Hamilton Montana Dance Camp

About the Weekend Retreat

Come join us for three days of dancing and music in the Bitterroot Valley Montana. The Hamilton Dance Camp is led by the Montana Dances of Universal Peace team and more! This diverse team will carry us through many spiritual traditions of the world in the ancient practice of community circle dance.

Homestead Organics Farm, 175 Skalkaho Hwy, Hamilton, MT 59840

---

What We Do

No experience or partner needed. Each dance is taught in place: we are given a short song easy steps and the meaning (or attunement) of what we are doing. Then we move! We do songs from a wide variety of sources: native Christianity Judaism or eastern Sufi practices. Often they are simple chants or inspiring poems.

The magic is the circle. Each person (you included) is what creates this magic. Humans evolved singing and celebrating in circle dance. As soon as you step into the circle you’ll know you are home.

What’s it Like? Dancing with us is like joining a tribe. When we first come together we often don’t know each other’s names but become immediate brothers and sisters. The music brings us together. The camp is held by elder wisdom with experienced leaders who have been doing this for over thirty years. Often something new like this can be uncomfortable but we know how to bring you in with a smooth transition from aloneness to togetherness. There is an essence in every human being that yearns for togetherness. We use our feet simple music and ancient wisdom to create a moving space of heart.

It doesn’t matter what you wear… just as long as you are there!

From Zareen: My goal for this camp is to provide an inexpensive space where we can all come together sing dance and dive deeper into new possibilities. We are intertwined with the traditions of the world and each other. Most importantly we use this time to recreate ourselves into co-creating relatives of the world rather than individual consumers. The overall vision is to come alive in new ways and jumpstart a dynamic participation in life that transforms the world… in other words: Sam Lewis’s Peace Project.

— LOCALS COME FREE!

Use coupon code: LOCAL

Donation appreciated. But mostly … come dance. Your best bet is to come on Friday night and see what it’s about. Come on Friday evening between 6 and 7. Please be on time for the 7pm dance as attending the whole session gives you the full benefit. 

We appreciate when local people sign up using our online form as that makes our bookkeeping easy. The form is at the top of this page, and also accessed through the button at the bottom.

We also appreciate donations to the organic farm. So bring a little cash in your pocket to contribute. :)

---

Arrival

Come together: Dancers can start arriving at camp on Friday. First dance will be Friday evening and the last dance will be Sunday morning. Saturday afternoon we’ll have Kirtan, discussion and a potluck!

Tent setup and decorating will start on Thursday noonish. If you want to help put up the tent we’d love that! Let us know in the notes when you sign up.

Musicians

As you arrive at camp please let us know about your musicianship! We coordinate acoustic musicians into our dance sessions. You’ll want to play with us!

Camp Cost

Cost: $50

Yes… the camp is very inexpensive. This is because we love what we do. This is not about making money but about coming together. plus we don’t have to pay for our tent location lodging/camping/food is on your own — and we need you!

Partial Attendance?

You are welcome to attend partial days. Use the following coupon codes when you register:

One session only: ONE

Two sessions only: TWO

Locals come free – LOCAL

Where is Hamilton Montana?

We are dancing in Hamilton Montana in the Bitterroot Valley. There is room for camping on the farm and there are motels nearby in town to stay.

Food and Lodging is not provided by your camp registration… but don’t worry. Everything you’ll need is nearby.

Find the Dance

We’ll be dancing in the new tent at the Homestead Organics Farm. Bring your own chair. It may be cool in September.

Homestead Organics Farm is located a few miles south of Hamilton Montana. Follow your GPS to the address, 175 Skalkaho Hwy. Turn into the driveway and follow the signs. You’ll see our tent down the road. There is plenty of space to camp and happy people will help you get settled in.

We are camping on the farm. There is lots of room for tent and car camping. Space for RVs is also available, with no hookups.

We have lovely potable water available in one shared outdoor spigot. There is a shower in the farmhouse and porta potties outside near our camping area.

Cars/Vans: We have lots of camping spots down near the tent area. Follow the signs. Lots of shade in the trees.

Tents: Plenty of spots along the side of the garden.

Food

All meals are do-it-yourself. There are restaurants in town and we’ll have plenty of room near the tent for camping kitchens. Good potable water available and organic veggies growing everywhere.

We’ll be having shared “Bring your own sack dinner” gatherings. Please do not bring food for others as that is hard to manage… but we can still eat together.

SCHEDULE

Food gatherings will be “bring your own sack dinner”. Not a potluck, but an opportunity for us to join and eat together. We’ll have tables, and a few snacks… bring your own chair.

– Friday – 

Noon and on – Campers and tent decorators arrive.

5:00 pm Food gathering at the tables. Not a full on pot-luck. Bring your own and bits to share.

7:00 pm – Friday evening dance will be from 7pm – 9:30pm

– Saturday – 

9:30 am – Gather in the tent. Deeper dance discussion starts at 9:30 am where we will dive into our question of the day. Topic: A short history of the Dances of Universal Peace.

10:00 am – Dance will be 10:00 am – 12:00pm.

12:00 –  Lunch on your own.

3:00 pm – We will gather for Kirtan/singing and a personal meet with Laura and Henry from the farm who will talk about their many community initiatives.

5:00 pm Bring your own sack dinner gathering at the tables. Not a pot-luck. Bring your own and bits to share.

7:00 pm – Saturday evening dance will be from 7pm – 9:30pm

– Sunday – 

9:30 am – Gather in the tent. Deeper dance discussion starts at 9:30 am where we will dive into our question of the day. Topic: Peace through community.

10:00 am – Closing Dance will be 10 am – noon.