Dance Beyond: An Ecstatic Retreat on Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

You are invited to start your New Year with Dance Tribe from around the world at a magical retreat center overlooking Lake Atitlan, Guatemala for a week of conscious dance, communal living and much more. Update: We are excited to announce that this retreat is now full. 34 people, representing over 10 different dance communities from around the world, will be coming together for our inaugural Dance Beyond Retreat. We will be documenting this experience to be shared publicly, so stayed tuned for that! If you would like to join us for a future retreat, sign up for our mailing list at: https://www.facebook.com/DanceBeyondRetreats/app/100265896690345/ You can also stay connected with us by liking our Dance Beyond Retreats FB page. Be in touch! ______ ~ Overview ~ This January, a group of people from around the world will converge on the sacred and culturally-rich land of San Marcos, Guatemala. Surrounded by peaks and valleys of ancient volcanoes along with a mesmerizing view of Lake Atitlan, we will deepen and further explore our passion for dance, and beyond… ~ The Offering ~ Together and with the guidance of an all-star team of facilitators, artists, DJ's, teachers, live musicians, healers and space holders, we will have the opportunity to explore the full spectrum of our being in relation to self and one another. Modalities for this exploration will include; Daily Ecstatic Dances, 5Rhythms, CircleSinging, Contact Improvisation, Yoga, Acro Yoga, and more. In addition to these embodiment-based workshops, the week will also emphasize living among community; as we will share meals, daily group council, temascal (sweat lodge), cacao ceremony and more. ~ Beyond Dance ~ Another important aspect of Dance Beyond is to come together for facilitated conversations on integrating the Dance into every day life. How can we apply what we experience on the dance floor into our daily lives back home? How do lessons in communication, trust and community extend beyond the dance floor? We will engage and actively listen to each other to inspire a rich and stimulating dialogue in order to support each other as one global Dance Tribe. ~ Yin + Yang ~ The structure of the week will be a balance of scheduled programming and free-time and spaciousness. While other retreats often leave participants feeling exhausted from a jam-packed schedule, Dance Beyond intends to offer adequate space for self-reflection, integration and co-creation; allowing for the magic of spontaneity to emerge. More important than doing, Dance Beyond intends to emphasize simply Being. ~ Interacting with Local Culture ~ At various points throughout the week, we will be joined by various people from the surrounding villages for a diversity of experiences; including a Mayan elder for an opening Fire Ceremony, morning practices with local yoga teachers, sound healing, live performance and DJ sets with local artists, and more. We will also branch out from our intimate group setting and into the wider community of San Marcos, which is only a 15 minute walk from the retreat center. Adventuring to off-site locations where we will have the opportunity to interact with the local culture, dance and have fun with the vibrant international community located on the shores of Lake Atitlán. ~ About the Retreat Center ~ We are honored to announce that Eagle's Retreats will be our nest for the week-long journey! The space is nestled atop of a traditional Mayan village of San Marcos La Laguna overlooking the majestic Lake Atitlán. Dwellings are built using elements of traditional local building styles (such as adobe, stone, sticks&clay) and are set in lush edible/medicinal gardens. Composting toilets and showers are set in the garden landscape. Our open air dining Lounge accommodates up to 50 with exquisite views. Features of the space: Eagle's Nest - a spectacular airborne platform built to inspire and nourish great souls and suitable for group movement, retreats, gatherings. Below, a large indoor space for more contained experiences. Eagle's Sauna: traditional Mayan Temascal Sauna - a unique chamber design & experience, for recovery, rejuvenation, cleansing, ceremony, rebirth.. Eagle's Retreats is about enabling greatness and inner freedom. Sprinkling metaphors that infuse ideas and feelings that allow an unfolding with-in and with-out. Themes include: The Little Prince, The Pilgrimage (Camino de Santiago), honoring Mayan Traditions, re-connection with ancestral ways, heart based living, lifestyle design and exploration of movement arts. ~ Accommodation Options ~ Private Cabins with Queen Bed Shared Cabins with 2 Single Beds Shared Cabins with 4 Beds (2 Bunk Beds) Shared Dormitory with 12 Single Bunk Beds Camping (Fitted Tent for 1 person. Mattress + sheets included) ~ The Team ~ Omar Aena: Creator + Lead Facilitator + DJ Daniela Plattner: Lead Facilitator + 5Rhythms Daniel Mollner: Facilitator + Contact Improvisation + DJ Ataseia Ferguson: Facilitator + Dancing Freedom Robin Parish: Facilitator + DJ + Live Instrumentation Sarah Monette: Facilitator + Authentic Relating + DJ Nick Demeris: Facilitator + CircleSinging Nessa Norich: Facilitator Greg Clough: Host + AcroYoga Teacher Nana Marina Cruz: Mayan Elder // Fire Ceremony Grace Marinaro: Space Decor + Design Audrey LoveBean: Cacao Ceremony Facilitator Yemanjo (Ben Harris): DJ + Live Musician 2Melo: DJ Cole Blumstein: Percussionist Anna Lesniak: Yoga Teacher Brian Hartman: DJ ...more TBA! ~ Sample Daily Schedule ~ (subject to change): 7h: Morning Practice 8h30: Breakfast 10h: Morning Circle 11h: Morning Workshop (e.g. CircleSinging, Contact Improvisation, 5Rhythms, Dancing Freedom, etc.) 1h: Lunch BREAK 5h: Daily Ecstatic Dance (with warmup) 7h: Dinner 8h30: Evening Activity (cacao ceremony, sound healing, temascal, men’s / women’s circle, live performance, offsite adventure) ~ Food ~ Food will be a fusion of traditional Guatemalan foods with internationally inspired recipes (examples include: falafel, vegetable lasaña, veggie burgers, salads, grilled vegetables lightly oiled and spiced, sun dried foods, home-baked breads, etc.) Our chef for the week will be Teresa, wife of Gaspar, the main foreman of the property. Teresa lovingly prepares meals for children at Escuela Caracol, the Waldorf School located in the local San Marcos community. A native of San Marcos La Laguna on beautiful lake Atitlán, she enchants the food we will eat with her spirit and acquired international flair blended with her traditional roots. ~ What’s Included ~ Full Retreat + Programming Accommodation of your choosing Access to all facilities onsite (sauna, etc.) 3 Meals/Day (except for 1-2 meals during offsite activities) ~ What’s Not Included ~ Flight Transportation to and from retreat center Offsite adventures (1-2 throughout the week. Appx $50 extra total) ~ What To Bring ~ Yoga Mat Water Bottle Journal Towel Bug Spray Flashlight / Headlamp Sunscreen Warm clothes for nighttime ------------- For more information + pricing + to apply, please visit www.DanceBeyondRetreat.com.