Facilities | Earthdance

The Umbrella Studio
Earthdance's largest studio, the Umbrella Studio, is 44' in diameter (1,500 sq ft) and 14-sided, accommodating 120 people total. Built in 1999 by Earthdance's extended community, the Umbrella Studio is an architectural marvel, featuring an "umbrella" ceiling with a circle of performance lights, wood-sprung maple floors, radiant heat, a door to the outside, and large windows on all sides looking out towards the apple orchard, garden, and forest.

The Rectangle Barn
The cathedral-roofed Rectangle Barn is Earthdance's original studio, connected directly to the main Farmhouse from the dining room. 24' x 48' and accommodating 60 people total, it is equipped with piano, sound system, and limited theatrical lighting. The Rectangle Barn also features wood-sprung maple floors and windows on one side.

Studio 3
Studio 3 is a third smaller stuidio located on the second floor of the Farmhouse. Accommodating 15 people, Studio 3 is ideal for small group activities or breakout sessions.

The Farmhouse
Earthdance's main facility is an 1812 farmhouse (formerly part of the Anson Betts Manganese Mine) that has been thoroughly renovated to provide a beautiful, spacious home appropriate for large groups. Handcrafted stained glass windows, tiles, wall art, and other decorative features make the Farmhouse a one-of-a-kind facility that reflects decades of community care and creativity. The Farmhouse includes a Library, Living Room, Dining Room, Sun Porch, as well as five bathrooms (3 showers).

Library
The Library has seating for 8 people along with a guest computer, books on a host of topics for reading onsite, and art supplies for youth. The Library also features the door that was once the main door to the old Farmhouse.

Living Room
The Living Room has seating for 8 people, and provides a good resting spot between activities as well as a spillover dining area.

Kitchen
The Kitchen is at the heart of the Earthdance home, bridging the hangout spaces of the Farmhouse (living room & library) with the studios. Earthdance's Kitchen is equipped with an industrial range and walk-in cooler. The pantry supports group as well as personal food storage.

Dining Room
Earthdance's main Dining Room is in the center of the Farmhouse directly connected to the Kitchen, with a handcrafted banquet-style table and seating for 12 people.

Sun Porch
The indoor Sun Porch dining area is directly off of the main Dining Room, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto Earthdance's garden and seating for 48 people.

The Gratitude Lodge (year-round)
The Gratitude Lodge (a.k.a. the Earthdance dorm) is Earthdance's main lodging facility, connected to the Farmhouse by a short wooded trail. The Gratitude Lodge offers 3 floors of guest housing for up to 55 guests with an assortment of large and small rooms featuring dormitory-style bunks and beds (twin & queen size). The Gratitude Lodge also has a living room, dining room, and shared bathrooms.

Nine Mountain Retreats (year-round, dependant on availability)
Nine Mountain is a beautiful facility adjacent to Earthdance with overflow accommodations for an additional 25 guests. Nine Mountain offers 2 floors of guest housing with an assortment of dormitory-style and private rooms, as well as a living room, dining room, hot tub, and shared bathrooms.

Tent Cabins & Camping (May-September)
Earthdance's 10' x 12' Tent Cabins in the woods provide a rustic, private sleeping space for up to 2 adults and include either one double or two twin beds. Our Apple Orchard and 125 acres of forest provide ample space for additional personal tent camping. Guests staying in the Tent Cabins and camping have access to the shared bathrooms in the main Farmhouse.

Local Bed & Breakfasts
49 Mountain Street
Garden House Upon a Hill
Singing Bridge Performing Arts Lodge
Brookwood B&B
Upland Meadows Farm

The Sauna
The wood-fired cedar sauna nestled in the woods is a treasured feature of Earthdance and was the second structure built by the Earthdance founders. The sauna sits next to Earthdance's quarry—an old mining quarry now filled with cool water for jumping into before and/or after sauning. The sauna can accommodate up to 12 people.

The Massage Room
The Massage Room is located on the second floor of the Farmhouse and is equipped with a massage table for individuals looking to exchange bodywork during an event.

The Land
Earthdance sits on 125 acres of wooded land that expands into Mass Audubon's West Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary (part of one of the largest aggregations of conserved land in Massachusetts) and Deer Hill State Reservation, whose summit is a 1hr hike from Earthdance. Winding trails criss-cross a trickling stream (tributary of the Westfield River). In the Spring, Summer, and Fall, the woods teem with wildlife, providing a vivid and serene landscape for camping & exploring. In the Winter, pristine snowfalls provide an idyllic setting for snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing, and sledding. See our campus map and trail map.

The Apple Orchard
Earthdance's Apple Orchard covers the area between the Farmhouse and Nine Mountain Retreats with 75-yr-old apple trees that overflow with apples in the Fall and 75-yr-old maples that get tapped for syrup in the Spring. The Apple Orchard provides a peaceful grassy expanse for playing, resting, gathering, and camping.

The Garden
Earthdance runs an organic, permaculture garden seasonally (May–November) with vegetables, herbs, and flowers that supplement our largely locally-sourced meals. The Garden is a beautiful place to explore, sit & relax, and learn about the abundance of wild edible & medicinal plants growing on the Earthdance land.

Campfires
Earthdance has three main campfire circles to accomodate large groups: one large circle in the Apple Orchard, one large circle behind the Umbrella Studio, and one smaller circle 15min into the woods. All of our firewood is sourced from the land and our staff can prepare fires for your group upon request.