Reconnect with your creativity on an immersive one-week retreat combining mindfulness, movement, voice, and creative music-making, held in a stunning manor house on a working farm in rural Portugal.
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Escape from the demands of everyday life to find peace, presence, and a deeper connection to your creative voice through the power of music. Led by expert arts facilitators, this inspiring retreat balances led group activities, one-on-one lessons, and time for reflection and rest, all within a supportive community. Release tension through movement and mindfulness sessions. Rediscover play, exploration, and creativity through voice and collaborative music-making sessions. Enjoy delicious, fresh vegetarian meals made from ingredients harvested straight from the farm. Reconnect with nature through walking in the hills and swimming in the river. Share evenings full of laughter and song around the fire with a new community of friends.
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Whether you’re an experienced musician looking to deepen your practice, or just curious to learn how music can contribute to your well-being, we welcome you on this journey.
Programme
Our pedagogical method aims to not only improve musical ability and knowledge, but even more importantly, to build creative individuality and deepen a range of interpersonal skills. When you go home, you'll be able to apply your learning both on and off the stage in a range of extra-musical pursuits.
Mindfulness
away from distraction, we can find peace and tranquility through seated meditation, mindful movement, sound meditation, nature walks, singing in nature and more
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1-1 Tuition
all participants may sign up for a 30 minute private voice lesson, as well as a 30 minute private mentoring tutorial at any point during the retreat
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Movement & Voice
relieve built-up tensions in the body inspired by a range of somatic practices including yoga, Feldenkrais, and contact improv; explore movement, breath, vibration, and resonance of the voice
Free Time Activities
Massage (Swedish, bamboo, deep tissue, aromatherapy, infused oil, advanced clinical, reflexology, reiki, facial and neck, myofascial release)
Wine tasting; Guided 2 hour walk;
Hilario boat cruise in Dornes
Creative Music-Making
create new music in a facilitated environment using games, improvisation, and devised composition with other participants; enhance your musicianship and collaborative skills
Daily Schedule
8:30 meditation
9:00 breakfast
10:00 movement and voice
11:00 creative music-making
13:00 lunch
17:00 creative circle
20:00 dinner
21:00 optional evening activity
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Check in on July 13th is after 17:00
Check out on July 20th is before 11:00.
Maru
I learned to flow with others and be myself at the same time. I learned to relax and enjoy being out of my comfort zone - I feel more open to different experiences now. I’m so grateful for your teachings! From a place of play and compassion for each other, you were able to lead us to a place of joy, connection and playfulness… I’m amazed how much I have learned without realizing. It has been life changing for me.
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Thelma
Everybody was different in terms of musical experience and confidence, and each was able to find a voice and expression; you can find your place and develop a new understanding of yourself and of music.
Leora
It’s an amazing opportunity to disconnect from the every day and tap into a completely different energy and creativity. Lived up to its promise and more - lovely location, wonderful vibe and activities, and a great chance to both relax and grow.
Our Home
We will be staying in a beautiful 100 year old manor house set in a secluded rural valley surrounded by nature. Transformed into a dedicated holistic retreat sanctuary, the venue consists of the main manor house, shaded courtyard garden for al-fresco eating, herb & flower garden, vegetable garden, orchard, Yoga shala, and swimming pool. The surrounding eucalyptus forest gives the air an amazing fragrance, while on the north side there are various ruins and active olive orchard, and on the south side is a small working farm. There are also two dogs and two cats who live on the property (although as a rule, they’re not allowed upstairs in the house or in the yoga studio).
Sustainability
We aim to hold an eco friendly retreat, taking care to be respectful of resources and minimize our impact on the environment. Most of our vegetables, herbs and fruits are grown organically on the farm. The swimming pool is saltwater, and our venue hosts compost and recycle 90% of all waste. They use a thermodynamic pump to heat our water, clean with eco-friendly products, and sell arts & crafts made by local people.
Food
Throughout our retreat, we will enjoy organic, locally sourced, naturally high-in-energy and balanced home-cooked vegetarian meals. We include various raw and vegan dishes in our standard vegetarian menu, but if you are vegan, do let us know in advance so we can adjust our menu for you. Wednesday night will be a free evening and we encourage everyone to try out the restaurants in the nearby town. On our last night we will enjoy a BBQ, suitable for vegetarians and pescatarians alike.
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Breakfasts may consist of homemade sourdough bread, fresh fruit salad, muesli with homemade jam, yoghurt, and Kefir, tea and orange juice. A sample lunch might include a baked dish like Greek Spinach pie, served with salad and homemade pickles, chutneys and preserves. Our hosts make their own kombucha, kefir, pear-ale, and lemon squash, and elderflower syrup.
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Our afternoon cake is freshly made each day, served with tea infusions, and raw, dried figs snacks are available for snacks all day long. Dinners consist of two courses, either starter and main course, or main course and dessert. There will also be an honesty bar for those who would like to taste a selection of local wine and beer.
FILIPE SOUSA
Creative Music Leader
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Filipe Sousa is a Portuguese pianist/composer and workshop leader based in the UK. He trained at the Lisbon Gregorian Institute, Hot Club Portugal, and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. With a background in capoeira and contact improv, his work as a composer and performer is often concerned with motion and movement, driven by a strong sense of rhythm.
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KATE SMITH
Voice & Movement Leader
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Kate is a London-based singer, performer, workshop leader and producer. She trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in Voice and Leadership. As the creator of The Embodied Voice, she has a deep belief in the importance of reconnecting mind and body in order to improve mental and physical health, as well as performance skills.
