上週末去參加了慕尼黑著名的 Rock that Swing,藉機報告一下歐洲的 swing dance camp 大概是什麼樣。可惜 Rock that Swing 總共五天五夜,我只參加週六日,而且忙著跳舞所以照片少 XD 將就看吧~
Last week I went to Rock that Swing in Munich. It's a 5 day/night festival but I only signed up for Sat + Sun. I was also too busy to take many photos, but here's my experience of the camp anyway :)
Last week I went to Rock that Swing in Munich. It's a 5 day/night festival but I only signed up for Sat + Sun. I was also too busy to take many photos, but here's my experience of the camp anyway :)
1. 報名 / Registration
以普通的 swing camp 來說,在活動前好幾個月,線上報名就開放了。一對舞者一起報名可以馬上確認註冊成功,但是因為主辦單位會儘量讓 lead 跟 follow 人數相等,
Rock that Swing 的報名滿複雜的:在網上註冊帳號之後才能選課以及選晚上想參加的活動(選項很多),確認註冊成功之後就匯款過去。雖然有很多需要注意的細節,但是整個程序很順利,我寫信去詢問相關事宜也有立刻得到回覆 ^^
值得一提的是,很多 camp 都有團體折扣,只要能夠湊得到一定的人數就可以團購!
Registration started months ahead of the camp itself. As a single follow I registered way ahead of time to avoid the dreaded waiting list (always a bother if flight bookings are required). The registration for Rock that Swing was fairly complicated and classes/parties were sold separately (with many choices of seats for the parties). However, the entire process was smooth and my queries received swift replies. It's worth mentioning that as with many other camps, there's a group discount that might be of interest.
所以單一 follow 報名如果動作慢一點就會被掛在 waiting list,苦苦的等待有另一個單一 lead 也報名才能完成註冊。需要買機票的話這樣很不便,所以建議 followers:A. 在報名一開放就馬上註冊,B. 拉一個 leader 一起跟你註冊。通常你的 leader 不需要跟你報同樣的等級或是課程,但是這要看每個活動的規定。Rock that Swing 的報名滿複雜的:在網上註冊帳號之後才能選課以及選晚上想參加的活動(選項很多),確認註冊成功之後就匯款過去。雖然有很多需要注意的細節,但是整個程序很順利,我寫信去詢問相關事宜也有立刻得到回覆 ^^
值得一提的是,很多 camp 都有團體折扣,只要能夠湊得到一定的人數就可以團購!
Registration started months ahead of the camp itself. As a single follow I registered way ahead of time to avoid the dreaded waiting list (always a bother if flight bookings are required). The registration for Rock that Swing was fairly complicated and classes/parties were sold separately (with many choices of seats for the parties). However, the entire process was smooth and my queries received swift replies. It's worth mentioning that as with many other camps, there's a group discount that might be of interest.
2. 選課 / Class Selection
選課有兩個層面:你想學哪種舞,還有你大概是哪種等級。
哪種舞 / What Kind of Dance
每個 camp 所提供的課程都不一樣,通常 lindy hop 或 balboa 是最常見的(有許多 camp 只提供一種舞,比方純 bal 的 Berlin Balboa Weekend)。Rock that Swing 有提供:Boogie Woogie, Balboa, Lindy Hop, 還有 Solo Jazz。除此之外,Rock that Swing 每天都有一拖拉庫的 "Taster" 課程,提供學生在最後一節課自由嘗試其他的 style,比方 Shag 或是 Blues。Rock that Swing 每天有四堂課,從 11 點到下午 5 點。聽起來以能不多 - 但是每天搞下來真的大腦要塞爆了。
哪個等級 / What Kind of Level
每個 swing camp 所定義的等級都不同,所以選課之前最好去網站查看一下自己比較適合哪種 level。在多數的 camp, 超過某個 level 就需要先通過甄選 (audition),所以最好注意 audition 的時間是什麼時候以確保你已經抵達並起可以參加~
Rock that Swing 比較特殊的地方是不限定你只能參加你所註冊的課程。比方我註冊的是初學者 Lindy Hop, 我也可以臨時決定去參加中級 Balboa。除了需要甄選的課程以及需要固定舞伴的課程(所以拋接的課都需要固定舞伴),都開放學生自由挑選,所以彈性很大!壞處則是人數不一定會湊 lead 跟 follow 完全平衡,而且你上一堂課暗戀的帥哥下一堂課可能就不知道上那去了(哭哭)。
There were many types of classes on offer: boogie woogie, balboa, lindy hop, solo jazz, and tasters including shag and blues and what have yous. Classes ran from 11 to 5 pm which may not sound like a lot but was enough to almost kill me. As with other camps, you join the level which you think you are fit for, except for the topmost level which requires an advance audition. What's special about Rock that Swing though is that you don't NEED to stay in the track/level you have preselected. Other than audition/partner-required classes, students can move freely between tracks and levels. This is great for flexibility but takes away a little from bonding with your fellow classmates. A few handsome young men from one of my first classes were nowhere to be found on my second day...
