About this Retreat
Bernice Raabis is the founder of Dance the Medicine, an international collective of Conscious/Ecstatic Dance professionals who come together online and in-person to teach dancers the skills they need to create dance communities of their own.
She got her start by running dance events in British Columbia’s Kootenay region before moving into her global career. Dance Church, her hugely popular weekly event, saw a multi-generational community come alive in dance each Sunday morning for over a decade! Bernice is on a mission to infect the world with dance, in the hope that everyone, everywhere, will one day have a place to dance in community. She believes when we dance together, we find a common language of respect without words getting in the way.
“When we dance together we have a much more difficult time going to war with one another.”
The facilitation principles taught by Dance The Medicine are used to create retreats such as this one, which are created by weaving Soul Motion, movement-based expressive art therapy, relational somatic therapy and years of experience facilitating dance events.
Nadine Wildwood is the owner/curator and facilitator of SOMA studio/venue, located in the heart of downtown Nelson, BC. She is the host and organiser of several healing and expressive arts events. She is passionate about collaborating and promoting local, as well as, visiting facilitators, teachers, artists,musicians of various disciplines and modalities. She supports the local arts community with her contemporary art gallery.
A core belief for Nadine is that Creativity = Health and Vitality in Community.
Nadine teaches Yoga and is a facilitator of Sound & Frequency medicine. Her weekly 90 min class, Sounds of Savasana incorporates a gentle Yoga flow, ending with sacred sounds of Tibetan Singing bowls, handpan and a variety of frequencies. Yoga opens the body to then receive the benefits of sound healing as they rest in a 30 min. savasana.
Her playful spirit and touch of sacredness brings an offering to her students that inspires their day on a deeper note. Nadine also spends her time as an Ecstatic DJ, visual/graphic artist & bhakti inspired musician.
Details of this retreat
Take the weekend to relax, let go and dance! Immerse yourself in dance, live DJ sets, sound healing, & yoga. A luxurious weekend retreat relaxing at the iconic Sentinel nature spa.
Join the founder of Dance the Medicine, Bernice Raabis, and SOMA’s, Nadine Wildwood, for this DANCE MEDICINE • WEEKEND RETREAT.
Immerse yourself from Friday till Sunday in rejuvenation. Together we will sink into relaxation, eat delicious food, and dance, dance, dance! Bernice and Nadine will weave in live DJ sets, sound healing, and yoga for a restorative weekend held at the iconic Sentinel nature spa.
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.
The itinerary for our luxurious weekend of dance and rejuvenation:
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.
Be guided through a Slow Flow Yoga practice with Nadine, accompanied by DJ Boudicca, playing soulful sounds.
Dig into a full healthy breakfast.
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.
Sound Bath before dinner.
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.
(If you can only get away for the day, register for our DANCE MEDICINE • FULL DAY RETREAT)
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. This retreat will be capped at 30 participants to keep it well-contained and intimate.
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.
You will bask in the Kootenay forest, swim in sacred waters, dance under the stars (and inside too), eat delicious & healthy locally prepared meals.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!
A/C in Rooms
Free Wifi
Spa
Sauna
Pool
Towels
Free Parking
Kitchen
Tour Assistance
Hot Tub
Coffee/Tea
Cafe
Restaurant
Fitness Center
Yoga Studio
Housekeeping
Bicycles For Rent
Vegan
Vegetarian
Pescetarian
Ayurvedic
Includes Meat
Organic
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Nut Free
Verified
