“See and Be Seen: Elemental” retreat with Irina in Greece, summer 2025!
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DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, IRINA’S RETREAT WILL NOT TAKE PLACE IN 2024. IF YOU’D LIKE TO GET ON A SPECIAL WAITLIST FOR 2025, PLEASE SEND AN EMIAIL TO “IRINADANCES@GMAIL.COM“
I am thrilled to invite you to my third retreat series in Crete, Greece, SUMMER 2025!
MULTIPLE LEVELS AVAILABLE - MESSAGE WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE
REGISTRATION IS NOT OPEN YET, but the estimated dates are end of May - early June 2025
Join me for a 6 day fusion belly dance intensive which focuses on powerful and elegant dance technique and developing your personal creative process at Villa Shakti Crete, situated in breathtaking Greek landscape.
There are two separate retreats:
Open level program (all levels of experience welcome, but basic foundation in belly dance is required) EMAIL IRINADANCES@GMAIL.COM to receive AN APPLICATION
Advanced/professional level program email IRINADANCES@GMAIL.COM to receive AN APPLICATION
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THE PROGRAM:
Both six day retreats are a unique blend of daily fusion belly dance technique sessions, which are designed to strengthen your dance foundation; creative process exercises and outdoor group video performance projects, facilitated by Irina Akulenko, set in a secluded location in Crete, Greece. Equal parts fusion belly dance classes, technique and fitness drills and choreography will be mixed with downtime at scenic beaches and in beautiful mountains, all designed to build a strong personal practice, connect you to your vision and feed your muse. The main focus of this program is to help you discover your creative process and understand your unique creative voice. The focus of this year’s retreat is dreaming, thinking bigger and stretching the imagination.
We will tap into a large variety of dance and observation techniques which will help you strengthen your independent ability to learn from watching others and connect to your inner voice": we will use veils and fans in unconventional ways, do collaborative and solo work designed to help you step on stage with confidence and clarity, as well as record an outdoor performance (or a few, depending on which retreat you join).
Secluded in our bubble in beautiful mountains of Crete, we will be able to focus on this creative life, and dive deep into what you can observe and create. We will have an incredible chef, cooking vegetarian meals when we are at the dance site, and we’ll be able to explore some of the surrounding gems in our downtime. Lots of options and challenges will be offered, so how much and how hard you work, is up to you. Irina will be there all the time, to offer feedback, support and guide this experience.
About 2 months before the program will begin, supporting materials and costume requirements (group video outfits will need to be color-coordinated) will be shared with the participants through a private FB group where you’ll be able to meet your new friends and prepare for this adventure.
Due to the intimate nature of this program and the amount of feedback that will be offered, each group is limited to a very intimate sized group. Registration is first come: first served.
If you are curious about what we created last here, here is a video of one of the projects: Click here to see The Dance in Red
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ACCOMMODATIONS AND PRICING:
Details about pricing are listed here: pricing details
There are 3 tiers of pricing, dictated by the accommodations you choose
Staying at Villa Shakti (only 4 spots available): $1,162
Staying at Village Apartments: $1,132
Staying off site: $650
Please read what is included in each package, very carefully. We are located in a very remote spot and I strongly recommend you take a plan that includes meals and transportation - each day is different and full of exciting programming. I also recommend you arrive a day early and stay in Chania, in order to avoid stress of flight delays.
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Testimonials:
“Irina’s retreat last year was quite literally a life-changing experience! Her vision and creative planning for our “See & Be Seen” retreat not only resulted in projects that were truly magical works of art, but also the bonding of now life-long friends, leaving every single dancer forever changed and inspired.” - Sarima Ali
"This experience has marked a turning point in my life… We live in a competitive world and women in particular need to relearn how to support each other in a safe community. That is what this retreat has given to me and I much needed. Moreover, I really enjoyed the performance projects. Irina has a great sensitivity in understanding the vibes of a place and the people, how to create a sense of community by expressing different kinds of mood through dancing and music. I've learnt to adapt to the environment and understand how to go with the flow. That week in Crete felt like months and when I came back I felt something had changed inside of me. If you can relate a bit, join this retreat." - Gaia Nardini
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All retreat details : Click here
Can’t make it this year but want to know if we do it again in 2024?
Email Irina at “Irinadances@gmail.com“ with subject line “Retreat 2024” and you’ll be added to the special newsletter for early registration announcements (you want this info - it has maximum early bird discounts ;) )
