Ashokan Music and Dance Camps were established in 1980 at the Ashokan Center, a 385 acre environmental education and nature retreat center in New York’s Catskill Mountains.
Our camps are a learning vacation where you’ll meet like-minded people, have a ton of fun and enjoy in depth, hands-on classes led by our supportive staff.
The programs are designed to be richly rewarding for complete beginners, as well as experienced musicians and dancers. You can create your own schedule and attend any classes or workshops that fit your skill level, or that pique your interest.
Combine all this with great food, comfortable lodging, friendly people and a magical natural setting and you have a recipe for leaps of learning, good times and priceless memories.
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New Year’s at AshokanDec 31, 2014 – Jan 3, 2015 |
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Four days of music and dance workshops and performances featuring old timey, swing and cajun, waltz, contra and square dancing! Dinner and dance party to ring in 2015! Not to mention the wood burning sauna!  |
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Scottish Fiddle + Cello CampMay 1 – 3, 2015 |
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| World-class Scottish traditional music workshops led by musicians and teachers Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas. Three days and two nights of workshops, jamming and a concert by our instructors. An unforgettable experience for anyone interested in traditional Scottish music. |
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Uke FestMay 22 – 25, 2015 |
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| A family-friendly weekend retreat for ukulele players of all levels. A diverse offering of workshops led by expert instructors, concerts, jamming, dancing and lots of fun. Classes include beginner-level instruction, technique workshops (fan strokes, claw hammer, fingerpicking), genre-based classes (Swing, Big Band, 80s music, etc.), playing by ear, soloing skills, embellishments, turnarounds and more. |
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Western + Swing WeekJune 28 – July 4, 2015 |
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| A camp for dance and music lovers, young and old. Learn the Lindy and West Coast swing, Two step, waltz and other C&W dances, squares & contras, dance parties and more. Music covered includes fiddle, mandolin, guitar, steel guitar, piano, vocal technique, harmony singing, swing and country band clinics, improvisation, music theory, jam sessions, song swaps, and more. One of our most-loved camps! |
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Family CampJuly 5 – 9, 2015 |
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| Our family camp returns! Music, dance, puppetry, nature, crafts and goofiness. For everyone, from babies to grandparents. A wide variety of age-specific and skill-specific workshops and activities. Create family memories that will last a lifetime! |
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Guitar CampJuly 12 – 16, 2015 |
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| An opportunity for all levels of players. Immerse yourself and grow! Connect with other guitarists – you’ll come away with new repertoire and techniques and greater confidence in your music. This year, our instructors will offer classes in blues, country, fingerstyle, flat-picking, and chordal playing. |
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Northern WeekJuly 19 – 25, 2015 |
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| Contras, squares, English dances, Scandinavian turning dances, fiddle, nyckelharpa, guitar, piano, singing, calling, band clinics, dance parties, jam sessions, song swaps and more! |
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Southern WeekAug 9 – 15, 2015 |
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| Square dancing, flatfooting and clogging, Cajun & Zydeco dance, Cajun accordion, fiddle, guitar, vocals and bass & percussion, caller’s workshops, traditional clogging team workshop, old-time fiddle, banjo and guitar, old-time songs, harmony singing and band workshops… plus jam sessions, song swaps, dance parties, slow jams and more! |
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