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Genesis: Our Beginnings What is Stargaze? What is this all about? Understanding a little bit about where we came from and how this all came together might help you get acquainted with who we are today… We didn't start off planning on being what we are today! Originally, Stargaze was born out of an idea-- a possible response to a question that's constantly being asked in the dance community all around the world… cant there be something more? Something different? I'm gEoff ;) and some say I'm the catalyst for getting all this adventure started. (that can be good or bad, depending on how you look at it!) Starting back in 96-97 I became an active participant in several west coast regional rave related mailing lists-SFRaves and SoCal Raves. During the summer of '97 both lists seemed to be asking the same question and struggling with the same issues. People were growing tired of the same thing every week and weekend. People were asking literally "isn't there anything more? something different?" I read simultaneous threads on both the norcal and socal lists and responded with an offer-I was very new at this myself, but having been a rabid outdoor enthusiast, and having the ability and planning ability from organizing climbing camping trips before, I offered just that.
I responded to both SFraves and SocalRaves with a suggestion-instead of spending another weekend raving, how about spending a weekend with some fellow ravers, people who held the same values, the same excitement about the music, and who were chasing many of the same dreams and interests-a weekend outdoors! How about taking these people from SF and LA and going to do something very different than dancing another weekend away in a warehouse or club. I proposed a camping / outdoor trip to one of the most beautiful places in the entire world-Yosemite National Park. I'd been rock climbing for years at this point, and had been going to Yosemite several times a year for climbing and hiking trips. I proposed to both lists to get a group of people together from both SF and LA, to not only come together, to learn about each other and share with each other about each of the great dance communities they live in, but also to try rock climbing, something only a few of them had tried before. At the time of inception,I had a picture in my head of a bunch of us coming together and lying in El Cap meadow, as I'd done dozens of times before, staring up at the mile high rock face before us and the Milky Way above… and the word Stargaze came to mind. (That's where our name came from) I knew it would take some organization, and asked for help. A lot of people responded from both lists very excited about the chance to get outside, meet some new people, try rock climbing for the first time… all with people who understood their passion for music, dancing, life and celebration. I needed help though with getting everything together, and was growing a little worried because no one was stepping up to help me put it all together. That was until Marsh emailed me! Marsh, a game programmer from LA, an avid hanglider and socal raver too who had seen my post, stepped up with a ton of excitement and willingness to help make the weekend possible. Together we managed to plan and made the weekend happen! We figured out camping arrangements, meet up times, enough climbing equipment for everyone… It was off to a great start! Along the way Chris E from Ventura offered to bring his tables and mixer along, and we kicked around the idea of having a very small party after rock climbing in the Park. A few djs offered to spin for us, and we figured out how to piecemeal a sound system together from a home stereo, the bassbin from my car, and some other peeps equipment they had lying around.
Everyone took ownership over some part of the weekend…. everyone got a chance to challenge themselves and do something very fun by rock climbing or hiking in a very beautiful place… everyone shared of themselves either musically, artistically, or in other ways which helped the group experience its time together. We learned more about ourselves, about the other dance scenes out there, and took fresh ideas back. We were able to enjoy very fun things alongside people that not only just were out to have a good time and try something new, but also who embraced our philosophical foundations of PLUR, the value of music and a shared experience amongst friends and family, and with people who could, as we did the first night, lie on our backs in El Cap Meadow, gazing up at the stars and heavens together in awe and amazement at the grandeur and majesty around us, and contemplate the precious gift we've been given here during our time together. It wasn't until a few weeks later that I decided it was definitely something worth trying to do again, and worth keeping going. That was years ago… and I'm very stoked that we still get together, have those shared experiences, try new things, rejoice in the gifts we've been given, celebrate under the stars with our music and dancing, while learning and growing along the way. If you are already a member of the family... with a heartfelt long hug I welcome you back and hope that you'll be right alongside me this upcoming Stargaze. As usual we have an incredible experience ahead of us, not only in the gathering itself but in the participation and magic that puts this adventure together! The past gatherings have been a success ONLY because of the amount of time and energy, participation, sacrifice, and contribution on your behalf. I can't wait for our next celebration! And a celebration it will be! And if you are new or looking at this for the first time… all I can say is… read on! It is It is the Spirit! It's the Spirit It's the Spirit Spoken and Written by Drew at the opening ceremonies at Stargaze 7 |
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In my months
of raving and dancing every weekend either up in SF or down in LA, I'd
grown to love different things about each dance community. Living in
SLO at the time, I had a great chance to see the best (and worst) of
each scene, and often found myself dreaming of a more unified dance
culture that would possess the best from each of the unique parts of
the state. I spoke of this a lot-nearly every time I was in LA I'd speak
of the very high number of people dancing at the SF events, of people
there with it seemed of a bit more "balance" in their lives--some more
maturity and ability to incorporate raving, music, and the culture INTO
their lives, not just making it their entire life. SF seemed to possess
the ability for longevity, enthusiasm, and participation. LA also offered
different strengths… the speaker pits-sometimes groups of 100s of people
as far as you could see all arm in arm, shoulder to shoulder dancing
in front and indeed INSIDE the bassbins. LA had youth, the ability to
dress and live colorfully… I remember really wondering what SF would
do to embrace the speakerpits and youthfulness and excitement, dreaminess
of LA, and what LA would do with a bit more perspective, involvement,
balance… and I remember wanting to do something about it! 
You can read
more about how Stargaze I happened in our Past Events section of our
website… but needless to say it was a huge success! People from SF and
LA got to meet each other and talked at great length and in surprise
at the commonalities we all had with each other, about how each scene
could also benefit from learning from the other. People also got to
try a very fun, thrilling, and personally challenging sport with their
first stab at rock climbing-- people stepped up and divided up the work
which had to be done to make it possible, from making camping reservations,
scouting for our location to throw our party, providing food for everyone,
cleaning up our site so that we left it in a better condition than which
we found it…