Beantown 2007 Participant Comments | Beantown 2007 Photos | Beantown 2007 Results

2007

At final count we had 7 countries (Australia, Canada, England, Germany, Poland, Sweden and USA) represented and 26 states (AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, MA, MD, ME, MN, MO, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TX, VA and WI)! Check the Beantown 2007 Participant Comments, Beantown 2007 Photo Album and Beantown 2007 Results page for the results of the Northeast Lindy Hop Championships.

July 2, 2007

We haven't quite caught back up on sleep, but we are feeling great about the week. What a camp! Everyone has been telling us that it was the best one ever and we have to agree!

There were so many good features to mention and here are some highlights:

The instructors: So many people have commented on what a great mix we had this year and that the classes were excellent! The instructors all worked hard this week and really delivered. Special thanks to Skye Humphries for stepping in last minute, much to the delight of our campers!
The Sunday night Teachers Performance: BEST ONE EVER!!!
Evening dances: What a treat to have the Boilermaker Jazz Band for their first New England appearance, and we got them for 2 nights in a row! Just fabulous. Plus a great job from our local Beantown Swing Orchestra as well as Mike Smith and his crew of fabulous DJs. We have received many positive, happy comments about this year's music!
NELHC: The level of competition just gets better each year. Thanks to everyone who participated. Plus a special thanks to Joel Domoe for keeping it rolling with his outstanding job as chief judge!
Beantown Idol: Peter Strom - who knew! I can't remember the last time I laughed so much. Jennifer spot on again this year, tipsy and all. Sylvia right there with them. You all were too much! Thanks to all the participants brave enough to face them!
Frankie & Cynthia: We have had Frankie and Cynthia at camp many times and it is always a highlight, but this year was special with the book signing. It was so nice for each person to have their special moment with them.
The meals: Endicott has always provided us with great food, but this year was outstanding! When you are tired and hungry and could eat just about anything, what a treat to have such a delicious selection of healthy food choices. Plus it is not so bad to indulge in a decadent dessert when you know you will be working it off later that night!
Camp Barbecue: Perfect weather, beautiful setting, great food - what a nice break to relax and enjoy!
Class performances: Also always a highlight and this year they seemed just better than ever! Plus topping it off with Ryan's Jazz routine - way too much fun!
Beantown Campers: We couldn't have asked for a better group! The energy and atmosphere at camp this year was the best and it didn't let up from opening night until we closed up Wednesday morning. Thanks so much for bringing all your good spirits to camp!

Last but not least we must mention our staff of camp helpers. You guys are the best! Dave entertaining us as MC, Meredith and Joe in the Café, June and Deb in the Shop, Martin and Mike on the water crew, Denyce, Steve, Suzanne, Rachelle, Chris, Susan and all the staff and helpers who joined in this year. Jamie for all his help - we really don't know how we ever managed without him. Plus a special mention to Debbie, Steve, Rich and Benson and all the campers who went out of their way to provide rides and homes for visiting campers. People are always telling us how smoothly everything runs and we really could not do it without you all!!!

Best wishes to you all for a fabulous summer. We'll see you on the dance floor!

Aurelie & Tony

Beantown 2007 Participant Comments

I want to thank you so much for making this happen. The trip was a present from my parents for my college graduation, and a wonderful one at that! It was such a fantastic experience. On the way home, my friend and I swore to come back year after year because we had so much fun and learned SO much. Thank you again!

Cindy Wooldridge
St. Charles, MO

On the whole, it was very well organized, and I had a blast! Great job, and I hope I can come back next year!

Klaudia Siczek
Warsaw, Poland

Thanks for another great Beantown this year! I count myself lucky to be able to attend. Thank you for making it happen! Beantown is the crème de la crème of dance camps!

Joel Domoe (Beantown instructor)
Cincinnati, OH

MORE, MORE! THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THE BEANTOWN EXPERIENCE ANYWHERE! I LOVE IT!!!

Dave Samanen
Worcester, MA

Thank you to both of you, for all of your hard work. Beantown camp has such a community spirit about it that I just love! It is truly a unique experience. I hope you can continue to bring this great dance experience to all of us.

