New Year's Winter Camp 2027

Dec. 29, 2026–Jan. 1, 2027

Come for the camp. Stay for the celebration. Start the New Year surrounded by music, dancing, and community at Ashokan!

Celebrate the start of a New Year with old friends, new faces, and an incredible crew of music and dance instructors. Our passionate faculty love creating a welcoming, joyful space where musicians and dancers of all levels can learn, play, and grow together through fun classes, workshops, singing, jamming, and dancing.

Arrive Tuesday for a sumptuous dinner, followed by an evening Song Swap, jam session, and dance party. Then settle in for two full days packed with classes, singing, dancing, jamming, and delicious meals shared with friends old and new. Camp wraps up Friday, January 1, with a festive brunch and Farewell Dance.

2027 staff line-up

Balfa Toujours — Blake Miller (fiddle), Shane Guidry (bass), Christine Balfa (acoustic guitar), Jimmy Breaux (drums), and Jean-Jacques Aucoin (accordion).

Swingology — Featuring camp co-hosts Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, Peter Davis (clarinet, saxophone, piano, banjo, mandolin, guitar, whistle, and vocals), Dave Davies (trombone and vocals), Harry Aceto (bass), and Jerry Marotta (drums).

Dancing instructors and callers:
- Brian Lawton and Emily Vanston — Lindy Hop
- Will Mentor and John Krumm — Contras and Squares
- Erica Weiss — Cajun/Zydeco Dance

Also featuring Danny Tobias (trumpet), Kevin Wimmer (Cajun fiddle), and Russ Sternglass (drums). More staff to be announced!

Winter Camp registration includes admission to the New Year’s Eve Dinner & Dance. Ring in 2027 at Ashokan with swing, Cajun, Zydeco, Contras, Squares, Waltzes, and more, featuring two simultaneous dance halls.