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!

Pre-Retreat Workshops
April 28, 2023 - In-Person Only

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.
Lunch is included for in-person attendees

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.
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.

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
Dancing Mindfulness Facilitator and Friends 2023
Day | Session | Time | Location |
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Thursday, April 27 | Early Arrival for Those Who Purchased an Extra Night | 5:30pm-9:30pm | Begel Hall West |
Friday, April 28 | Breakfast (for Thursday overnight guests) | 8:15am-9:00am | |
Pre-Retreat Workshops (Optional) | 9:00am-4:30pm | Begel Hall West | |
In-Person Retreat Arrivals | 4:00pm-7:00pm | Begel Hall West | |
Dinner | 5:25pm-6:00pm | ||
Free Time | 6:00pm-7:30pm | ||
Opening Orientation & Dance with Dr. Jamie Marich | 7:30pm-9:30pm | Mother Madeline | |
Saturday, April 29 | Morning Yoga with Julianne Roshan Dow | 7:30am-8:30am | Mother Madeline |
Breakfast | 8:15am-9:00am | ||
Morning Session 1 Exploring the Intersections of Expressive Arts and Reproductive Justice(Dr. Orixa Bowers) All Participants | 9:00am-10:30am | Mother 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. | 10:45-11:45am | Begel West | |
Morning Session 2: A Body Aware Approach to Emotional Well-Being (Erica Hornthal, LCPC, BC-DMT) All Participants | 10:30am-11:45am | Mother Madeline | |
Lunch Break | 12:00am-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-2:45pm | Mother Madeline |
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Afternoon Session 1 Embracing Limitations: Embodying Empathy and Understanding (Destiny Aspen Mowadeng, CTRC) All Participants | 3:00-4:00pm | Mother Madeline |
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Yoga Nidra with Garrett La Valley | 4:15pm-5:00pm | Mother Madeline | |
Dinner | 5:25pm-6:00pm | ||
Free Time | 6:00pm-7:30pm | ||
Evening Program with Spiral Rhythms Ensemble (In-Person) or Free Time | 7:30-9:00pm | Mother Madeline | |
Sunday, April 30 | Dance Chapel (Instructor TBA) | 7:30am-8:30am | Mother Madeline |
Breakfast | 8:15am-9:30am | ||
Body Aware/ Movement Therapy Demo with Erica Hornthal | 9:30am-10:00am | Mother Madeline | |
Share Your Practice: Closing Program Led by Dr. Jamie Marich & Participating Facilitators | 10:00am-12:00pm | Mother Madeline | |
Departure |