User:David Tames/Star Camp

right|200px|thumb|Star Camp

Star Camp is a German performing arts camp that was created in 2009. The camp kicked off in Büren, Nuremberg and Werbellinsee. During the easter holidays of 2010, Star Camp headed towards Helmarshausen in Bad Karlshafen, Hesse. No camps are planned for summer 2010 as the next camps are announced for 2011.

Background
Star Camp offers professional coaching in areas such as singing, dancing and interview training. It was initiated by German singing sensation LaFee, who stated it was always her dream to create a camp for young, talented individuals, since she would have enjoyed such a camp greatly while beginning her career and pursuing her musical ambitions. Co-founders include young entrepreneur and former major label recording artist, Matthew Mockridge. To create an equal opportunity for everyone interested in Star Camp LaFee and her team partnered with leading media companies to give out scholarships to very talented contestants. Among others, Scholarships were provided by newspapaper magazine Bild and television station VIVA. Star Camp currently costs €399 per camper for 1 week. This includes room, board, classes and souvenirs. The age restriction is 10 to 20 years. The Star Camp experience includes daily coaching sessions with professional artists and other representatives of the entertainment industry. Other camp activities such as swimming, movie-night, camp-fire and sports are also part of Star Camp.

Coaches

 * Faiz Mangat - Vocal coach and former member of famous pop group Bro'Sis.
 * LaFee - Initiator of the Camp. She also coaches in areas such as styling, interview training, stage presence and image.
 * Marc Jentzen - Former member of boy group Part Six and Top 10 contetstant of Deutschland sucht den Superstar.
 * Selina Shirin Müller - Winner of "Beste Stimme 2006" and actress in German movie "Freche Mädchen".

Daily Schedule
'''The Daily Schedule usually goes like this:

Call Time,

Stretching/Morning-Fitness/Jogging,

Breakfast,

Interview training,

Vocal Coaching,

Dance Coaching,

Lunch,

Off Time,

Vocal Coaching as a group,

Camp Activities,

Off Time,

Dinner Barbecue,

Camp Fire/Movie-Night,

Come Together,

Lights Out. '''

At the end of the week the campers, often referred to as Junior Stars, perform alongside some of the guest stars in the official final show. All songs are sung live during this event, that is open to the public. The show usually opens with a dance-medley leading to the different group performances. The grand finally is usually an ensemble performance of the camp song.

2009
In its first year, Star Camp was taken out in 3 cities. The camp took place in Büren, Nuremberg and Werbellinsee. A total of 5 scholarships was given out, the final show was filmed by RTL and some major label executives were invited to the show. The ensemble song was "Lean On Me" for all three camps. Marc Jentzen from Deutschland sucht den Superstar was a guest coach for the three camps.

2010: Easter Special
The only camp held in 2010 was during the easter holidays and was called "Easter Special". All campers, headed by 5 specially selected lead singers and guest stars, recorded the promotional song "For Once and For All", the official Camp-Song for 2010. The ensemble song 2010 was "Fame".

2011
Star Camp has announced to take a break in 2010 and will come back to Germany in the summer of 2011.

Reception
Feedback was generally positive, with campers calling it the time of their lifes and stating the organization should keep the same coaches. Online magazine Media Monitor reconfirmed that the participants are given the chance to feel like real "stars in the making", compared to contestants of Idol series or Popstars, but questioned if they really know that the camp is not intended to make stars. "It's just about the process and not the result", as stated by Star Camp creator Matthew Mockridge. Media Monitor also stated that most participants get an autograph by a superstar, instead of an optimization of their glamour factor.

Notable alumni

 * Juan Geck - In 2009 he earned a scholarship given by VIVA for outstanding talents because of his good vocal-ability. He participated in 2010 for a second time. He has been picked as the only male lead singer on promotional song "For Once And For All".
 * Anna Grillmeier - Was a finalist on KI.KA television show "Beste Stimme 2008" and will be on German version of X Factor in 2010.
 * María Tames - After being selected as a lead-singer on promotional camp song "For Once And For All" she is working on her first studio album to be released in 2011.