Celebrate the Seasons - Year Circle with 4 dance retreats

Celebrate the Seasons
Sense, celebrate and embody the energy of the seasons

Location and time
Year Circle of 4 day retreats on sundays from 12.00 - 17.00 o’clock:
- 18 september 2022 -Autumn - Yaoïtcha
Slow down, turn inward and harvest - Element water
- 18 december 2022 – Winter – Sagbata
Round up and let go, restore movement within – Element earth
- 19 march 2023 - Spring - Dangbala Hoedo
Full realization of embodied potential - Element fire
- 18 june 2023 - Summer -  Houerviosso
Fully present in the world - Element fire

Guided by
Mieke Koldewee (The Netherlands, movement research)
Mathias Ganhounouto (Bénin, traditional African dance)
African music by Kodjo Agbodjalou (Togo) and Moussé Dramé (Senegal/Mali)

Part of nature
In the year circle we gather to explore and celebrate how every season is not just happening around us, but also through us. We humans are part of nature, but in our modern Western culture we tend to forget and think ourselves separate from nature.
In these dance retreats we develop a body of practice that supports us in our health as human (urban) beings as being part of nature and as a global community.
We’ll work both ín the studio and outside in the (urban) area where we can experience the season as we observe it in nature. We’ll collectively move from stillness to the powerful grounded dances from Bénin (West-Africa) that demand stamina.
The day retreats are guided by live music.

Practices
In both movement research and in traditional dances of Bénin human beings being part of nature is a given.
In movement research we tap into a somatic system (for example our breathing system or bone system). Every system has its own ‘mind’ and brings forth a specific quality of movement and connection with our environment. Movement research will help us to explore the specific quality of each season.
The traditional dances from Bénin that we’ll practice are rooted in an indigenous philosophy where the connection with nature is a given. Where body and mind are considered undivided, where we as humans are part of a whole. A culture where community and ritual are essential for staying healthy. Every retreat we’ll learn a specific traditional dance connected to the element of the season. Through those dances we discover and celebrate the specific power of the season.

Elements that we’ll use in the day retreats:
- Time to land together
- Silent walk outside
- Tapping into a specific body part, sense or somatic system through touch
- Open air movement research related to how we experience the season in our bodies and how we perceive the season in the trees
- Creating a strong embodied rhythmic field in the circle of people
- Dive into a specific traditional Benin dance and celebration that supports the specific energy, element and spirit of the season
- Sharing amongst ourselves in spoken or written words / poetry

Investment
As we want to welcome a diverse group of people we also like to welcome people with different financial possibilities.
We trust you choose the donation that fits your financial situation.
The ticket includes the guidance of 4 professionals (2 dancers, 2 drummers), 21% BTW and tea, water and fruits during the day retreats.

Participating in the year circle from autumn:
– Regular donation: € 360,-
– For the ones living on a wide budget: € 440,-
– For the ones living on a tight budget: € 280,-

If you're not sure whether the year circle is something for you, there is the possibility to have a taste of one day retreat first. After that first day retreat you decide to join the whole circle or not.
Regular donation: € 90,-
For the ones living on a wide budget: € 110,-
For the ones living on a tight budget: € 70,-

More background information you can find on
https://miekekoldewee.nl/celebrate-the-season/
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact Mieke Koldewee 06-27062919