MYRTLEWOOD FUSION INTENSIVE

June 13-17, 2024
Camp Myrtlewood, Myrtle Point OR

What is MFI?

A five day educational intensive for fusion dancers committed to deepening their dance practice and study at a beautiful campground in southern Oregon.

  • Three full days and two half days of morning-to-evening education and focused training time.

  • Each full day is an intensive within itself of a different style of movement:
    Kizomba, Afro-Latin Fusion, and Brazilian Zouk.

  • Mornings are focused on solo movement training with one of our educational faculty members.

  • Afternoons are focused on integrating what you learned that morning into your partnered fusion dancing through cohort class-time and small training-focused pods with instructor support.

Our Educational

Approach

In order to keep expanding our growth edges as dancers, we need containers that will support and challenge us to do so. Myrtlewood Fusion Intensive endeavors to do exactly this by combining solo and partnered movement classes to expand our horizons and grow a deeper culture of dance study in the fusion scene.

  • Our days start with a 2hr block exploring the solo movement principles from one of our featured dance styles: Kizomba, Afro-Latin Fusion, and Brazilian Zouk.

    This time will be spent as a whole group, deeply investigating the qualities of movement and solo techniques that make up the foundation of each dance. Working solo gives us space to drill the aesthetics, mechanics, and techniques of each style into our own systems, without the comfortable and habitual stimuli of fusion dancing with a partner.

  • Afternoon partnered movement classes will focus on integrating our morning sessions into our fusion bodies. With this time we will explore tangible ways to fluidly incorporate these new techniques and mechanics into our fusion with flare and musicality, as well as creating contrast and mode switching between the distinct styles we are learning.

  • In the afternoons, we split up into two cohorts and focus on fusion integration. Each cohort will cycle through structured class time and independent, instructor-supported practice time.

    Within your cohort, you will be placed in a small pod of ~6 people of similar skill level, whom you will train with every day of the intensive. This is to encourage deeper levels of study and integration of the material, utilizing the intimacy and creativity that only manifests through collaborative experimentation.

  • We will have social dancing on nights 3 and 4 of the event, with selected DJs weaving in music that incorporates all the musical styles we are working with over the course of the intensive. This will give us even more time and space to integrate everything we’ve learned onto the social dance floor and have. some. fun.

Our Amazing

Team

  • Afro-Latin Fusion

    Originally by way of New York, Malik Delgado draws his inspiration from his Afro American and Afro Caribbean origins. Malik's journey has led him to immerse himself in many cultures from B-Boying to Popping/ Boogaloo to Krump, and his love of movement and artistic expression eventually led him to embrace Salsa, American Style Ballroom, and Afro-Latin Fusion.

    He has helped to form local street dance crews like Portland City Rockers and Soul Trigger PDX and has shared his street dance education with many local schools and programs.

    Malik teaches Bachata, Salsa, Afro Latin Funk, and Cha Cha Cha at Vitalidad Movement Studio in Portland and is inspired by how effective dance has been in inspiring his community and continues to perform, teach, and educate in hopes to continue the traditions that have given so much to his life and the lives around him.

  • Kizomba & Tarraxinha

    Marietta Villalobos is a world-renowned dance instructor known for her exceptional ability to unlock people's waistlines and cultivate extraordinary dancers. Her mastery encompasses a diverse range of styles, but she specializes in the mesmerizing art of Kizomba, the sensual rhythms of Tarraxinha, and the electrifying energy of Twerk. Hailing from the vibrant country of Costa Rica, Marietta's family immigrated to Louisiana in 1992 and she is currently based in the dynamic city of Seattle, Washington.

    Marietta's love for Kizomba began in 2007 when she immersed herself in Angolan culture, learning various dances and absorbing its rich essence from her close friends. In 2014, she embarked on her teaching journey in San Antonio, Texas, under the guidance of the esteemed Mestre Petchu and Vanessa Ginga Pura. Marietta honed her craft, becoming a certified authority in her field and has been building great dancers at Salsa Con Todo since January 2022.

    Keep your eyes peeled for more instructor announcements, as well as a deeper look into each of their personal teaching style.

  • Brazilian Zouk

    Rachel attempted to rebel from her dancer family by studying Pure Mathematics at the University of Colorado, Boulder. After teaching high school math for 7 years, she went on to get her Master's in School Leadership and Policy Studies, with the goal of opening a non-traditional school. Fast-forward 5 years to when she co-founded the Denver School of Social Dance with her partner Devon Near-Hill. Together, they built the hub of partner dance education in Colorado.

