Do you ever find yourself ecstatically blissing out at dance and wanting to share your experience with someone else, but not sure it will work? Do you ever feel like the flow within yourself is so clear and fluid, but when you go to connect with someone else, you lose it? If you can relate, then this dance connection immersion is for you.

Inspired by the sensual and dynamic dance of Brazilian Zouk and led by two Brazilian Zouk instructors, you will learn practical and functional techniques for co-creative movement.

Experience the alchemy of movement in relation to your own body and with a partner. Explore the elemental forces of nature as embodied and dance the essence of Earth, Fire, Air and Water through specific embodied principles.

Discover ways to share your expression with a partner in a way that is comfortable and functional which also serves your connection and communication in the dance. Deepen your experience of your own movement in a way that directly translates to your effective expression with another. And learn to channel your expression to add to the experience of your partner. 

This dance lab weekender is for ecstatic dancers and contact improv dancers of all levels who want to deepen their capacity for flow with themselves and with a partner through the language of Brazilian Zouk. This experience is also for those who wish to connect to the archetypal and elemental essences of the physical and non-physical world which serve to animate our inner and outer movements.

Léo Gomes is a celebrated Brazilian dance educator and choreographer with over 20 years of experience. Starting his journey in Ballet and Jazz, he gained international acclaim as a two-time World Zouk Lambada Champion and Brasil Latin Open Champion. Léo’s expertise spans contemporary dance, Brazilian Afro dance, Orisha’s dance, and partner dances like Tango, Samba, Forró, and Brazilian Zouk. A former choreographer for Brazil’s Dancing with the Stars, he has shared his innovative methodology in over 30 countries.

Léo’s teaching approach is deeply influenced by spiritual traditions, including the Shamanic practices of the Huni Kuni people and his study of Orisha spirituality in Umbanda. These experiences inspired his Authentic Movement method, which emphasizes dance as an organic expression of the body’s inner intelligence rather than externally imposed techniques. Grounded in Labanotation and dance theater, the method empowers individuals to discover their unique dance language by connecting with their somatic body, emotions, and the subtle spiritual essence of movement.

Lena Siemiesz has over a decade of experience in the healing arts, specializing as a yoga teacher, reiki practitioner, theta healer, astrologer, and Brazilian zouk dance teacher. Currently pursuing a PhD in Psychology with a focus on Transpersonal and Imaginal approaches, her dissertation explores how a synaesthetically mediated connection to archetypal Gaia impacts identity and awareness of the transpersonal Self. Through her transformative retreat brand, Sanctuary Retreats Hawaii, Lena integrates practices like yoga, tantric meditation, non-violent communication, and emotional alchemy to help individuals embrace wholeness through integration. She empowers others to connect with their inner wisdom, live intuitively, and become conscious creators of their lives.

Alicia Sunflower, MS is a Medicine Woman Therapist and Quantum Sound Healer. Alicia is a channel for angelic frequencies as a singer songwriter, intuitive freestyler, and sound healer. She specializes in intuitively channeling angelic frequencies that allow people to go into deep mediation. In her Quantum Sound Journeys, Alicia uses a loop station to create etheric soundscapes that help people to receive relaxation, clearing, healing, insights, ease, and even psychedelic states of consciousness.

12:00- Sound bath

1:00 - Begin with an introduction to the whole experience 

1:15 - Guided Yoga practice for embodying Earth

1:45 - Ecstatic dance into contact improv guided meditation 

2:15 - Brazilian Zouk Movements embodied through partner work 

2:45 - OQR: Observations, Questions & Reflections 

3pm- Break time to use spa and rest 

5:00 - Begin with an introduction to the whole experience 

5:15 - Guided Yoga practice for embodying Water

5:45 - Ecstatic dance into contact improv guided meditation 

6:15 - Brazilian Zouk Movements embodied through partner work 

6:45 - Closing OQR: Observations, Questions & Reflections 

7:00- Social until 9pm! with Dj Lilah 

12:00 - Begin with an introduction to the whole experience 

12:15 - Guided Yoga practice for embodying Air

12:45 - Ecstatic dance into contact improv guided meditation 

1:15 - Brazilian Zouk Movements embodied through partner work 

1:45 - OQR: Observations, Questions & Reflections 

2pm break for rest and using the Spa

4:00 - Begin with an introduction to the whole experience 

4:15 - Guided Yoga practice for embodying Water

4:45 - Ecstatic dance into contact improv guided meditation 

5:15 - Brazilian Zouk Movements embodied through partner work 

5:45 - OQR: Observations, Questions & Reflections 

Today is a day of expression and expansion_as within, so without. 

11:00am Ecstatic Dance 

Sunday Funday, explore what Kalapana has to offer. 

5:00-6:00 Ether class

6:00pm-9:00pm Ecstatic Connection and Zouk Social at Sundari