New Mexico Camp 2026!
Dates: July 16-19, 2026
Where: United World College
39300 Hwy. 41, Montezuma, New Mexico 87731

uwc-usa.org

About  New Mexico Camp

Celebrating 42 years, New Mexico Camp  is a premier camp, held this year on the campus of United World College, Montezuma, New Mexico. The camp is about 90 minutes north of Santa Fe, New Mexico. This year’s camp features teachers László Tihanyi (Hungarian) and Genci Kastrati (Albanian).

United World College is situated on a 1,000-acre campus in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, in beautiful northern New Mexico. There is a late 19th century castle on site, where we will enjoy music, meals, and fabulous artwork.

We present Genci Kastrati teaching Albanian dances, and László Tihanyi teaching partner and non-partner Hungarian dances. Dances are scheduled in morning and afternoon blocks, with parties in the evening, and more music and dancing.

Dancers seasoned and new alike come to New Mexico Camp for its unique and welcoming community, along with workshops, evening parties, live music, and more. Between internationally renowned guest dance leaders and musicians, camper-organized extra activities like music jams and bird watching walks, there’s something to make this a fabulous weekend for everyone!

2026 Teachers

László Tihanyi, professional Hungarian folk dancer and instructor, will be teaching  both couple and non-couple dances dances from Hungary. He will also tell us about some of the extensive research done on Hungarian folk dance, the genres of Hungarian folk dance and the  “táncház” movement in Hungary.  László was born in Budapest, and began dancing in folk dance ensembles as a teenager. A graduate of the Hungarian Dance Academy, he has performed with countless folk dance ensembles in Hungary.  László came to the United States at the invitation of the Eszterlánc Hungarian Folk Ensemble in San Francisco, and since then has been an integral part of the effort to teach Hungarian folk dance throughout America. His effort in promoting Hungarian culture was honored in 2020 by the Hungarian Consulate in Los Angeles. He is currently the artistic director of the Cleveland Hungarian Scout Folk Ensemble.

Genci Kastrati is a Master Folk Dance Artist and Dance Troup Director of the National Folk Song and Dance Ensemble of Albania, where he has performed since 1985 as a dancer, soloist, and artistic leader. Continuing a family legacy – his father was a dancer and choreographer – Genci trained at the National School of Choreography and earned his degree in Choreography from the University of Arts, staging his first full-length concert in 2008 and creating dozens of original works performed in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Ukraine, etc. Alongside his ensemble work, he teaches folk dance at the National School of Choreography and has served on national juries, including the Albanian Jury for Eurovision 2023. Internationally, he is one of the most sought-after ambassadors of Albanian folk dance, leading workshops, seminars, and masterclasses across the USA (including Stockton, Laguna, San Antonio, Fall Camp, Boulder International), Canada Europe, and Asia, etc., where he shares the technique, rhythm, and cultural context of Albanian traditional dance.

About the United World College – USA

United World College officially the Armand Hammer United World College of the American West, is a United World College school in San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States. Located at: 39300 Hwy. 41, Montezuma, New Mexico 87731, the college was founded in 1982. The college serves a broad set of students from 95 different countries.

For more information and registration
Email: moc.liamg@pmactsuguamn

Or:
Southwest International Folk Dance Institute
swifdi.org