    Rachel's first dances were Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing, Blues, and Salsa (on 2). She later became infatuated with Brazilian Zouk, which has held her focus since 2011. As a third-generation social dancer, Rachel started teaching by her mom's side when she was 11 years old and has since facilitated hundreds of classes for over 10,000 students.

    Now, she leads young people and adults through workshops that leave students feeling more self-aware, creative, and collaborative.

  • Fusion Integration

    Ally is a body geek and a movement addict. They’ve been dancing since they could walk, but discovered the world of partner dancing first in 2004 (and essentially never stopped). Blues, Lindy Hop, Tango, Fusion, West Coast Swing, contemporary, hip hop, house, aerial silks, pole dance, and a growing body of many other modalities are all in their wheelhouse. Throughout their exploration and training in each style, their love of the creative act of fusing grew. They have taught Fusion for 15 years, bringing their unique understanding of the body mechanics of movement to major events and local venues around the world.

    In addition to their dance teaching experience, Ally has also completed a 5-year teacher training program in Contemporary Alexander Technique—a somatic study of ease, coordination, movement, and presence. This additional education not only deepens the dance material they teach, but expands their pedagogy and love of the art of teaching itself.

  • Milla has taken the fusion world by storm with their passionate organizing since entering the game in 2022. They believe strongly in the power of intentional community containers and love creating them above all else.

    Milla grew up going to summer camp at Camp Myrtlewood and has been delighted to have the chance to create and implement the vision of MFI in such a magical place.

    They have previously organized Hot Night Fusion Weekend (2022 + 2023) and the original iteration of MFI in 2023, and are currently the Instruction & Curriculum Lead for High-Fidelity Fusion 2024.

    In addition to their national organizing work, they run practicas and workshops in their home city of Portland, OR and teach partner dance to teenagers all over the country through their work with experiential education programs and summer camps.

DJs: TBA

Interested in DJing for MFI? Apply here!

Our

Venue

Camp Myrtlewood

49658 Myrtle Creek Rd, Myrtle Point, OR 97458

  • We have a sweet creek that runs along the property with a sandy swimming hole, as well as private rocky shore areas with newts and crawdads all about!

  • There are multiple great options for hanging out outside, including covered patios with seating, a big central field, and tucked away benches and fire rings in the woods.

  • This space is multifunctional—during meal times, we eat here communally—like summer camp! Then the space gets transformed into our main classroom and evening dance space.

  • There are many amazing hiking trails of various difficulties winding through the site. Climb to the top of Vista Point for amazing views, or take a casual stroll along the creek- you might be lucky enough to encounter a beaver.

  • The site has multiple restrooms with toilets, sinks, and running hot water in the showers. We will designate a few of these as gender neutral restrooms and they are all within easy walking distance to the cabins.

  • A comfy corner of the dining hall with couches and a piano for lounging about.

  • There are 5 cabins on site that can house 5-15 people each. All cabins have bunk beds, outlets, and lights but some are more rudimentary than others.

  • Indoor common area and lounge space with comfy couches, games, and plenty of outlets.

    Afternoon small-group training time will happen here.

Our

Application+

Tickets

  • We are so excited you are interested in joining us for this unique event. We are accepting applications until February 29th.

  • All tickets cover class tuition, lodging, and 3 prepared meals a day for our 5 day event.

    Tickets:

    - MFI Base Ticket Cost: $500
    - MFI Scholarship Fund Support: $500+

    Any amount over your base ticket cost helps us bring this unique educational opportunity to dancers experiencing economic instability in our scene. Please consider the maximum amount you will be able to put towards your ticket. This will enable us to support as many dancers as possible.

    The Simple Breakdown:

    Lodging + Meals Cost: $228

    Tuition: $282 (includes 15 hrs of instruction + 5 hrs of facilitation + 8 hrs of social dancing)

  • We are hard at work raising money for our scholarship fund to make this event accessible for dancers experiencing financial instability. We won't necessarily know what funds are available until applications close, therefore we cannot guarantee we can grant your requested scholarship amount, but boy howdy we will try!

    These are the MFI scholarship options. In your application, you will be asked to asses the maximum amount you will be able to put towards your ticket. This enables us to support as many dancers as possible.

    - 25% Scholarship - $375

    - 50% Scholarship - $250

    - 75% Scholarship - $125

  • Believe in our mission? Help us make this event accessible to dedicated dancers experiencing financial instability in our scene.

    Any amount is accepted and helps. Please send your donations to @millavt on Venmo with “Myrtlewood Scholarship Donation” in the tagline.

    We thank you for your support!

APPLY

Applications Close February 29th, 2024