I've attended Ashokan for many years, and
have sampled several different weeks including Western and Swing
and Old Time and Cajun. I attended "Northern Week" at
Ashokan this year. The music and dance focus for this week is
French Canadian, Scandanavian, English Country dance music, and
New England music and dance. Because of the New England influence,
many students and staff are also fluent in Irish and Scottish
music. Jam sessions are numerous and go to all hours.
An added bonus is Jay Ungar's "experimental" band class,
which is a highlight of the Ashokan experience for me. Jay assembles
a large group of various instrumentalists into an orchestra that
performs a "piece" at the end of the week, which can
include bits and pieces of music from almost any possible tradition
or non-tradition.
I sampled several classes including French Canadian and Swedish
fiddle, Experimental band, piano, and various dance classes. All
of the teachers are experienced, encouraging, and friendly.
Here's a list of nice Ashokan features. There are many more than
I've listed here:
Three great "home style" meals a day, plus an 11 pm
snack including both healthy fruits and vegatables, and bowls
full of yummy things like M&Ms with peanuts.
Joke night where people gather to exchange jokes for hours
Several families brought kids along, and there were efforts to
organise activities for them.
Areas to camp out in tents, or RVs.
Both indoor and outdoor showers. Its fun to take a shower out
in the open air on a sunny day. (They are separated by sex)
Late night saunas heated by wood stove are great after many hours
of dancing and playing music.
Plenty of jam session areas, and weather appropriate for outdoor
music making much of the time.
A nice outdoor roofed dance floor with excellent sound system.
The ratio of men to women at the camp is kept balanced to better
insure the availability of dance partners.
Because of the multiude of both: dance classes; and instrument
classes, its possible to play or dance 8 - 10 hours a day if one
so desires. Instrument class include accordian, piano, fiddle,
bass, guitar, flute, tin whistle, mandolin, etc., and other instruments
of all types are also welcomed.