哪種舞 / What Kind of Dance
每個 camp 所提供的課程都不一樣,通常 lindy hop 或 balboa 是最常見的(有許多 camp 只提供一種舞,比方純 bal 的 Berlin Balboa Weekend)。Rock that Swing 有提供:Boogie Woogie, Balboa, Lindy Hop, 還有 Solo Jazz。除此之外,Rock that Swing 每天都有一拖拉庫的 "Taster" 課程,提供學生在最後一節課自由嘗試其他的 style,比方 Shag 或是 Blues。Rock that Swing 每天有四堂課,從 11 點到下午 5 點。聽起來以能不多 - 但是每天搞下來真的大腦要塞爆了。
哪個等級 / What Kind of Level
每個 swing camp 所定義的等級都不同,所以選課之前最好去網站查看一下自己比較適合哪種 level。在多數的 camp, 超過某個 level 就需要先通過甄選 (audition),所以最好注意 audition 的時間是什麼時候以確保你已經抵達並起可以參加~
Rock that Swing 比較特殊的地方是不限定你只能參加你所註冊的課程。比方我註冊的是初學者 Lindy Hop, 我也可以臨時決定去參加中級 Balboa。除了需要甄選的課程以及需要固定舞伴的課程(所以拋接的課都需要固定舞伴),都開放學生自由挑選,所以彈性很大!壞處則是人數不一定會湊 lead 跟 follow 完全平衡,而且你上一堂課暗戀的帥哥下一堂課可能就不知道上那去了(哭哭)。
There were many types of classes on offer: boogie woogie, balboa, lindy hop, solo jazz, and tasters including shag and blues and what have yous. Classes ran from 11 to 5 pm which may not sound like a lot but was enough to almost kill me. As with other camps, you join the level which you think you are fit for, except for the topmost level which requires an advance audition. What's special about Rock that Swing though is that you don't NEED to stay in the track/level you have preselected. Other than audition/partner-required classes, students can move freely between tracks and levels. This is great for flexibility but takes away a little from bonding with your fellow classmates. A few handsome young men from one of my first classes were nowhere to be found on my second day...
3. Parties
上完課之後晚上的 party 永遠是重頭戲!Rock that Swing 的 party 非常的壯觀,最盛大的兩個晚上是在慕尼黑的大戲院舉辦(容納量 1,600 個人,雖然我們沒有塞進那麼多,但是還是滿擠的)。在小一點的 camp,晚上的 party 通常是一個舞池,可能頂多 2 個樂團,但是 Rock that Swing 有兩個大舞池,一個中型舞池,兩個小舞池,而且每個晚上都有 2-3 個樂團以及 3-4 個不同的 DJ。因為場地大,所以買跳舞票需要選座位,而座位離舞池越近,價格就越高。我建議可以買最便宜的,因為坐位可以只拿來放外套包包就好,整晚就在舞池上度過吧 ~ 另外,因為活動規模大所以舞者的程度幾乎是破錶的高。值得一提的是:主辦單位有特別請求舞者們以正式穿著出場,所以整晚上我光是看俊男美女的行頭就快要忙死了 XD 哎,有穿的美美的時候整個活動的氣氛真的有差!
Parties at Rock that Swing were quite impressive. The main events were held on Saturday and Sunday nights at the Deutsches Theater, a gigantic venue with a capacity of 1,600 (I don't think we filled it - people dancing take up more room than people sitting). Because of the size of the event, tickets came with assigned seating which got more expensive as one nears the dance floor. I don't think it matters where you choose to sit if the seat is only for stacking coats and bags. I sat on the top most floor in the nosebleed section but only went to my seat at the beginning and end of the event.
The best part by far about Rock that Swing was the variety: 2 main ballrooms with constant live music (I think 11 bands in total for the whole camp), a medium sized dance floor with 3-4 DJs, the foyer for blues, and also another small room for just boogie woogie which I failed to even locate. If anything, I would consider just coming for the socials because they are such wonderful productions. The level of social dancing was also quite high (I think), which is always a plus. Also, the organizers specifically request that dancers dress up for these balls and it really was a parade of drop-dead gorgeous vintage fashion on both guys and girls...
