Friday, Aug. 28, 5:00 PM – Sunday, Aug. 30, 2:00 PM • NK STUDIOS, Bingen, WA
Adult Irish Dance Summer Camp
Come dance where the river meets the mountains.
For one weekend, we're taking over NK STUDIOS in Bingen, Washington — right in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge — for an intensive built for intermediate to advanced adult Irish dancers.
We'll work in skill-level tracks and learn performance-focused choreography rooted in Irish dance, with influences from contemporary movement and other percussive dance forms. By Sunday, we'll bring it all together into a full group piece and film it. The choreography is yours to take, perform, build on, or make your own.
Registration is officially open — sign up here.
More Details
Is this the right level for me?
I'll be running two tracks:
Advanced beginner to intermediate: you can move forward/backward/sideways confidently to the music, and you can pick up soft shoe steps with basic movements.
Advanced: you're confident with fast hard shoe rhythms (think traditional set dances and treble reel steps) as well as more advanced soft shoe choreography.
These are broad categories and I'll adjust as I see who signs up.
Retired competitive dancer wondering if you're "still good enough?”
Yes. It doesn't matter how many years it's been — this is a great level for you. If you're a true beginner, though, this one's going to be too hard to enjoy, and I'd rather point you toward something that actually fits.
What about housing?
You will have to find accommodations for the weekend if you’re coming from out of town (more details on that below). If you’re ready to sign up but want to room with someone, or go in on a group house, please reach out and I’ll connect you with others wishing to do the same.
Do I need shoes?
You don’t need to have hardshoes, dance sneakers or clean tennis shoes that you like dancing in are just fine. Whatever you like to dance softshoe in is fine (I personally prefer socks or barefeet for softshoe).
Is this CLRG open approved?
I’m not part of any Irish dance organization AND this is fully focused on performance choreography, so it meets the CLRG rules for open events. If you’re part of a CLRG dance school, and would like to talk more about this, I’m happy to help navigate!
What does it cost?
The cost of the workshop is $200 for the weekend, but housing and meals are not included. But, cost shouldn't be the thing that stops you. If money is tight, tell me. I can split up payments, there's some scholarship funding available, and we can get creative with housing too.
This is the very first time I've offered this, and it's certainly an experiment! It's priced to reflect the expected learning curve, and I hope that if you join us you'll be open to sharing your feedback about this first year. I'm expecting a small group, and anticipate a really special experience. If you’re thinking about it, please reach out with questions at carlyecunniff (@) gmail.comGetting here
Bingen sits on the Washington side of the Gorge, just across the river from Hood River, Oregon — about an hour east of Portland.
Flying in? Portland International Airport (PDX) is your best bet, roughly 60 miles / 1 hour west of Bingen.
Taking the train from Portland? Easy — Amtrak's Empire Builder stops directly in Bingen at the Bingen–White Salmon station, right in town, no transfers needed.
Taking the train from Seattle? You'll need one connection: take Amtrak Cascades from Seattle to Portland, then transfer to the Empire Builder (Portland-bound section) to reach Bingen. Not a direct shot, but still a fully car-free option if you'd rather not drive.
Taking the bus? The Columbia Gorge Express (CAT) runs daily between Portland's Gateway Transit Center and Hood River, with stops at Multnomah Falls and Cascade Locks along the way. Schedules and tickets at ridecatbus.org. I take this bus all the time, it’s super easy and quiet.
Driving? From Portland, take I-84 East along the Oregon side, then cross the Hood River Bridge into Washington (or take WA-14 the whole way if you're coming from the Vancouver/Camas side). Easy, scenic drive — leave yourself extra time to stop for the views.
I can help with pick-ups/drop-offs from either the train station in Bingen or the CAT station in Hood River. Let me know what you need!
Where to stay
Where to Stay
Bingen is a tiny town, so depending on your budget and vibe, here are a few directions to go — and remember, if housing is a barrier, please ask! There are others who want to split up housing I can connect you with.
In Bingen itself:
The Society Hotel Bingen — a converted schoolhouse with hotel rooms, cabins, and even hostel bunks, plus a spa and bathhouse on-site. Walkable to the studio.
Just across the bridge in Hood River, OR (10–15 min):
Hampton Inn & Suites Hood River or Best Western Plus Hood River Inn — reliable, comfortable
Columbia Gorge Hotel & Spa — if you want to make it a proper getaway, cliffside views and a full spa
Plenty of Airbnbs downtown, walkable to restaurants
***note that you can’t walk or bike across the bridge from Hood River to Bingen, you have to drive. We can figure out carpools from this side of the river easily, just something to keep in mind.
Camping / budget-friendly:
Gorge Base Camp RV Park in White Salmon — RV sites and tent camping, 5–10 minutes from the studio
Farther out:
The Dalles or Cascade Locks, roughly 20–30 minutes away, have more budget motel and KOA-style options
Carson Hot Springs Resort or Bonneville Hot Springs
Questions? Cost or housing a concern? Just reach out.
This is the very first time I've offered this, and it's certainly an experiment! It's priced to reflect the expected learning curve, and I hope that if you join us you'll be open to sharing your feedback about this first year. I'm expecting a small group, and anticipate a really special experience. If you’re thinking about it, please reach out with questions at carlyecunniff (@) gmail.com
Tentative Schedule
Friday Evening 5:00PM-9:00PM//Welcome CeiliBest way to make friends is at a ceili. There will be a welcome ceili with other folks from the community. Post ceili, we’ll probably head out to a local spot for a drink and a bite to eat.
Saturday Morning 9:00PM-NOON // Classes & ChoreographySunday Morning 9:00PM-2PM// Classes & Put it all together We’ll spend the morning dancing! We’ll start the day with some kind of non-Irish dance movement to get the creative juices flowing. We’ll put the dance together, perfect it, film it, make it look fabulous. We’ll say goodbye!
We’ll spend the morning dancing! We’ll start the day with dance strength or Pilates for Irish dancers. The group will split up into different tracks based on level, and we’ll spend the rest of the morning learning a performance piece.
Saturday Afternoon 1:00PM-4:00 // Classes & ChoreographyMore dancing. We’ll ease back into the afternoon with some gentle and alignment focused movement for Irish dancers. We’ll finish learning the choreography.
Saturday Evening 5:00PM-9PM // Something FunWe’ll have a gorge-inspired adventure. This is totally weather dependent, but we might find a swimming spot, go to a winery, have a picnic, or go somewhere fun in town. More details to come!