Burning Man: The Deep End

The Deep End was by far my favorite camp at Burning Man. We were a large theme camp, located on the corner of 9:00 and Delirium...they shared the adjacent corner. We didn't understand what they were setting up the first couple days we were there...only that there were very cool white structures on top of frames (the dance platforms...which by the way, held up better than any of our structures in the dust storm).

And then it started...boom boom thump boom. They were a daytime dance club. While we pounded rebar and erected domes, we had constant entertainment...the throbbing music coming from the DJs across the street.

At one point, P and I couldn't take it anymore. We held hands and ran toward freedom (the techno music) across the street. After a dance break, we'd hold hands and run back across. The camp is HUGE, they have to have hundreds of people in it...and from the website, they probably have 12 or so DJs...each rotating in a shift.

Fabulous costumes, beautiful people, and lots of dancing.

At first, I'd have my work clothes on...but the costumes started getting pulled out so I could look fabulous too...and P was no exception...I started tying the back of his shiny pants to make it into a thong-like creation. There was something about this dance floor that instilled confidence, unity, and a connection with people I'd never talked to. I felt like I'd never danced that well in my life! What is it about that place that stripped away inhibitions and social anxiety?

Certain songs reminded us of upcoming choreographed dances that had been planned by the camp. I will never forget the Banana Phone dance with boys in yellow vinyl...bananas to their ears...enthusiastically lip-synching and dancing in unison in the desert heat.

We felt we were getting so much from this camp, so we started giving gifts back...ice. We put the ice in bowls and prowled the crowd, asking if they'd like some. Each exhausted dancer scooped a piece out and put it in their mouth, down their shirt, on their head...whatever. At the end, I had only ice cold water...which was always poured over someone's head. In exchange, I received a gorgeous bindi, and some spray-downs with lavender water (as well as offers of "special brownies"...I could have been high off my ass...all for some ice!).

When we returned to St. Louis, I felt something was missing. Gone was the thumpa thumpa of the turntables and walls of speakers...from 11 am - 8 pm...all is now silent.

www.thedeependcamp.com

(See pictures below)