SENSING BODIES
2027 Event Date Coming Soon...
A transformative cultural retreat in Gamboa, Brazil
connecting joyfully with self, community and nature through dance, rhythm and movement
Let's move and be moved together.
Come connect, expand and transform through joy-filled dancing, sensing, listening and creating.
Join us for a 10-day artistic retreat in the south of Brazil. We are gathering in Gamboa, a beautiful seaside community near Florianópolis, Brazil to explore and share dances and rhythms.
On the menu:
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folkloric and ancestral dance lineages from Brazil, Africa and Europe
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exploration of and co-creation with nature
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experimenting with tools and traditions for artistic creation
Sensing Bodies is open to all who are inspired by bodies, movement, creative process, and performing arts.
This program is a training intensive, a creative process, a retreat, a confluence, and a magical meeting place.
This is a response to our hearts’ desires for connecting and relating in new and ancient ways.
What made this experience for me was the dynamism that came from combining such different movement modalities together, allowing everyone to feel at times comfortable in their familiar movement concepts, and at other times totally exposed to the rawness that comes from discovering the unfamiliar.
- participant, Sensing Bodies Retreat 2023 (Brazil)
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Who is this for?
Does your heart desire connection, joy, movement and community?
Do you want to move and be moved in new ways?
Are you curious about experiencing connection with ancestors, lineage, and land?
If the answer is yes, this space is for you.
We welcome people with different experiences, backgrounds, trainings, careers and passions. This program is especially for:
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Artists of any discipline
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Bodyworkers
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Healers
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Dance enthusiasts
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Cultural workers
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Anyone interested in bodies, movement, creation, culture
What will you get?
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Training with globally acclaimed faculty
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Transformational immersive experience
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Space to relax and recharge in nature
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Co-creative artistic process
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50 hours of structured program time
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Connection with self, others, and environment
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Exchange of knowledge, practices, traditions, and skills
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Meeting space for sharing various body-based artistic perspectives
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Networking with participants from many places, experiences and backgrounds
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Daily free time to explore the vicinity, share and discuss with others, and rest
“A gentle but deep dive into the sensorium of nature, community, dance and discourse.”
- participant, Sensing Bodies 2019 retreat (Canada)
Sample Schedule
subject to change
Daily classes offer improvisation, somatic practices, cultural exchange, and creative process. This is a time and space to connect with self, others and our natural environment.
9:00am -
9:15 am
Daily opening
9:15am - 11:15am
Class in studio
11:15am - 2:30pm
Lunch & break
2:30pm - 4:00pm
Class in nature
4:00pm - 4:15pm
Break & snack
4:15pm - 6:15pm
Co-creation session
6:15pm - 6:30pm
Daily closing
6:30pm -
Dinner & free time
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I really liked everything, I think the articulation of all the classes was perfect, each workshop was different, but an incredible connection was achieved!
- participant, Sensing Bodies 2023 retreat (Brazil)
“I received what I needed even though I didn’t know what I needed. Space and permission to get curious and explore the gap.”
- participant, Sensing Bodies 2019 retreat (Canada)
Hello Friends!
I'm Damarise, and I love to bring people together. I love to set people in motion. I love to create spaces for people to gather, learn, share and move together. Over many years as a dancer and dance teacher, I have travelled extensively, studied with masterful teachers and shared experiences with so many wonderful people from all walks of life.
I've attended a ton of fantastic dance intensives and dance retreats in North America, Europe, Africa, and South America.
Since 2014, I've been producing workshops, events and retreats. It all began from my desire to learn from my teachers, and to create opportunities to share their work with others. I discovered that I'm good at organizing. I know how to welcome people. I know how to care for people. I know how to create a light and easy sense of community.
My mission is to spread joy through dance and movement. My desire is to connect with others, simply and with heart.
When I approached the faculty of Sensing Bodies to produce a retreat with them, I did so intuitively and with a sense that this project is alive and needs to happen now. When I get that feeling, I know it's best to honour it and follow it.
Join us! Let's gather in celebration and joy.
Damarise Ste Marie - Artistic Director & Producer
FAQ
When is the program?
We are finalizing dates for the 2027 event, and will announce them soon. Join our waitlist to get updates directly to your inbox.
Can I attend only one part of the retreat?
This event is designed to be immersive, and to create connections over time. We ask you to commit to being present for the whole 10 days. (If at any point you feel unwell or need a rest, that's ok.)
Why are accommodations not included?
We are offering an event in a community, not at a retreat centre. Gamboa has a variety of options so that everyone can be comfortable according to their own situation.
Can I bring my family?
If you would like to create a family trip around this event, there are enough accommodations options to support this
Is there childcare available?
Young children can be in the program space with us, in keeping with Brazilian culture. Let's facilitate intergenerational transmission of knowledge. Expectations are that children be present without distracting. We are also discussing other options - details coming.
How much time do we spend in program?
50 hours spread over 10 days, including a day off.
What is the event space?
Classes are at Gamboa's community centre. It is a big open indoor space with lots of light. We also have opportunities within program time to explore the beach, ocean, dunes and other natural spaces.
I want to come but I need financial support - what can I do?
Please connect with your arts councils and professional membership organizations. If you are an artist living in Canada, we can direct you to professional development funding for artists. If you need a letter of invitation for a funding application, we can provide this.
In what language is this program offered?
Our team collectively speaks English, Portuguese, Spanish and French. We also speak body language. And, we invite listening without understanding as a practice.
I am NOT a professional artist - is this event for me?
Yes! We love when people with different experiences and backgrounds come together to share and exchange. If you are interested in this event, you can come.
I AM a professional artist - is this event for me?
Yes! Again, we love when people with different experiences and backgrounds come together. We offer new perspectives, and relationships between practices. The focus of this retreat is shared experience, process, connection and community.
What amenities are in Gamboa?
There are grocery stores, restaurants, cafes, guesthouses, and other amenities. There is no bank or ATM. The closest ATM is in Garopaba which is 30 minutes south of Gamboa by car.
How do I get there?
International participants: fly into Florianópolis international airport (probably connecting through Sao Paulo). Gamboa is one hour south of Florianópolis by car. We offer support for participants to coordinate about bus and taxi transport from Florianópolis to Gamboa.
What do I need to enter Brazil?
Check with your government on entry requirements to Brazil, as well as re-entry requirements for your country of origin. Entry requirements change periodically, so please stay up-to-date for your situation.
What should I bring with me?
Mosquito repellent. Bathing suit. Medications. Some cash in Brazilian reals, just in case. Clothing for summer weather. Rain gear, just in case. Sun protection gear, for sure.