Parties at Rock that Swing were quite impressive. The main events were held on Saturday and Sunday nights at the Deutsches Theater, a gigantic venue with a capacity of 1,600 (I don't think we filled it - people dancing take up more room than people sitting). Because of the size of the event, tickets came with assigned seating which got more expensive as one nears the dance floor. I don't think it matters where you choose to sit if the seat is only for stacking coats and bags. I sat on the top most floor in the nosebleed section but only went to my seat at the beginning and end of the event.
The best part by far about Rock that Swing was the variety: 2 main ballrooms with constant live music (I think 11 bands in total for the whole camp), a medium sized dance floor with 3-4 DJs, the foyer for blues, and also another small room for just boogie woogie which I failed to even locate. If anything, I would consider just coming for the socials because they are such wonderful productions. The level of social dancing was also quite high (I think), which is always a plus. Also, the organizers specifically request that dancers dress up for these balls and it really was a parade of drop-dead gorgeous vintage fashion on both guys and girls...
通常 swing camp 晚上的 party 也是老師們大顯身手的表演時間,Rock that Swing 邀請了 50 多位國際水準的 swing 老師所以場面很壯觀... 但是不想看表演只想跳舞的話,所以次要的 ballroom 都還是有舞伴有音樂,所以不一定要去擠破頭的看現場演出 ^^
Of course evening parties are where instructors strut their stuff. At Rock that Swing there were over 50 international swing instructors so the performances were something to behold. But if watching performances is not your thing, music and dancing continues in all but the main ballroom so you can easily just carry on dancing.
Of course evening parties are where instructors strut their stuff. At Rock that Swing there were over 50 international swing instructors so the performances were something to behold. But if watching performances is not your thing, music and dancing continues in all but the main ballroom so you can easily just carry on dancing.
4. 其他零星 / Others
以一個這麼大規模的活動來說 Rock that Swing 真的規劃得很一板一眼,每個小小的細節都進行得很順暢~ 我因為睡晚了所以第一天參加活動去報名的時候看到了大排長龍以為一定會等很久,但是工作人員很多而且很熟練,所以一下下就搞定了 ^^ 另外,在活動辦公室附近整天都有各種 vintage 攤位,買衣服,舞鞋,飾品等等,真是太體貼舞者了 XDDD
For such a large festival, Rock that Swing was run like a well oiled machine. I was late to check-in on my first day at the camp and worried that the long line would make me late for class. But there were many volunteers working alongside each other and everything was extremely efficient and friendly. Also the extensive vintage market with clothing, shoes, accessories and such provided enough of a distraction to make me late for much better reasons. I wish I had gotten more photos but I was too shy to keep taking photos of people's merchandise!
For such a large festival, Rock that Swing was run like a well oiled machine. I was late to check-in on my first day at the camp and worried that the long line would make me late for class. But there were many volunteers working alongside each other and everything was extremely efficient and friendly. Also the extensive vintage market with clothing, shoes, accessories and such provided enough of a distraction to make me late for much better reasons. I wish I had gotten more photos but I was too shy to keep taking photos of people's merchandise!
總結 / Finally
如果想來歐洲參加 swing camp 的話,Rock that Swing 是個不錯的選擇。但是需要注意的是因為規模大而且慕尼黑本身消費不低,所以價格也不便宜~ 另外,每個人所喜歡的氣氛不同,在 Rock that Swing 這種大雜燴比較難像在小規模的 dance camp 一樣更深度的跟少數投機的舞者互動(因為共舞一次之後你可能就再也找不到他/她了),所以挑選 camp 真的要考慮自己的需求與偏好是什麼 ^^
I enjoyed my time at Rock that Swing and would definitely attend again, circumstances permitting. But the scale of the event as well as the fact that Munich is not the cheapest city in the world means that the cost is also quite substantial. Also, everyone prefers different environments. Rock that Swing is a little less personal than small weekend events where I had more of a chance to get to know a few like-minded dancers more in-depth. At Rock that Swing I found it much harder to FIND anyone specific - so that kind of bonding didn't happen. However, I also danced with a much larger number of different people - so it just depends on what one is looking for in an event!
I enjoyed my time at Rock that Swing and would definitely attend again, circumstances permitting. But the scale of the event as well as the fact that Munich is not the cheapest city in the world means that the cost is also quite substantial. Also, everyone prefers different environments. Rock that Swing is a little less personal than small weekend events where I had more of a chance to get to know a few like-minded dancers more in-depth. At Rock that Swing I found it much harder to FIND anyone specific - so that kind of bonding didn't happen. However, I also danced with a much larger number of different people - so it just depends on what one is looking for in an event!