor activities. Hike when you need to be alone or clear your mind. Meditate by a still lake to start or end the day. At the swimming lake you can rest on the warm, sunny beach, paddle a canoe, swim, play volleyball, or join a singing or drumming circle.

​

An inviting container for dance 

NCDC volunteers convert Camp Hye Sierra spaces into three great dancing venues, including sprung wooden dance floors in the lodge and the open-air pavilion by the lake. For cozy events, we also have the sumptuous Nirvana Cabana, a pillow-lined tent space. All three venues are fitted with great sound systems and beautiful decorations.

​

No distractions so you can relax deeply. While you are picturing this great environment, imagine a few days or a whole week with no cell phones, laptops, or other modern distractions. Now you can really dive into the dance camp experience (but if you really need to connect to the outside world, there are ways to do so).

​

Mix in a healthy dose of outdoor fun. The great joy of dancing in a camp setting is being able to mix in all the great outdoor and camp activities whenever you want. Camp Hye Sierra is about 10 miles from Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park, with many opportunities for wilderness adventures.

Our Village Activities: The Program 

​

Daytime Classes

​

A wide range of styles, with something for everyone. Each year we bring in professional teachers to lead classes that provide a wide variety of opportunities and experiences. Whether you have years of experience or two left feet, you’ll find a place in each class and an opportunity to express yourself.

​

Classes are scheduled to meet your needs and energy level. We offer inner-directed dance and movement styles such as Authentic Movement, Soul Motion™, contact improvisation, and 5Rhythms™, as well as high energy, more structured classes such as African dance and hip-hop, plus partner dance forms such as fusion and tango, and non-dance classes including singing, breathwork, and yoga.

​

Evening Dances

​

Dance as if no one is watching. Our nighttime dances are where you can do your own dance, by yourself or with others, as your spirit moves you. It’s an improvisational dance to a wide variety of deejayed music based on simple ideas and values:
 

• We each have the freedom to dance as we feel, on our own, with a partner, or with a group.

• Be open and respectful while being mindful of your boundaries and those of others.

• No judgments.

• Be open, playful, and ready to be surprised.

• Dance is a great path for connection to yourself and others.
   

Music to move you. Music to challenge you. Expect the unexpected. Anything from funk, world, house, electronica, blues, pop, rock, and acid jazz, to downtempo, late-night sultry music, not to mention the occasional Sinatra, jig, chant, or line dance. Each DJ picks their own music, so the music flows from their tastes and their connection to the dancers; music in the Nirvana Cabana is generally more downtempo than in the main hall. Whether it’s easy or challenging for you, you’ll find yourself doing more dancing to more types of music than you ever believed possible. It’s all part of the celebration.

​

Other Activities

​

• Camper-Led Activities – some afternoons will include time for our fellow campers to lead an activity or facilitate an event. By tapping into the amazing talents within our community, we can offer even more diverse and creative options for growing, dancing, connecting, and playing.

• Family Jam – an after-dinner opportunity to dance with kids of all ages in a safe environment.

• Spontaneous events – The lake is a focal point during the day. Located by the pavilion, there is sometimes music in the classes there, and classes occasionally spontaneously pour into the lake. Lots of singing happens after meals outside the dining hall, so if you’re a musician or singer, you’ll feel right at home.