Dance Forward Retreat

Over the course of 4 days & 3 nights we will travel together through 5 Ecstatic Dances, each building on a central theme designed to help you tap into your subconscious/unconscious self using dance as medicine.

We gather February 13th to 16th at the stunning AWAKE Retreat Centre, host of Uvita’s popular Ecstatic Dance Church, to embark on a somatic journey. Over the course of 4 days and 3 nights we will travel together through 5 Ecstatic Dances, each building on a central theme designed to help you tap into your subconscious/unconscious self using dance as medicine.

We will weave ART & RITUAL between each DANCE taking you first ― Inward, to discover what lives inside you and yet has not been expressed, with an opportunity to release what you discover in a gentle and contained way. From this new perspective we move ― Outward, into a celebration of who we are now. We will celebrate, feast and of course, dance together in preparation to move ― Onward as we emerge at the end of the retreat dancing together one last time in a way which will help you to decide "What Next?"

You will be facilitated using the foundations of Relational Somatic Therapy, Movement Based Expressive Art Therapy and Conscious Dance while harnessing the power of the group field. You only need to bring your dance clothes and an offering to the group (more on this once you have signed up). We will take care of the rest.

The 4 days retreat will include:

• 5 Ecstatic Dances
• Accommodation, meals and snacks
• Movement practices
• A Relational Somatics Based Process over 4 days
• Fire & Sound Healing Sessions
• Nature Adventures/Outings
• Lots of Art, Ritual & Connection
• And so much more

Who is the Team?

✤ BERNICE RAABIS ✤ Facilitator and DJ (Founder of Dance the Medicine)

Bernice is on a mission to infect the world with conscious dance. She is a DJ, a conscious dance facilitator, an expressive arts therapist, a teacher and the mother of 4 daughters. Her Ecstatic Dance career began in 2011 when she founded Dance Church, a beloved weekly dance in Nelson, BC, Canada. While Bernice loves to DJ and plan transformative events, facilitating profound processes is the true work of her heart; using dance, art and ritual to connect and liberate dancers is most definitely her happy place!

✤ ALEX SEVILLA ✤ DJ and Host (DJ/ Organiser/ Facilitator Ecstatic Dance Madrid)

With more than two decades in the music industry, Alex first came across the conscious dance scene 5 years ago and has since developed his own style and built himself a name amongst the international ED community.

Alex takes his influences from sounds around the world. Led by his ability to empathize with and feel the dancers, he guides and helps them connect with their most instinctive selves: each in their own reality, yet vibrating to the wave of a collective rhythm.

✤ OSARA ✤ DJ (Founder of Ecstatic Dance Bristol)

OSARA is the founder and community leader of Ecstatic Dance Bristol and Ace Collectiv. He continues to lead the way in producing the biggest and most cutting edge conscious events in Bristol, UK which have been instrumental in growing the vibrant conscious community in the city.

He has produced events that have seen the first appearances in Bristol of the Huni Kuin and Yawanawá (indigenous tribes from the Amazon Rainforest) and also the Umbanda group, Roça de Ogum, from São Paulo, Brazil.

He is the Downtown Village Creative Production Manager for Boomtown Festival and the Movement Shala Production Manager for Medicine Festival.

OUR BASIC SCHEDULE:

Monday, Feb 13th

13:00-15:00  Arrival

16:00 Group Welcome

17:00 Silent Meditation

18:00 Dinner

19:30 Dance #1

Tuesday, Feb 14th

8:00 Morning Movement (optional)

9:00  Breakfast

10:30  Dance #2

13:00  Lunch

 Nature Ritual & Activity

17:00  Silent Meditation

18:00 Dinner

19:30 Dance #3 w live music

Wednesday, Feb 15th

8:00  Morning Movement (optional)

9:00  Breakfast

10:30  Dance #4

13:00 Lunch

Nature Ritual & Activity

18:00  Dinner

19:30  Celebration Dance Party

Thursday , Feb 16th

8:00 Morning Movement (optional)

9:00 Breakfast

10:30 Dance #5

13:00 Lunch

15:00 Goodbye

**Schedule subject to change**

✺ Our hope is that you leave the retreat changed, ready to take action and with purposeful direction to move forward in your life... or better yet, to dance forward!

The following special prices are offered to our local dance community 

COME FOR A DANCE

Entry $15 for each dance

COME FOR A DAY

14th & 15th can be booked individually $165 each day (includes breakfast, lunch and dinner)

COME FOR THE WHOLE RETREAT

· Off site or BYO Tent w/Communal Bathrooms $496 (lunch and dinner included)

Camping on the grounds of AWAKE. You will need to bring your own tent and sleeping gear. Bathrooms are communal

· Shared w/Communal Bathrooms $746 (breakfast, lunch and dinner included)

Sleep in a room with 2 others (one will be a bunk bed). Bathrooms are communal.

· Private Room w/ Private Bathroom $1490 sold out

Sleep in a room with no roommates. Your bathroom is located inside your own room.

>> All prices include the workshops, meals, snacks and accommodation 

>> No previous experience needed- Every BODY is a dancer*

For further questions and booking please contact Kathy awakeuvita@gmail.com or +506 8612 7513