Due to popular demand, we're now hosting a second retreat: Ecstatic Dance September Retreat (Sept 11-13). Check out the details and register here!

COVID-19 UPDATE

Embercome have put together a social distancing plan and will be reopening in August. Here are the safety measures we are taking:

-Downsizing our group size to 30 retreatants (as opposed to 60)
-Shared rooms are no longer an option. You can choose between camping, a private room or share a yurt with a partner/friend/family
-We are replacing the Contact Improvisation class by another (non-contact) movement class
-We encourage retreatants to carry hand sanitiser with them and will be required to wash their hands before/after each session
-We ask participants to respect other people's space with the 1-m rule
-A full list of Embercombe's coronavirus measures can be found here

DAILY PROGRAM (EXAMPLE)

8.00-9.00 Yoga or singing circle

9.15-10.15 Breakfast in small groups (sharing circle)

10.30-12.30 Class/workshop

13.00-14.00 Lunch

14.00-16.00 Free time

16.00-18.00 Class/workshop

18.30-19.30 Dinner

20.00-22.30 Ecstatic Dance

23.00-0.00 Bonfire & storytelling

Classes & workshops include: Kirtan, Authentic Relating and movement classes (ex. Movement Medicine). There will be an Ecstatic Dance every day (4 total).

TEAM (OF CHAMPIONS)

-Renée Lacroix (Founder Ecstatic Dance UK)

-OSARA (Founder Ecstatic Dance Bristol)

-Elise Kamala (Singing circles + Kirtan)

-Charlie Bishop (Singing circles + Kirtan)

-Pixi Pete (Ecstatic Dance DJ + facilitator)

-Richard Batts (Ecstatic Dance DJ)

-Vix Anderton (Authentic Relating)

ABOUT EMBERCOMBE

Embercombe is an eco retreat centre overarching a beautiful and wilding 50 acre valley on the edge of Dartmoor National Park. 'It is place to find a deep connection with nature – wild nature around us and wild nature within us. It is a place to breathe, to reconsider, to regenerate and to relearn. It is a place to get clear on what it is you have to offer the world and become passionate about who you are and what you do.'

ACCOMMODATION: 3 NIGHTS

1. If you choose the private accommodation option, you have the choice between a room in a cabin, a vintage van or a beautiful yurt with compost toilets and running water nearby. Full bathroom facilities with hot showers are available in the main building. Linen is provided.

2. If you choose the camping option, you need to bring your own tent and camping gear (ex. sleeping bag, mattress, pillow, blanket).

FOOD: 9 MEALS

All meals are included (3 breakfasts, 3 lunches & 3 dinners). Organic, vegan food is lovingly prepared on site using locally-sourced produce whenever possible. If you have any dietary restrictions or allergies, please let us know when booking.

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE

We ask participants to arrive between 4-6 pm on Friday Aug 28 to allow time to check-in, explore the grounds and settle in before we start. The retreat will start with dinner at 6:30 pm.

The retreat will end after lunch at 2 pm on Monday Aug 31.

WHAT TO BRING

-Towel

-Torch (head torches are really useful)

-Clothing & boots suitable for the outdoors

-Swimsuit & flip-flops (there's a lake on site!)

-Rain jacket & wellies

-Ear-plugs (if you're a light sleeper)

-Hot water bottle (especially if camping)

-Toiletries (natural & biodegradable products please)

PAYMENT

Non-refundable £100 deposit/person is required to book and secure your place. Balance due by July 31.

FAQ

-Is this a festival? No. Festivals are generally larger events with several programs/workshops to choose from and participants can arrive/leave as they wish, and meals are not communal. Our retreat is a closed container: we start and finish together. We are limiting the number of participants to 30 in order to create a more intimate gathering. There is one program and all the activities, including meals, are communal. We also ask participants to turn off their phones. Our retreat is an invitation to go deeper into your practice and let go of the outside world for the duration of a weekend.

-Can I bring my own van instead of camping? Yes absolutely. Please let us know when booking so we know how many expect.

-Are dogs allowed? Unfortunately not

-What is your cancellation policy? In the unlikely case that we have to cancel the retreat, a full refund will be offered. In case of cancellation from your side, no refunds will be offered, no matter the reason.

-If I can no longer make it, can I transfer my booking to someone? If you find someone to take your booking, there will be a £50 admin charge to transfer your booking to another person. If you want us sell your booking on your behalf, we will retain your deposit (£100) for the service and refund you the balance only if we find a replacement and once they have paid in full. Please note we will only accept booking transfers and allow posts on our Facebook event/page if the retreat is fully booked.

GETTING THERE

Embercombe, Higher Ashton, Exeter, EX6 7QQ

+44 (0) 1647 252983

By train

Exeter St David’s is the closest station which serves most of the UK. It’s approximately 7 miles from Embercombe. There is a taxi rank outside (one-way to Embercombe: £20-25) or you can walk to Exeter Central Bus Station which is  approximately a 1.5 mile walk into town. We offer a return shuttle to/from Exeter train station for £25 both ways (add-on when booking).

By bus

There is a 360 Dartline bus service from the Central Bus Station in  Exeter which stops 1.3 miles from Embercombe. Look for route name Exeter-Dunchideock-Bridford and get off the bus at the Belevedere Castle stop. On leaving the bus, continue along the top road. After 400 yards  you’ll reach the Belvedere Castle entrance on your left. Opposite, there  is a little road going down to the right, signposted Trusham and Ashton. Follow this road for approximately 20 minutes until you reach Embercombe’s main gate on the right.

By car

-From the Southbound A38: 

Follow the signs to Exeter Race Course. Climb the hill slowly and get  into the left hand lane, at the top of the hill (Haldon Hill) take the  left exit marked Dunchideock and Exeter Race Course. Pay particular  attention as you do not get much warning of the exit! Turn right at the roundabout at the end of the sliproad towards  Dunchideock and follow this road through Haldon Forest. After 1.7 miles,  the road goes downhill into trees and just opposite is a forest car  park area on your right. Take the sharp left turn signposted Trusham  & Ashton. Entrance to Embercombe is 1.2 miles down on the right.

-From the Northbound A38:

At the top of Haldon Hill (A38) take the exit marked Dunchideock and  Exeter Race Course immediately after the petrol station. At the ‘T’  junction turn left and follow the road through Haldon Forest. After a  1.7miles, the road goes downhill into trees and just opposite a forest  car park area on your right, take the sharp left turning signposted  Trusham & Ashton. Entrance to Embercombe is 1.2 miles down on the  right.

-Satellite navigation systems: We recommend that you don’t use your Sat Nav system to reach Embercombe.  They’ve been found to be unreliable in the rural areas around Embercombe and visitors often arrive at the wrong address.

ABOUT ECSTATIC DANCE UK

EDUK is a conscious dance events company based in London. We host weekly Sunday morning dances in Hackney Wick. Our mission is to create a safe, sacred space for people to come and  express themselves through movement, regardless of age, gender,  background or social status. We believe dancing is a form of therapy and can help us connect  to ourselves and to others. We embrace inclusivity, freedom of  expression, openness and positivity.