The Venue
Camp Koru, Oakura,
New Plymouth
Taranaki
This privately owned land is nestled by native bush and boarded by a cool mountain-feed river. Mount Taranaki stands watch in the distance, and the sea is just a few kilometres away.
With lots of shady glades for camping, it is a nurturing and restful home for heart-community to do our “work” of eat-dance-and-pray-together, envisioned by Samual Lewis, the US founder of Dances of Universal Peace. This site has been a long-held dream for Dance Camp Aotearoa – to be in nature, under canvas, living in community, in a close relationship with Papatuanuku.
We are glad you are planning to join us.
Our History - Where we've been...
- For more than 10 years Dance Camp Aotearoa was at a Girl Guides centre in the Hawke’s Bay, on the banks of a safely flowing river. However it became increasingly confining to the development of camp and a move was finally forced upon us by the site suffering the ravages of two record-high floods in as many months.
Thankfully the TAUHARA CENTRE in Taupo generously opened their arms to hold us for 2019 and 2020. Then in 2021 we found a new home at Tihoi Venture School on the other side of lake Taupo. However in 2022 Covid meant we were unable to meet and we had a Vitual online dance camp instead.
And in 2023 and 2024 the beautiful Tauhara Retreat Centre was home for Dance Camp Aotearoa. In 2025 we have found a new home for Dance Camp at the rustic Camp Koru, Oakura in the Taranaki.
Our Future – a vision…
Dance Camp Aotearoa is a key introduction to the Dances of Universal Peace in Aotearoa New Zealand, especially for young families and teens. We envision a growing community of families and youth over the coming years. With room to spread out, we can have a dedicated Teen Dance space and a festival atmosphere while retaining the warm heart-centred connection that attracts us all. We welcome your visions and energy as we develop a connection to the land and deepen as a community that embodies Samual Lewis’ vision of peace, harmony and beauty