Dancing Mindfulness Facilitators and Friends
Expressive Arts Intensive Retreat

April 28-30, 2023
Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center
Villa Maria, PA

Registration deadline: April 13, 2023

Join us for our 10th Annual Expressive Arts Retreat!

We are thrilled to be back in our retreat home at Villa Maria Education & Spirituality Retreat Center in Western Pennsylvania for the Dancing Mindfulness Facilitators and Friends Annual Retreat. This year, we will once again offer a HYBRID retreat, with an option to attend in-person under COVID-19 protocols established by the state of Pennsylvania. An ONLINE option is also available just as we offered last year. Join us for this retreat, which also counts as Expressive Arts Module D, for our Certificate of Expressive Arts program. 
 
Scheduled Special Guests include Spiral Rhythms Ensemble, Dr. Orixa Bowers, Erica Hornthal, Dr. Kellie Kirksey, John Michael Thornton, Garrett La Valley and Julianne Roshan Dow.
Jamie Marich playfully dancing and posing for the camera

Pre-Retreat Workshops

April 28, 2023 - In-Person Only

JamieKellie

The Ethics of Self-Care and Nourishment: Strategies and Imperatives for Professionals

PRESENTED BY Dr. Jamie Marich
& Dr. Kellie Kirksey

In this full-day CE workshop, Dr. Jamie and Dr. Kellie reflect on the reasons that we neglect to nourish ourselves fully as they familiarize us with the ethical implications involved.

9:00am-4:30pm, April 28, 2023
Cost: $60.00 (if attending main retreat)
Cost: $95.00 (as stand-alone course)
Lunch is included for in-person attendees
6 CE credit hours available

Enhancing Your Practice by Connecting Intuitively with Others

PRESENTED BY Rev. John Michael Thornton

In this workshop we will explore ways to tap into your intuitive abilities to quickly form a connection with clients and then release that connection when it is no longer useful. We will explore how to perceive an aura and how it changes with a person’s emotional state. 

9:00am-4:30pm, April 28, 2023
Cost: $50.00 (if attending main retreat)
Cost: $75.00 (as stand-alone course)
Lunch is included for in-person attendees
No CE credit hours available

Feeling the Call to Facilitate?

We are now accepting proposals!

Have you been thinking about crafting your own retreat session, leading a dance chapel or yoga session?  If so, submit your proposal! 

 With this being the tenth anniversary of the retreat, we are especially interested in proposals and presentations that can show the evolution of Dancing Mindfulness as a practice and as a complete expressive arts therapy approach.

 

JamieIreneBook
Pictured: Dr. Jamie Marich & Irene Rodriguez

Retreat Package Options (April 28 - 30, 2023)

For those attending the retreat in-person, meals are included from Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast. If you are adding the extra night Thursday breakfast and lunch are also included. We ask you to disclose any special dietary requests or accessibility accommodations requests in the registration form.

Registration Closed for 2023

Preliminary Retreat Agenda

Dr. Jamie Marich leading a session during an Expressive Arts Therapy training

Dancing Mindfulness Facilitator and Friends 2023

DaySessionTimeLocation
Thursday, April 27Early Arrival for Those Who
Purchased an Extra Night
5:30pm-9:30pmBegel Hall West
Friday, April 28Breakfast (for Thursday overnight guests)8:15am-9:00am
Pre-Retreat Workshops (Optional)9:00am-4:30pmBegel Hall West
In-Person Retreat Arrivals4:00pm-7:00pmBegel Hall West
Dinner5:25pm-6:00pm
Free Time6:00pm-7:30pm
Opening Orientation & Dance with Dr. Jamie Marich7:30pm-9:30pmMother Madeline
Saturday, April 29Morning Yoga with Julianne Roshan Dow7:30am-8:30amMother Madeline
Breakfast8:15am-9:00am
Morning Session 1
Exploring the Intersections of Expressive Arts and Reproductive Justice(Dr. Orixa Bowers)
All Participants
9:00am-10:30amMother Madeline
*Dr. Orixa will be available in Begel West from 10:45-11:45am for all participants wanting to take part in some extra process time.10:45-11:45amBegel West
Morning Session 2:
A Body Aware Approach to Emotional Well-Being (Erica Hornthal, LCPC, BC-DMT)
All Participants
10:30am-11:45amMother Madeline
Lunch Break12:00am-1:00pm
Wellness Services Available (Extra Fee Applies)
View details here >
1:00pm-7:00pm Begel Hall West
Afternoon Session 1
Working Through Emotions with Stand Up Comedy(Shannon Dillon, LPCC-S)
All Participants
1:30pm-2:45pmMother Madeline
Afternoon Session 1
Embracing Limitations: Embodying Empathy and Understanding (Destiny Aspen Mowadeng, CTRC)
All Participants
3:00-4:00pmMother Madeline
Yoga Nidra with Garrett La Valley4:15pm-5:00pmMother Madeline
Dinner5:25pm-6:00pm
Free Time6:00pm-7:30pm
Evening Program with Spiral Rhythms Ensemble (In-Person) or Free Time7:30-9:00pmMother Madeline
Sunday, April 30Dance Chapel (Instructor TBA)7:30am-8:30amMother Madeline
Breakfast8:15am-9:30am
Body Aware/ Movement Therapy Demo with Erica Hornthal9:30am-10:00amMother Madeline
Share Your Practice: Closing Program Led by Dr. Jamie Marich & Participating Facilitators10:00am-12:00pmMother Madeline
Departure