Gidleigh 2023 weekend | barefoot-dance

introducing Gidleigh 2023

Nature's Dance

Connection to nature and community in movement

“Interbeing is the understanding that

nothing exists separately from anything else."

“Only when we can touch real love for the Earth

will we have the immense energy we need to make

the radical changes necessary to save our civilisation.”

Thich Nhat Hanh

Barefoot community warmly invites you to journey with us, using the map of Movement Medicine as our guide.

The intention of this retreat is to empower you to deepen your connection to yourself as part of nature. We gather together with the wild nature of Dartmoor around us to reconnect, to re-member,

and renew from the inside out.

Together we will share the awareness of the story of separation that is at the heart of the illusion of the western world. Through movement and being we will embody the experience of "interbeing".

It is clear that we are at a critical turning point in human history, and that the shift we personally and collectively do or do not make, will shape our future. The prayer of our time together is that by embodying the lived experience of interbeing, this will empower whatever field of life and work you bring your unique gifts to.

We will begin by connecting with the elements of the natural world, found within and around us. We will then journey into our relationship with the 5 dimensions of self, other, community, ancestors, and the source, to strengthen our connection to the roots of the tree of life.

This practice is an integral part of Movement Medicine, but you do not need to be familiar with Movement Medicine to attend. You will learn the basics of the map we work with experientially.

There will also be time to immerse yourself in the nature around us, including quiet time and self-reflection exercises. There will also be time off just to be and nourish and resource in whatever way feels right for you. Maybe a wild swim or a walk on the moors.

Facilitated by Benjamin Tree and supported by

the barefoot community

at Gidleigh Village Hall

from 5pm Friday 2nd June to 5pm on Sunday 4th June 2023

(you can arrive anytime from 2pm)

Cost: £120 for the weekend (ask about concessions if needed).

This includes food (apart from the Friday night when this year it will be bring food to share), camping fees and facilitation.

Open Invitation for the Barefoot Friday Night (2nd June 2023).

There is an open invitation for all barefoot dancers to join us for supper at 6.00pm and a Barefoot dance (at 7:30pm) on the Friday evening. Please bring food to share (as we will not be providing food on this evening) - something that doesn’t need heating up or cooking. Please note there is no limit to the number of people able to come along on the Friday evening, however we are unable to offer you a space to stay overnight as we have a limited number of spaces which are allocated for those staying for the whole weekend.

Please note: If you book a place on the weekend, we strongly encourage/request that you attend all sessions on the Saturday and Sunday.

Covid: We have reflected on how to create a safe space for the whole community. We ask that you do not attend if you are unwell.

Cancellation policy: If you cancel up to 4 weeks in advance we will offer a full refund. If you cancel after then if we have people on the waiting list you will have a full refund. However if we can't fill your place we will retain half of the money to cover our costs.

Friday 2nd June 2023

from 2pm onwards - arriving and setting up

6:00pm Supper - please bring food to share

7:30pm - 9:30pm Opening Circle and Welcome

followed by a dance journey led by Benjamin (1).

Saturday 3rd June 2023

Breakfast provided

10am - 1pm Session with Benjamin (2)

1pm - 4pm Lunch (provided) and free time

4pm - 6:30pm Session with Benjamin on the moor (weather permitting) (3)

(please bring appropriate footwear and clothing)

Supper provided

Sunday 4th June 2023

Breakfast provided

10am - 12:30pm Session with Benjamin (4)

Lunch provided

2pm to 3:30pm Session with Benjamin (5)

3:30pm Clearing away (6)

5pm Leave ...

Further information

Here are a few other details about the weekend, which you might find useful:

Please arrive anytime between 2pm and 6pm on Friday 2nd June

Directions to Gidleigh Village Hall are included at the end of this page. If you are camping you will need time to pitch your tent and settle in, so do allow time for this.

The hall has a fully equipped kitchen and toilets and a shower so you do not need to bring, for example, any of your own cooking gear – your tent is simply to sleep in. Please note there is just 1 shower!!!! If anyone has a camping shower it could be a useful addition.

On the Friday evening we will eat together around 6:00pm …. please bring food to share - just enough for 1 or 2 people will be enough… all the food for the remainder of the weekend is provided and will be vegetarian and if you have any other special dietary requirements please let Karen know by email.

If you have a special diet which requires you to eat meat then we will make arrangements for you to cook with us using separate pans and utensils.

At 7:30pm we will hold an opening welcome circle followed by a dance session with Benjamin.

We hope that everyone will pitch in with cooking and clearing up over the weekend so that we can all enjoy it. All food will be provided but any contributions of home baked cakes welcomed!

We are asking that everyone attends all the six sessions. At other times you are able to please yourself, to walk on the moors, swim in the nearby stream or sit around the fire (if we have one) and, of course, help with the preparation of the meals and clearing away.

Over the course of the weekend we aim to build trust within the group as the sessions progress. Because of this it is not possible for people not signed up for the weekend to drop in on the Saturday or Sunday this year.

Quick reference checklist (things you might like to bring):

Pen, paper / journal

Cushion / sheepskin /blanket to sit on

Water if you don’t wish to drink tap water

Outdoor walking gear and maybe brolly in case of rain?

A candle and holder

Loose comfy clothes to dance in, perhaps layers you can put on and off as you get hot and cool down.

Sunscreen and a hat if sunny

Here are some directions to the hall:

Gidleigh Village Hall is about 40 minutes from the centre of Exeter by car. It is on the edge of Dartmoor. For more details: www.gidleighvillagehall.co.uk

If you have a sat nav the postcode is TQ13 8HR.

The grid reference is: SX 672 883 ….

What 3 Words: https://w3w.co/swift.reconnect.subjects

From Exeter head along the A30 westwards (towards Okehampton) until you get to the Whiddon Down turn off. Merge left onto the A382 and then take the first exit from the roundabout, again onto the A382. After a very short while turn right, signed Gidleigh …… continue to follow the signs until you get to the village (a total of about 3.5 miles). The hall should be on your left in the village at a T junction. There is ample parking. If you do get totally lost then you could try getting to Chagford where there should be people to ask and Gidleigh is definitely signposted from there ….. and from Chagford the hall will come up on your right – on that same T junction. If in doubt please take a map with you.

It will be really lovely to see you there in 2023