FAQs about Contact Camp

Participation

1) do i have to know contact to participate in either the jams or the classes?

For the most part, "no". The morning jams at center camp are really meant to be beginner friendly and there will likely be experienced dancers who, when not involved in a dance, would be happy to share some contact. The fundamentals classes are all basic level and everyone is encouraged to come and participate. We also offer classes in other subjects which are open to all. The only exceptions are the "intermediate/advanced" classes in the afternoons, the expectations of which are at least that you already have done a some contact and from there will vary with the instructor and subject.

2) I am camping elsewhere but teach contact in my hometown. Can I come teach a class?

most likely, "yes!" write to us pre-burn to get in the loop or just show up to the opening Monday night meeting at Contact Camp.

3) Can I come to contact camp to teach something besides contact improv?

Maybe. This depends on what it is you are offering, when you want to offer it, and what we already have going on. If it fits in the vibe of camp and we have space, then we are delighted for it to be used! We prioritize contact events and events offered by residents of contact camp, but we often have guests come in and teach other subjects which, in the past, ahve ranged from butoh to capoeira and martial arts.

Living Experiment ...

1) I haven't done contact much before. Can I stay at Contact Camp?

The answer is neither a clear "yes" or "no" in this case, but leans towards the latter. We are tightening this up a bit this year, wanting to make a little more integrated community in camp, based in the basic affinity of interest in contact improvisation. If this opening statement doesn't already make you look elsewhere, then drop us a line and let's talk. What would make us say "yes" are things like a serious ongoing investment in a related practice, a willingness to be there for set up and breakdown of camp, a willingness to jump into a spirit of service with the rest of us in contact camp in making the space happen, a strong interest in coming to the classes regularly and learning contact via contact camp, or some ability to help with infrastructure. What might make us say "no" is if you are more looking for a friendly place to park (in which case, there are some really great other camps with a similar vibe, which we would be happy to connect you with ... check out Links).

2)I am seriously invested in contact and am coming with someone who hasn't done so much contact. Can we stay at Contact Camp?

This is a bit more complicated. If it is you and your partner or close friend who is basically friendly, helpful, and likes spending time with contacters, then likely, we will say "yes". If it is you and 5 other friends who aren't really interested in contact and are just looking for a place to stay, then likley we would say "no". If the "no" isn't clear from reading this, then do feel free to contact us, and let's talk...

3) What do i need to bring?

goto the "What do i need to bring?" page .

4) Do i need to bring my own food and water?

Food, no. Water, maybe.

In previous years, everyone brought some water for themselves and some water for the group. This seemed to work well, and we may do this again this year, but we are also looking into bringing a group water supply.

We will have an organic vegetarian food supply. As a camp member, it is yours to use and go through as you like for snacks, lunches, breakfasts, etc. We will have group dinners available every night. If there is something you particularly want, write a request on the burningcontact tribe discussion. If it fits in budget and is reasonable, it's likely we can get it (Ari, our food ordered, has access to wholesale food ordering). Otherwise, you may want to bring it yourself, especially if you want to guarantee a supply of that item which will not be consumed early on by others. Refrigeration is limitted, but we are going to construct a bigger "shade box" this year so we can have even more fresh produce. We may also try to do some sort of refrigeration system, depending on power.

5) How do i get there to Burning Man?

Well, most conventionally, you would drive there, but people do fly in (there is a Black Rock airport), parachute in, or walk in over the mountains. For Contact Camp folks, we will be maintaining a list of who is coming from where, when, and whether they need a ride or have rides to offer. We will also be keeping a thread on burningcontact tribe for rideshares. The coordinatrix will try to keep the list updated and keep it posted on the tribe, but the actual coordination of rides will mostly be a do-it-yourself thing. In other words if you need a ride, contact the appropriate people on the list yourself to seek out a ride, look in other places for rides than just within contact camp (like craigslist), keep us posted about if you find one or not. If you are considering driving or not, many people would appreciate the rideshare and would be happy to split gas, so driving is highly encouraged! let us know if you have rides to offer. We have a lot of people who are flying in so we have a large need for "rides offered".

As far as where to fly into if you are coming from abroad, Reno, Nevada is the closest major airport to Burning Man, but San Francisco or Oakland airports in the SF Bay Area, California are actually closer to the hub of where more people will becoming from and easier to coordinate rides through.

6) I have children. Should i bring them? Is there childcare?

Some people do bring there children to Burning Man and share the experience with them. Others leave them at home, both to have independence and to avoid their children being exposed to certain aspects of Burning Man, which at the very least could be confusing for kids... its a wild city of 40,000 with a lot going on. Contact Camp does not offer child care. If you choose to bring your children, many do have a wonderful experience, and it will likely mean a big investment for yourself. There is a camp, Kidsville, where many parents and their children stay at Burning Man, where there are a lot of activities for children. check out http://www.burningkids.org/ for info on Kidsville (they are also always looking for volunteers who would like to offer activities for kids. Vaj is a mom who is a member of Contact Camp who stays with her boys at Kidsville.. you can contact her at earthyogini@yahoo.com .