The new venue was recently constructed and offers many advantages over previous options, including more overall space, greater accommodations and amenities, and even logistical advantages for backend operations (which should help us better meet some of the challenges of running an event since the pandemic).
In particular, the new configuration of accommodations will enable us to decrease to no more than two people per room, and provide more options for those who have expressed interest in bringing a non-dancing partner and/or children (including space for on-site childcare).
Apart from the unique setting and session formats, logistically in a sense The Experiment can be thought of just like any larger camp which has multiple tracks. These camps all have to determine the placement of participants within those tracks, commonly done through some form of ‘level test’, in conjunction with managing logistical constraints such as lead/follow balance and available space.
The main difference in this regard is simply that each track at The Experiment is a different week occupying different dates, which means the level test process has to somehow be done in advance and therefore online. Ultimately then the application process simply serves as a combination of typical event registration (including tracking important housing and dietary needs), plus essentially an online level test to determine placement (again, factoring in both dance level as well as logistical constraints such as available space and lead/follow balance).
Applications are reviewed and sorted across multiple stages by a panel of approximately eight to ten judges (with occasional consultations with outside advisors), in a process which typically takes over a month and 50+ man-hours each year. All participants are required to go through this application process each and every year without exception.
No! The Experiment has never used any form of closed invitations and has always been open for anyone to apply through a public application process. In fact all participants are required to go through the standard application process each and every year without exception.
Yes! For over a decade we have been consistently expanding the number of weeks and developing our unique formats to accommodate an ever-increasing range of dancers. This experience has culminated in our ability and confidence to now welcome the full set of all levels, from beginners through masters.
(While unfortunately the number of weeks in a given year has to be decided long before applications can be collected for that year, application numbers from previous years are used to determine the number of weeks in the following year. More applications this year means more weeks and spots next year.)
No! While The Experiment does attract many participants who may be known elsewhere as teachers or competitors, the program has always been open for anyone to apply and to choose what they want to work on, including many who are only interested in working on their social dancing.
No! Applicants have never required a partner in order to apply or participate, and around half of all participants attend without one.
The answers to these and similar type questions are now located in the Terms & Conditions section at the bottom of the Admissions page.
Candidates apply to the program and are grouped/placed into a specific week as part of the acceptance process. It is not possible to apply for a specific week and in fact the configuration of the weeks (which one is which) is not predetermined and can change from year to year.
Each week features one or two Head/Guest DJ(s) who may coordinate music together with participants who volunteer to DJ. Volunteering is very relaxed and informal, with a chance to talk to the Head DJ in person about your range of experience and comfort before being given any DJ slots (normally just 30-60 minutes at a time).
See the Families section within the application form on the Admissions page for a detailed overview of possible options.
Each week has a few dedicated support staff positions (in addition to the set of participants) to help perform daily household maintenance. These are highly sought-after, full-time volunteer positions which offer another opportunity to support and be a part of The Experiment, including living in the house with everyone and social dancing in the evenings. However unlike a paying participant, support staff cannot participate in sessions (although they can audit/listen in on portions of them).
Conversely, as an unfortunate consequence of the format, The Experiment is unable to offer work-trade opportunities–i.e. volunteering in exchange for a discount–as each week requires the complete set of fully-paying participants to operate.
If interested, please complete the following form: Request to Join Support Staff. Note that support staff are not usually determined until sometime in December or January (after enrollment has been finalized).