A place to dance your Big Heart out
For the past four years, something magical has been happening in the Pine River valley every June.
Big Heart Dance Camp, celebrating its fifth anniversary this year from June 19 to 23, is a multi-faceted, inter-generational get-together that founder Ayrlie MacEachern has modeled after Dance New England. MacEachern first travelled to that 30-year-old institution, which draws hundreds every summer, in her late 20s, and was struck by the openness and creativity she saw there.
Big Heart Dance Camp, which takes place on the Unicamp property in Mulmur Township, had over 70 attendees last year. Guests can come for one day or all five, and a variety of workshops – from yoga to rattle-making to barefoot boogieing, with all manners of body movement in between – are available each day.
“People can attend four workshops in a day or none,” explained MacEachern. “The vibe is all about everyone creating their own unique experiences. You might just get into a good conversation at breakfast, and still be sitting at the table at lunch.”
Speaking of breakfast and lunch, the entire five days are catered by a vegetarian chef friend of MacEachern’s, and the food is an attraction itself.
Local resident Kathy McCleary attended the camp last year for the first time, and was so impressed that she’s heading back this year. “It was a great mix of people, from small children upward, and everyone was in a relaxed mood,” she said.
Another local resident, Julia Petrisor, fell enough in love with Big Heart Dance Camp to join ranks with MacEachern, and this year has taken on some of the organizational load. With the help of a Robert G. Kemp Award from the Blue Mountain Foundation of the Arts, MacEachern and Petrisor are ready to make this year’s camp bigger and better than ever.
“As far as I know, there is nothing else like this in all of Ontario,” said MacEachern. “We’re creating a community around this camp, and it’s happening in a really beautiful way.”
For more information about Big Heart Dance Camp, visit www.ayrlie.ca, email bigheartdancecamp@gmail.com or call 705-444-0550.