Julie Kuberski
Minneapolis, MN

I just wanted to say that I had a great week. I think you ran a well organized, fun, casual & social event. I would highly recommend this to other dancers.
Thanks!

Lori Torkkola
Blaine, MN

This was my first time at Beantown Camp and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I'm looking forward to next year's Camp! The instructors were terrific and very accessible. I found that they really were there to help us learn and not to push a particular set of routines. I was very impressed with their professionalism and friendliness - and patience.

The other participants were fun, friendly, and interesting people. Talking, dancing and sharing with others who embraced a common passion was eye-opening and empowering.

The accommodations were comfortable and the varied food selection and high quality was outstanding, far better than I would have imagined. You folks did a great job, Thank you for all your hard work.

Tom Wall
Nashua, NH

I just wanted to thank you again for all of your hard work and dedication. This vacation was a wonderful experience. I am telling all the people I social dance with that they really should go to Beantown. :))))

Linda Iannetta
Cumberland, RI

This past camp was the best one ever for me, and that is saying a whole lot. The joy of dancing and of life was abundant everywhere. For me the highlight came at 3:00 AM on the final night, when exhaustion took away all my technique, leaving simply a man, a woman, and the music.

Ben Fox
Boston, MA

This was my first Beantown and I loved it! World Class instruction, great dancers, and great atmosphere. Dance from dusk till dawn. Very impressed by the entire Beantown experience.

Nick Birchak
Albany, NY

I LOVED Beantown Camp. I CAN'T wait to come back...and hopefully participate in more events like this. : )- Thank you, thank you, thank you for being such wonderful hosts.

Eliza Alderman
Greenville, SC

I know I got the chance to thank Aurelie personally, but I want to thank you both again for every single bit of hard work and planning you did to provide such an AWESOME dance camp experience for me... Thank you again for such an awesome setting, a fabulous camp experience, and especially, such GREAT instructors! I truly appreciate all your hard work and commitment and hope to see you again next year.

Linda Guild
Eureka, CA

Thank you both for a wonderful camp experience. It was fantastic.

Soha Hassoun
Lexington, MA

Thank you so much for another wonderful week at Beantown. It has become something that we look forward to every year.

Jennifer Coulombe (Beantown instructor)
Winston-Salem, NC

I talked to soooo many people, lots of them brand new, that can't wait to come back next year. I also can't wait and I now have a wonderful connection to the Endicott College campus. I think Endicott has taken Wheaton College's place in my heart... I've already been telling people about what a fantastic time I had. I can't shut up about it. Rest assured, that when camp registration time comes around, I'll be doing commercials for you!

Ellen Shapiro
Cambridge, MA

I hope everything went smoothly this year, and I'm glad that I was able to take part in it! I had an amazing time, and I'm looking forward to next year already! Thanks again!

Evn Tomeny
Newton Centre, MA

Thank you for all the work that you two do to make Beantown something so special. It was truly wonderful this year! I keep talking this up to everyone I meet.

Liz Crawford
Plymouth, MA

Thank you both for arranging the camp! I am sure it is a monumental effort!

Kathy Stokes
New York, NY

I want to say thanks for another great weekend. I don't know how you did it but the weather was amazing, as were the instructors, food, band etc.

Sandy Burstein
Hoboken, NJ

As a first time camper, I send my thanks for an exceptional experience. I plan to be back!

Julie Bishop
Ontario, Canada

And thank YOU for this wonderful camp every year!!!

Debbie Moran
West Harrison, NY

This was definitely my best year ever at Beantown. As a nine year repeat offender, I've had a lot to compare.

Congratulations on such a great job this year! You guys never cease to surprise me with your process improvements year-to-year.

Darra Garrison
Acton, MA

Thank you! As a first-timer, it was awesome! I hope to be back.

