Summer Hummer!

The most astonishing dance event of summer on the east coast is undoubtedly Summer Hummer - brainchild of Bill Cameron. Every year 1000+ dancers meet the last weekend of August at the Sturbridge Hotel in Massachusetts. Besides lessons, competitions and social dancing, a spectacular barbeque and dance is held on the banks of Cedar Lake.

This event is a favorite of the best known west coast swing teachers. Some of the legends and stars of the west coast swing world included Robert Cordoba & Deborah Székely, Jordan Frisbee & Tatiana Mollman, Parker Dearborn & Jessica Cox, Arjay Centro & Melissa Rutz and Sarah Van Drake & Kyle Redd. Yeah - now you can see why people came from all over the world for the event.

As far as I am concerned, however, the best teachers at this event were Paul Warden and Catronia Wiles. This extremely talented UK couple have a string of international dance accomplishments. Mirroring the USA, they have have created a fantastic west coast swing scene in London.

http://www.westcoastswing.co.uk

Their classes at Summer Hummer were very successful. Every level of student was able to learn their material. When Parker Dearborn and Jessica Cox taught, no one got the material. Sarah Van Drake and Kyle Redd were also very successful teachers. Of course, everyone loved the charasmatic and entertaining Arjay Centro and Melissa Rutz.

In the past, these events have been critizised for having too much competition and not enough social dancing. Bill Cameron made every effort to tuck in breaks for dancing throughout the days and nights. Bill also kindly arranged for mini private lessons for all dancers who did not make finals in the Jack n' Jills.

This is the summer event to make each year. It is located near a very interesting colonial village with many charming restaurants and pubs. As Sarah Van Drake says, you can see the world with west coast swing!

http://www.osv.org

I wish I could tell you more about Sturbridge but I was too busy dancing to see very much.

By the way, for those of you who know Bill Cameron - he and Yuna are expecting a baby! Recently, Robert Roysten and his wife had a daughter and named her Summer. Bill Cameron joked that he was planning on naming his new son Hummer!

http://www.dancepros.net