I have decided that the minimum stay for having a satisfactory Herrang Dance Camp experience is two weeks.
You need at least one week to get acclimated to the unique environment, culture and time-table of Herrang. Just figuring out where to sleep, eat, go to class, social dance, and hang out takes like three days. Your body is not used to taking dance classes all day and partying all night, and sleeping when you can find a spare minute. And your brain has difficulty processing all the normal weirdness that is Herrang.
By the end of your first week, your diurnal cycle adjusts to Herrang time : dancing till 6am, sleeping 3 hours, going to class, sleeping 2 hours, going to meeting, sleeping, dancing till 7am, repeat…
Your second week is spent doing what you actually WANT to do. Maybe this week you come up with something to teach during an evening class, choreograph a piece to perform for cabaret, create a killer costume for the Friday Party, or join Calle's "Mission Impossible" team. Or just relax at the Marina with all of your new best friends you have made here.
Also you have to plan on getting sick. The "Herrang Flu" is sadly a normal part of the experience that I go through every time I am here, despite my best efforts. That is at least two-three days out of commission right there.
That is assuming you aren't volunteering. If you are working at the camp, you have to add another weekto get the full experience. And if you are staying three weeks,well what's two more weeks?
So I guess people who stay for the full five week Herrang experience aren't so crazy after all. Or maybe I'm just the same kind of crazy.
Yeah, you need almost a week to acclimate to the mosquitoes too.
Ok, mission for you. I’ve been asked what is better: tent or general accommodation. Get some opinions while you dance 😀
It’ll be too late for them as they are almost on their way, but we’ll have the data for next year. Keep having fun!