KICK-OFF DANCE
WELCOME DANCE
HOEDOWN 2009
STOMPEDE BALL Frequently Asked Questions
I'm a beginning dancer. Will I fit in?
A resounding YES! The Sundance Stompede is the perfect event for novice dancers! We are careful to include a full schedule of beginning workshops specifically for you. You can learn two-step, waltz, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, night-club two-step, and line dances during the day … and then you'll have the opportunity to apply what you've learned at the night-time dances.
You'll find our country-western dance community a welcoming one, so you needn't be afraid to dance with more experienced dancers. In fact, that's the best way to learn. Come to the Stompede, and leave dancing like you never thought possible!
From an attendee from a prior Sundance Stompede:
"Thanks for a great time! I had no idea what to expect aside from a lot of dancing. I've only been 2-steppin/line dancing since March and was a little self conscious about my skills. Well those concerns were tossed aside shortly after my arrival. I felt welcome and the sessions encompassed all sorts of skill levels."
I don't dance at all. Is the Stompede for me?
Well, certainly you will get more out of the weekend if you have some interest in country-western dancing. But you can still have a great time, even if you never set foot on the dance floor. First of all, the people you are sure to meet are some of the friendliest around. And there are plenty of social settings for you to meet them. The dance exhibitions are highly entertaining, and even watching the regular dancers can be a lot of fun. Plus, San Francisco is an incredible city to explore, and for the gay tourist it's especially wonderful. And maybe, just maybe you'll decide to try out a beginning dance workshop or two.
How is the Stompede for women?
While the majority of attendees at the Stompede are men, there is no shortage of friendly women. Women often comment on how comfortable they feel with the number of women, as well as how welcoming the Stompede is for everyone, regardless of gender. The Women's Social on Saturday afternoon is one special highlight of the weekend for many women.
Why do you have a 30-day cancellation policy for the hotel reservations?
To protect us from a significant financial loss, and for the courtesy of our attendees who need accommodations. We have a contract with the hotel to fill a minimum number of rooms. A couple of years ago were well above our minimum requirement going into the event, only to have a large number of cancellations just before the Stompede. We suffered a loss of thousands of dollars. There is also a maximum limit to the number of rooms we can offer at the group rate. Last year, we ran out of rooms that could have been available but weren't, because many people held on to them until the very end before canceling. The 30-day cancellation policy safeguards us against both of these problems.
If you are unsure of your plans and you need to book a refundable room, we suggest you book at the regular non-group rate, which is $172 (or $154 with a AAA card) as of September 10.