ELEMENTS OF DANCE RETREAT 2023

ELEMENTS OF DANCE RETREAT 2023

Following on from our beautiful event in June 2022 we have been working hard on creating something with even more magic, and for longer! We are delighted to bring to you Elements of Dance Retreat 2023. Two days and one night of dance, story, bodywork and community, nestled deep within the West Stow Anglo Saxon Village.

THE INTENTION:

Across our time together we will be focusing on the Celtic wheel of this land with the intention of entering dialogue and creating awareness of the deep synergy woven between us and the natural world. We will be exploring our inner & outer influences of the natural elements; where they sit within us, our instinctual responses to them, and how natural element-inspired music can hold, influence & transform our journey through the medicine of dance, aided by the gift of story and bodywork.

Our intention with this event was always to bring awareness to the bare bones of our own medicine that sits within us and celebrate how beautifully unique each persons' own medicine is. This retreat is an opportunity to access and work with this medicine through the art that is not concerned with learning, but instead remembering and recognising what naturally belongs to us, and belonged to our ancestors. With a rich sense of community that will lend itself to hold individuals and the collective in the space that is exactly required for a journey to delve deep within, this is an invitation to experience a time where nothing but time exists. Time to explore, play and journey in whichever way feels right to you. There will be opportunities to roam free around the ancient park itself, and of course, gather in ceremonial dance and circle with fellow medicine-seekers. Ticket availability is limited to keep this event super special.

EXAMPLE OUTLINE OF THE RETREAT:

Friday: ~ Arrival between 1-3pm ~ Community Cultivation (joining together to create magic for our camp) ~ Opening Circle ~ Evening: Air and Fire Dance [Allowing time to listen and share our inner stories, ideas and dreams as well as stoking and tending to the fire within us and around us] ~ Evening campfire circle with dinner (provided) ~ Camping out under the stars with our ancestors!

Saturday: ~ Wake up with the incredible dawn chorus!! ~ Breakfast (provided) ~ Morning circle-space: drumming, song & reflecting on our dances from the night before. ~ Bodywork: Learning about valuable acupressure points and self massage to open up our energy bodies. ~ Lunch ~“Free time” ~ Evening: Water and Earth Dance [Reflecting on the time spent on the land, flowing with the element of Water and finding our homeland with the Earth.] ~ Evening reflective campfire circle with dinner (provided) ~ Closing communal dance circle

* please note that this is an example schedule - the official schedule will be released nearer the time of the event.

CAMPING:

Elements of Dance Retreat 2023 is a camping event. We are extremely grateful to be able to facilitate sleeping under the stars in the Anglo Saxon Village. We understand how 'the dance' doesn't finish when the music stops, in fact it has great potential to deepen even further after the physical movement of dance, when given the chance to. Diving into a dream-filled sleep on the land that has just been danced upon is extremely special and an experience we wish to share.

We welcome participants providing their own tent.

3 community bell tents will be provided (enough to sleep 12 people) for those unable to provide their own tent. These will be allocated on a first-come first-serve basis. Bedding is not provided so please bring something suitable to lie on/in and enough bedding to keep warm. A suggested packing list will be released nearer the time of the event. If you wish to book a place in one of our shared bell-tents please email us on info@elementsofdance.earth to discuss this.

PRACTICAL BITS 'N' BOBS:

• Ticket price: £150 + booking fee - If you would prefer to pay for your ticket(s) via BACs, PayPal or cash to eliminate the booking fee or if you would like to discuss our payment plan options - please email info@elementsofdance.earth with details of this.
• Age guideline: 18 +
• This event is for women.
• Locally grown, home prepared and cooked vegetarian breakfasts, dinners and refreshments will be provided on both days. Please provide your own snacks/lunch and any additional foods based on personal specific dietary requirements. We will always welcome any extra food to share!
• This event is strictly drug and alcohol free.
• This event is open air and all-weather *cancellation will only happen in the event of extreme weather conditions.
• Please bring comfortable & easy-to-move in clothing - depending on the weather in store. Shoes on or off - your choice!
• Drinking water is available on site
• Toilets are on site
• Please note, there are no showers on the site but there is access to fresh water
• Please note that every activity is optional
• Tickets for this event are non-refundable

PLEASE READ OUR FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS HERE.

WHO ARE WE?

The facilitators of these events are Hannah Alexander, Ruth Ford, Pippa Basan and Becca Rose. All working in the healing arts as bodyworkers, storytellers, life coaches, musicians and dancers. Find out more here.

These events are rich with community and are a fantastic opportunity to create awareness of the deep synergy woven between us and the natural world. Join us for a truly magical weekend of musical immersion, create connections and enjoy a time of simply ‘being’.

Wanting to dip your toe into medicine dance, but have questions? Check out our FAQs, or drop us an email!

See you on the dancefloor!