JULY 27 - AUGUST 2
Balboa Training Intensive ·
Wellness Retreat · Summer Holiday
in the lovely city of Bern, Switzerland
THE CONCEPT
At Camp Balboa, you don’t just learn steps.
You learn:
-
How to move well and comfortably
-
How to dance jazz, not just patterns
-
How rhythm, melody, and phrasing inform movement
-
How to let the music flow through you, shaping timing, texture, and expression
Balboa becomes a living, responsive dance—not something you execute, but something you inhabit.
Movement, wellness, and dance training are integrated throughout the week to support longevity, ease, and joy on the dance floor.
TEACHING LINEAGE
& THE TEAM
Embodied Lineage
Partner and social dances were traditionally passed somatically — body to body, not just concept to concept. I learned Balboa by dancing with the people who carried it in their bodies, absorbing timing, weight, tone, and musical feel through physical proximity and shared movement.
That embodied transmission is something I actively carry forward. At Camp Balboa, my teaching team and I offer dancers what Willie and Lila Desatoff offered me: time, repetition, presence, and shared dancing. We train together daily, move together, and dance socially together — allowing understanding to emerge not only through explanation, but through felt experience.
This approach is one of the core intentions behind Camp Balboa.
BRENDA RUSSELL
Brenda Jean Russell is an internationally traveling dance instructor, movement educator, and event producer who has been teaching Balboa and Balboa-Swing since 2001. Growing up on the U.S. West Coast gave Brenda rare access to the living roots of Balboa, Swing, and Jitterbug. She had the opportunity to meet, dance with, train with, and spend meaningful time alongside original-generation dancers, including Willie Desatoff, Lila Desatoff, Maxie Dorf, Hal Takier, Marge Takier, Anne Mills, Ray Cunningham, Dean Raftery, Bart Bartolo, and Lollie Weisbuch, among others. Brenda shared a particularly close mentorship with Willie Desatoff, training with Willie and Lila both in California and during an intensive week in Portland, where they worked together daily. That week culminated in a landmark workshop co-taught by Willie, Lila, Brenda, and her dance partners Brian Todd and Russell Bruner — making them the only modern-generation instructors to ever co-teach a full workshop alongside Willie Desatoff. Prior to his passing, Willie entrusted Brenda with his personal syllabus, a responsibility that continues to inform her teaching. Alongside this first-generation lineage, Brenda trained extensively with the revival generation of Balboa teachers, including Sylvia Sykes, Sylvia Skyler, Erik Robison, Christian Thompson Letts, Thea Samuels, Steve Garret, Denise Palino, Peter Loggins, Joel Plys, Allison Plys, and many others. Her teaching weaves historical authenticity, musical nuance, technical clarity, and somatic intelligence. Drawing from extensive training in movement education — including the Franklin Method, Core Awareness, Qi Gong, Nutritious Movement, and related practices — Brenda emphasizes Balboa as a physically transmitted, embodied dance form. She is the founder of DanceMode Education, a nonprofit supporting dance and live music events with a commitment to fair pay, sustainability, and community care.
LEA WENGER
Lea discovered partner dance in 2017 through Blues and Lindy Hop and quickly fell in love with exploring how different styles connect and inform one another. Her curiosity led her naturally to Balboa, where she enjoys its subtle connection, musical precision, and playful efficiency of movement. Lea has trained consistently with the DanceMode team, joining retreats and intensive weekends with Brenda Jean Russell, developing her Balboa in her home community of Bern, and traveling to international festivals such as Herräng. She is also a leader in the Bern scene and co-organizer of Fusionizers, the world’s largest Fusion Dance Festival (www.fusionizers.com ). For the past three years, Lea has been part of the DanceMode teaching team, assisting Brenda, Greg, and Gabriel. Known for her joyful energy and calm, supportive presence, she brings clarity, warmth, and musical sensitivity to her classes. Her background spans Blues, Balboa, Lindy Hop, Tango, Latin, and Fusion, enriching her approach to Balboa dancing and teaching.
GREG DYKE
Greg Dyke has been part of the DanceMode community since 2013 and joined the DanceMode teaching staff in 2023. While Balboa is not his primary dance form, Greg brings deep experience across multiple social dances and a strong understanding of the philosophies, movement principles, and embodied learning approach that define DanceMode Education. Greg is a certified Alexander Technique practitioner with over 20 years of partner dance experience, including Blues, Bal Folk, Lindy Hop, Tango, and Balboa. His work centers on helping dancers move with greater ease, clarity, and coordination by understanding how the body organizes itself — from the spine outward — and how alignment, tone, and efficient use of the body support musical expression and partnership. At Camp Balboa, Greg will teach movement-focused sessions and offer hands-on guidance and feedback (as is customary within the Alexander Technique) to support dancers in refining body mechanics, posture, coordination, and comfort. His teaching emphasizes awareness, adaptability, and rhythm — helping dancers access clearer movement choices, healthier habits, and more responsive connection on the dance floor. Greg is known for his calm presence, precise observations, and ability to meet dancers where they are. His role at Camp Balboa supports the immersive learning environment by helping participants integrate movement education directly into their dancing — not as correction, but as exploration and discovery. Lea has trained consistently with the DanceMode team, joining retreats and intensive weekends with Brenda Jean Russell, developing her Balboa in her home community of Bern, and traveling to international festivals such as Herräng. She is also a leader in the Bern scene and co-organizer of Fusionizers, the world’s largest Fusion Dance Festival (www.fusionizers.com ). For the past three years, Lea has been part of the DanceMode teaching team, assisting Brenda, Greg, and Gabriel. Known for her joyful energy and calm, supportive presence, she brings clarity, warmth, and musical sensitivity to her classes. Her background spans Blues, Balboa, Lindy Hop, Tango, Latin, and Fusion, enriching her approach to Balboa dancing and teaching.
