Fall Women's Drum & Dance Medicine Retreat
You are invited to a day of rhythm, restoration and revitalization...
In the midst of February cold, we invite you to warm yourself by the fires of our communal rhythms. We will gather in circle, sharing in the healing and joy of djembe drumming. Taking time for nourishment, we will enjoy a simple and delicious homemade lunch. Moving to the beat of ancient rhythms, we will feel the power of Dundun Dance.
Dunduns are large cylindrical bass drums played with sticks. When played these drums offer the medicine of connecting to your own personal strength and power. They also have the ability to help us invite healing rhythms of joy and possibility into our lives, while helping us to loosen old patterns and stuck energy.
Remembering Through Rhythm and Movement
"The fastest way to still the mind is to move the body." - Gabrielle Roth
Indigenous people around the world have suffered the destructive forces of colonization. For many of us, the sacred songs, dances and drummed rhythms have been seemingly completely lost.
However, our bones are made of our great great grandmothers. Our DNA is encoded with the wisdom and knowledge of past times, when our ancestors knew how to work together with the land and the magic of seasons and cycles. Our heart remembers the beat of the drums, that connect us to all of Creation.
When we still our minds, we can open to the knowledge held within our bodies. During this retreat you will be guided through movement, drumming, ceremony and reflective experiences that support you to reclaim the wisdom / cultural heritage that is seeking you at this time.
We will be using the Labyrinth and Celtic Stone Circle on the land to support our journey.
Our Location
Situated on 34 acres of forested land, Nature's Retreat Centre is a haven woven with a love of the Earth and respect for the Land. The beautiful property hosts a labyrinth, celtic stone circle, medicine wheel garden and plenty of trails to follow throughout the forest.
Our retreat centre is a cozy place to nestle in, with an open fireplace, large kitchen and multiple washrooms adorned with indigenous art from around the world!
We can host up to 13 women, rooms are shared with one or two women, or for an additional fee you can have your own private room. Caledon is just one hour from both Toronto and Newmarket.
We will have spaciousness and free time during our retreat, so that you can unwind, explore, nap, share stories with sisters...etc. Our retreat centre is just a 5 min drive from the Cheltenham Badlands, a beautiful place to stop and connect with potent earth energies! This location has been a sacred gathering place for indigenous people for thousands of years.
Your Facilitators
Elisha MacMillan is a women's coach, sociologist, educator and dance alchemist. The integral role of drum and dance in everyday life is one thing her ancestors from Scotland, Ivory Coast and Jamaica had in common. She has brought rhythms of healing, pleasure and presence to women across Canada, USA, Europe, India & Australia. In her business Manifest Dance manifestdance.com, Elisha
Before her coaching business launched, Elisha had a full-time career performing African dance alongside established artists from across the African continent. Over the course of 6 years Elisha starred in award-winning performances touring nationally and internationally. Her experiences of studying dance in Guinea, Mali and Ethiopia deeply inform her philosophy of Dance Medicine.
Tara Mhic Coinneach (MacKenzie in English) is like a musical Swiss Army Knife. She is an arranger and director of Rock The Sound Adult Choir, Teen A Cappella Team and the Elemental Drum Choir. Her post secondary studies in classical voice, jazz and world music have given her an incredible foundation to help musicians explore musical diversity.
Her professional singing career began at 14 and included extensive touring in 14 countries, 250 recordings as a session musician as a vocalist/multi-instrumentalist, scored music for a documentary on world indigenous music, and 5 studio albums to her credit.
As a master level vocal coach with 25 years of coaching experience, Tara teaches beginner and advanced students vocal mechanics/technique and stage performance. As a drum teacher, Tara is excited about reconnecting people to ancestral traditions and respect of the drum as a medicine, source of inspiration, and as a meditative practice.
What's Included
Retreat Includes:
Accommodations from Friday - Sunday in our beautiful retreat home
Includes single bed (bring your own towels and pillows) OR book a private room (add $250 to your retreat fee)
Delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner
Our menu is designed to delight your senses and nourish your highest health. Fresh meals are created with organic ingredients (local wherever possible). Vegan & Gluten-free options available at every meal.
Workshops including your bodhran
Our special guest Tara Mhic Coinneach will be teaching a Bodhran workshop (read more about Tara below). Elisha MacMillan will guide you through a Remembering through Movement workshop, that includes connecting to our body wisdom, to the Earth and reflective journalling.
Arrive Friday after 5pm. Our retreat will wrap up on Sunday after lunch (about 3pm)
Registration
THIS RETREAT IS NOW FULL
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STAY TUNED FOR FUTURE RETREATS INCLUDING
Embodied Writing Retreat Helsinki - October 2019
