How I Learned to Love Camp Dances (and How You Can Too)

The end-of-camp dance isn’t everybody’s thing. But have you tried changing your perspective? Here’s how I learned to love camp dances. 

At the beginning of my teen camp years, I hated attending the dances at the end of my week at camp. Well, maybe “hate” is a bit of an exaggeration, but I certainly didn’t enjoy them. Do you ever feel like all you do is stand on the outskirts of the dance floor, watching your friends get asked to dance while you stand alone? 

I get it because that was me. 

Fast-forward a few years, and instead of facing it with anxious dread, the dance became one of the things I looked forward to the most about camp. What changed? It was all a matter of perspective. 

Here are a few lessons I learned. 

1. Seize every opportunity to draw closer to your friends.

Dances aren’t just about dancing to a slow song with a guy or a girl. The playlists are filled with all kinds of songs: slow dances, swing, line dances and those weird ones that nobody recognizes. Whatever the song, you can form a huge circle and dance to it anyway because you’re there to have fun. When you’re with the people you just spent all week getting to know, it’s okay to come out of that shell and enjoy yourself. 

We are told in Proverbs 17:17 that “a friend loves at all times.” That means friends learn to love your quirks, to love your laugh and, most of all, to love you for who you are. Your friends want to have a good time with you. 

So embrace the dance as an opportunity to spend time with your friends and enjoy each other’s company. You may just find yourself breaking out of your comfort zone and making even more friends.

2. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.

If you want to dance with someone, but nobody is asking you, then maybe you are the one who needs to ask! This point is mainly for my lady friends. 

I used to be terrified at the idea of asking guys to dance. It can feel unconventional and intimidating, especially if you are self-conscious. But I came to learn that it’s just a dance. All you are doing is asking someone to have a two- or three-minute conversation with you. 

And what if they say no? That’s okay! There is someone else out there who will be willing to. I usually asked my close friends, people I knew well and people I grew up with. It’s less intimidating when you know you can have a great conversation with the person.

This lesson applies to much more than just asking someone to dance. Putting yourself out there can refer simply to meeting new people. Meeting everyone at camp throughout the week can be challenging, so the dance is an excellent opportunity to fill in those blanks. 

It often seems that one of the scariest things we can do is go up to someone we don’t know and introduce ourselves. But that’s precisely what we should do. If you are standing off to the side alone because you’re not dancing and don’t know who to talk to, it is very likely that someone else is on the other side of the room doing the same thing. 

So, if you see someone else alone, talk to him or her. Put yourself out there and extend a warm welcome. This other person is likely just as afraid to get out there and talk to people. 

3. Participate in any way you can.

Those big circles that everyone forms in the middle of the dance floor are a come one, come all deal. It’s an opportunity for everyone to dance together and to share some laughs. Don’t be afraid to go out there and join. There’s always room! 

For the line dances, don’t be afraid to step in! It can be tricky if you have never done it before, so don’t be scared to ask someone to show you the steps. I have done this many times. You will get the hang of it if you keep at it. And if not, the most important thing is that you had fun trying.

If no one seems to be doing much, or if you are sitting there alone because there is no one to dance with, don’t be afraid to start your own dance. A few years ago, during a slow song, a couple of friends and I stood beside each other and swayed to the music. Before we knew it, half of the camp joined our line, arms around each other’s shoulders, enjoying the song together. 

Something so simple became one of my favorite camp memories.

Closing thoughts

Still don’t like the idea of camp dances? That’s okay! 

But try to look at them as an opportunity to spend time with your friends, get to know others, unwind and enjoy one last event with everyone before you go home the next day. Don’t be afraid to get out there, do the Cha Cha Slide and have fun.