ANTHONY CARUSIELLO
Anthony comes from the US and has been teaching Lindy Hop, Balboa, Shag, Charleston, Vernacular Jazz and other American jazz era dances for nearly 20 years. He holds several first place titles from prominent competitions such as – Rock That Swing Festival, Midwest Lindy Fest, Fog City Stomp, Lindy on the Rocks, Nevermore Jazz Ball, European Balboa Festival, Bal Love, The Snowball – to name a few and was a member and choreographer for the aerialist Denver dance troupe “23 Skidoo”. Anthony now teaches across the world emphasizing a blend of old and new techniques.
GABRIEL HUOT
Gabriel Huot is one of the four official DanceMode Method Educators and has been an integral part of the DanceMode team for many years. A lifelong student of movement, Gabriel has explored a wide range of partner dances including Balboa, Bal-Swing, Blues, Lindy Hop, and various Latin dances, as well as martial arts and other movement practices. His teaching is rooted in curiosity, body awareness, and a deep belief that understanding how the body works leads to greater freedom, comfort, and expression in both dance and daily life. At Camp Balboa, Gabriel helps bring the DanceMode Method to life through movement sessions, breathing practices, warm-ups, recovery work, cold plunges, guided practice, and class assistance. As a DanceMode Method Educator, he is trained in the philosophies, teaching approaches, and movement principles that unite our educational team. Gabriel is also the heart of our retreat kitchen. He has provided meals for multiple DanceMode retreats, including the Alumni Retreats in 2025 and 2026. His food is legendary among participants—not only because it is nutritious and delicious, but because it is prepared with genuine care. Many participants comment that eating Gabriel's meals feels like being welcomed into a family home and nourished by someone who truly wants you to thrive. Whether he's teaching, supporting classes, preparing food, leading a breathing session, or helping participants settle into camp life, Gabriel brings warmth, generosity, and a spirit of service that helps make Camp Balboa the special experience it is.
THE VENUE
We’ll train in a studio right on the river, with easy access for swimming and cooling dips between sessions.
In Bern in the summer, everybody floats down in the river with their dry bags.
You walk up the river and float down in the incredibly blue water directly to the studio...
Classes will take place at:
Salsadancers
Dalmaziquai 69
3005 Bern
PROGRAM
Camp Balboa is designed to balance learning, rest, community, and adventure. While the final schedule will be tailored to the participants who attend, a typical day may look something like this:
10:00–11:00 Movement Session
Qi Gong, mobility, alignment, strength, body awareness, or wellness topics.
11:00–13:00 Dance Training
Technique, fundamentals, rhythm, connection, musicality, and partner work.
13:00–15:00 Lunch & River Break
Eat, rest, swim, explore, or simply enjoy summer in Bern.
15:00–17:00 Dance Training
Balboa, Bal-Swing, rhythm work, guided practice, labs, and specialty topics.
17:00–19:00 Dinner Break
Dinner, river time, naps, socializing, or personal practice.
19:00–22:00 Evening Activities
Social dancing, guided practice, live music, community events, outings, discussions, and special activities.
EVENING ACTIVITIES & SPECIAL EVENTS
monday
Arrival & Welcome Evening
Settle into housing, meet fellow campers, and ease into the week. We'll spend time getting to know one another and building community. We will have a group evening session for everyone together.
tuesday
Rhythm Rebels Social Dance
Join us for an evening of social dancing at Rhythm Rebels Dance Studio.
saturday
Camp BBQ & House Party
Our traditional camp celebration hosted. Food, dancing, music, and time together before the week comes to a close.
wednesday
Outdoor Blues Dance
We'll have the option to attend Bern's outdoor Blues dance. A wonderful opportunity to relax, connect, and enjoy some slow dancing under the summer sky.
thursday
Lake Day
Training sessions in the morning and early afternoon, followed by an excursion to one of Switzerland's beautiful lakes for swimming, relaxing, and community time.
sunday
Closing Day
Final classes, reflections, and farewell activities. Participants are welcome to depart throughout the evening.
.
friday
Outdoor Swing Dance
We'll head out together to enjoy one of Bern's outdoor swing dance events in the center of the city.
*The exact schedule will be adjusted to the participants attending and local opportunities available during the week.
HOUSING & FOOD
Camp Style Housing & Breakfast
We rented a beautiful chalet directly at the river Aare, a 30min walk from the studio.
Includes:
-
Shared group housing
-
Breakfast each morning
-
Access to the kitchen and common areas
-
Community living with fellow campers
The scout camp is our most affordable housing option and offers a wonderful opportunity to connect with other participants outside of class.
The cost is CHF 200–250 sliding scale for the week.
check it out here: www.aareheim.ch
Youth Hostel
If you prefer a bit more comfort and time to yourself, then the youth hostel could be a good option. This hostel is a 10min walk away from our workshop location. With a beatuiful view over the river Aare.
For more details: https://www.youthhostel.ch/en/hostels/bern-youth-hostel
Lunch & Snacks Package
CHF 20/day or CHF 140 for the week.
Includes:
-
Cold lunch on training days
-
Snacks throughout the day
We have hired someone to prepare lunches and snacks for participants, as well as breakfast for those staying in the scout camp housing.
Dinner is not included. We encourage participants to explore Bern's restaurants, cafés, and riverfront, or cook with friends in the evenings. The kitchen at the scout camp will be available to participants.
PRICES & REGISTRATION
Sliding-Scale Training Fees (CHF)
We use a solidarity-based pricing model rather than early-bird pricing.
• Support Tier: 850 CHF
• Standard Tier: 750 CHF
• Reduced Tier: 650 CHF (limited)
• Community Tier: 550 CHF (very limited)
All tiers receive the same training and access.