Join the founder of Dance the Medicine, Bernice Raabis for this DANCE MEDICINE RETREAT.  We will weave dance and live DJ music together for a restorative getaway at the iconic Sentinel nature spa. 

Immerse yourself in a full-day retreat, where together we sink into relaxation, eat delicious food, and dance, dance, dance. Or better yet, treat yourself to an entire weekend retreat and let it all go. 

Conscious free-form dance (Ecstatic Dance) has no choreography or steps, you don't have to identify as a dancer to join us. We invite you to come as you are. Our goal is to take you  ― Inward, to connect with your body and settle in ― Outward, into connection with other dancers; sharing the simple gift of having a glorious human body that can dance.  And ― Onward, emerging from the retreat satiated, having feasted on music, dance, delicious food, and each other's presence.

For those who want to stay for an entire luxurious weekend of dance and retreat:

• Arrive Friday afternoon and settle in.

• Eat a healthy lovingly prepared dinner.

• Enjoy the Spa.

• Be bathed in the sacred sounds and healing vibrations of Tibetan Singing Bowls, handpan, and more, to relax and ready yourself for sleep.

• Retire to your cozy room for a good night's sleep.

• Awaken Saturday morning to the sounds of the lake.

• Dig into a full healthy breakfast.

• Begin our day with an opening ritual and meet the group.

• Morning Session: 3 hours of conscious (Ecstatic) dance, reflection, and art all accompanied by amazing music.

• Lunch by the lake to refill your tank.

• Take some time to rest and digest.

• Afternoon spa time! Swim in the lake, soak in the tubs, relax in the sauna, or plunge in the cold pool.

• Dinner with your dancing friends.

• Gather to go on an adventure! Dancing outside to a live DJ with Silent Disco Headsets.

• Dance as the sun sets and the crescent moon rises.

• Enjoy the sauna, hot tub, and cold plunge under the stars.

• Drift easily into sleep.

• Rise on Sunday morning.

• Wake up your body with a Morning Movement Session w/ Bernice who will be accompanied by DJ Wildwood.

• Enjoy your final delicious meal, a signature Sentinel brunch.

• Depart the Sentinel early afternoon embodied and rested.

And for those who join us for the day :

• Arrive for a Slow Flow Yoga practice accompanied by an ephemeral live DJ set w/ DJ Boudicca.

• Breakfast with your new dancing friends.

• Morning Session: 3 hours of conscious (Ecstatic) dance, reflection, and art all accompanied by amazing music.

• Eat a hearty Lunch by the lake and refill your tank.

• Take some time to rest and digest.

• Afternoon spa time! Swim in the lake, soak in the tubs, relax in the sauna, or plunge in the cold pool.

• Dinner with your dancing friends.

• Gather to go on an adventure! Dancing outside to a live DJ with Silent Disco Headsets.

• Dance as the sun sets and the crescent moon rises.

• Depart for home embodied and exhilarated.

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 swimsuit. We will take care of the rest. Come take a day out of time.

This retreat will be capped at 30 participants to keep it well-contained and intimate. You will bask in the Kootenay forest, swim in sacred waters, dance under the stars (and inside too), eat delicious & healthy locally prepared meals. 

Does this day of pure embodiment and luxury sound like a great way to spend the day? or better yet the weekend? 

Our hope is that you leave the retreat feeling transformed, ready to take action, and with purposeful direction, ready to dance forward in your life!

✤ BERNICE RAABIS - Facilitator and DJ (Dance the Medicine) ✤ 

While now an experienced international teacher of Conscious Dance Leaders, Bernice began humbly in a small dance studio nestled in the Kootenay Mountains of Western Canada. Here she ran bi-weekly events for over 9 years; Dance Church, a multi-generational Sunday morning dance event, and Dance The Medicine, a weekly conscious dance class based on the principles of Soul Motion, Movement-based Expressive Arts and Somatic Therapy. By 2016 Bernice was working beyond her local community, she co-founded Ecstatic Dance International, began hosting successful trainings and events in Amsterdam, Guatemala and Portugal and eventually founded Dance the Medicine Team with the mission of infecting the world with dance in hopes that everyone, everywhere, would one day have a place to dance in community. 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!
 

More to Come

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE

TBA

WHAT TO BRING

- Headlamp (also known as head torches, these are really useful to walk around at night)

- Clothing suitable for dancing (every day we will dance)

- Clothing suitable for being outside 

- Swimsuit

- Comfortable outdoor shoes (lots of nature to explore) 

- Ear plugs (if sharing accommodation) 

- Toiletries (natural & biodegradable products please)

PAYMENT

A non-refundable deposit is required to book and secure your place. Balance due 15 days before retreat starts. Please carefully read our Retreat Terms & Conditions as by booking on our retreat, you become legally bound by these terms.

FAQ

→ I'm coming from abroad. Do we need a visa to enter Canada? No! But to be sure check with your own government and Here on the official Visit Costa Rica Website. 

→ Can I come on my own? Absolutely! More than half of our participants actually come on their own, and many do not know anyone else who is coming. This retreat is inclusive and we strive to create a culture of belonging. The program is designed to facilitate connections between one another with ice-breakers, group exercises and a daily sharing circle in small groups.

→ Is this a festival? No. Festivals are generally larger events with several programs/workshops to choose from and participants can arrive/leave as they wish, also meals are not usually communal. Our retreat is a closed container: we start and finish together. We are limiting the number of participants in order to create a more intimate gathering. There is just one program and all the activities, including meals, are communal. We encourage you to attend all sessions and participate in all activities as this will give you the fullest experience. We will also ask you to use your phone in designated areas only. This retreat is an invitation to dive deeper into your practice and let go of the outside world.

→ What is your cancellation policy? In the unlikely case that we have to cancel the retreat, a full refund will be offered. In case of cancellation from your side, no refunds or transfers will be offered, no matter the reason.

→ If I can no longer make it, can I transfer my booking to someone?

If you find someone to take your booking, there will be a €50 admin charge to transfer your booking to another person. If the retreat is fully booked and you want us to sell your booking on your behalf, we will retain your deposit and refund you the balance only if we find a replacement who has paid in full. Please note we will only accept booking transfers and allow posts on our Facebook event/page if the retreat is fully booked.

ADDRESS

GETTING THERE