Christina Evans
Ontario, Canada

I wanted to thank you guys for one of the best Beantown camp ever. The tracks were great! The classes were great! All the instructors were great! The hip hop class was great! The whole schedule seemed to flow better this year. The competitions were even better this year. The Saturday night dance with a live band was an awesome addition to the weekend. The food was perfect, so many great choices, and healthy too. Plus, the amazing dancers that came to camp this year.

I can't wait for next year's camp. I know most of the Jersey group feels the same way. Keep doing whatever you're doing! It's really working!

Anne Patrone
Springfield, NJ

And a supercalifragilisticexpialidociously big thanks to the two of you for putting on such a spectacular event. Jennifer Coulombe told me that going to Beantown was going to be life changing, and she was absolutely right. How great is that?!

Barbara Haynes
Winston-Salem, NC

I had so much fun, definitely one of my best dancing weekend so far... Already, I can't wait for next year!

Marc-Andre Vachon
Providence, RI

I just completed my first Beantown camp experience. It was a blast and I want more! Thank you so much for all of your hard work. What you put together was incredible!

Judy Vunk
Edgartown, MA

Thanks again for putting together such a great great camp!

Jeff Corsi
Hoboken, NJ

I still feel like in dancer's heaven - dead but happy!! We enjoyed your camp very much, we took some stuff from it for our dancing and we would love to come back next year.

Harald Garttner and Katrin Kerber
Unterhaching, Germany

First, I just want to thank you for all the hard work you put into making Beantown 2007 the spectacular event it was. I can confidently say that it was my favorite Beantown since I started coming in 2005.

Brent Casavant
South Saint Paul, MN

Hey, my first Beantown camp was great! Had a good time, ate good food, and the classes were great as well. Good job!

Oliver Peters
Rocky Hill, CT

I had a fantastic time at Beantown Camp and feel I learned a lot. The people were great, food was delicious, accommodations terrific. It was a fun time.

Again, congratulations for Beantown Camp - truly a job well done. You are outstanding organizers!

Mary Klatt
Brookline, MA

All in all, from the food in the cafeteria, the teachers, the DJ, the music, Beantown was AWESOME!! Everyone just seemed to be having a positive, fun attitude and really wanting to learn and dance.

Bryna Gesson
Arlington, MA

Thanks and I had an absolutely fantastic time this year! It was well worth it and I have told all my friends in Dallas that they need to join me next year.

Sean Pohl
Dallas, TX

Thanks again to you guys for running the event. It really was a fabulous time, everything from the delicious cafeteria food to the awesome live music and the outdoor barbecue, and the all around feel of the camp.

Todd Yannacone (Beantown instructor)
San Francisco, CA

I must say that this is the first time my wife and I attended Beantown and that it exceeded any expectations we had. It was incredibly well run and the classes were well structured. We are looking forward to next year.

Nancy and Jerry Flood
Belmar, NJ

Just wanted to say thanks for putting on Beantown. That was just so much fun (and I learned some very helpful stuff too)!!

Laurie Pearlstein
Cambridge, MA

This was my first time at Beantown, and it was a lovely experience! The classes were really good, and both the djs and the band were fantastic. I regret that I could only do the weekend -- next year, I will hopefully be able to stay a bit longer. Thanks again for putting on such a wonderful event.

Cyndy Kornegay
Silver Spring, MD

Thank you for a wonderful dance experience at Beantown Camp. It exceeded all my expectations!

Denise Malenfant
Taunton, MA

Overall a great weekend!! I had a great time. This was my 3rd Beantown, and I think it was the best one yet.. Thank you for putting in all the time and effort to make a week like Beantown possible.

Aaron Nicholas
Woodbine, MD

Thanks for putting this on. I know it's a lot of work but a great time. Would not miss it.

Larry Bruns
Acton, MA

First of all I'd like to thank both of you for a job done so marvelously! I had a great time and enjoyed the whole experience. Everything was executed very professionally and very pleasantly. And the instructors were oh so marvelous! Rather than going one by one I'd rather tell you how every aspect of the camp delighted me. Speaking of the delight -- the food -- so yummy and healthy! Thank you again.

Yildiz Grodowski
Salem, NH