Earth Dance 2023
Begins May 13th, 2023 - Apply HERE
Make sure to check out our FREE April Community Dances, Hikes & Informationals in the Itinerary below (open to all)!!!
Contact for details: earthdanceguides@gmail.com
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Program Overview
Come Home to Your Body & the Earth.
Earth Dance is a Nature and Body-based Transformational Journey and Rite of Passage for women who are ready to awaken, restore and deepen their relationships with the Earth, their bodies and sisterhood.
Our 6-month journey (May - November 2023) gathers twice per month with Night Hikes, Day-long Wild Adventures, Ecstatic Dances, Song Circles, Fire Circles, Ancestral Skills, Earth Medicine Walks, Earth-Based Rituals, The Way of Council, A 5-day Summer Retreat, One 24hr Solo Nature Immersion & More!
Earth Dance is for you if you are ready for:
Self-Love
Community
Feminine Leadership
Connection with the Earth
Full Self-Expression and Embodiment
A Celebration & Marking of Being YOU
Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Resiliency
Connection with Ancestral Knowledge
Connection with Your Body's Wisdom
Self- Confidence & Empowerment
Alignment with Your Calling
Mentorship & Guidance
Transformation
Belonging
"Earth Dance is coming home to myself by opening my heart to the Earth. Held so sweetly in loving, caring supportive community- it allowed my self to unravel and my heart to open more fully. I deepened my connection with mama nature, learned to listen to her wisdom, and learned to listen to my own wisdom. I accessed healing so deep and profound that I will carry in my heart always. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."
— Jules
"Earth Dance is a sacred space and rite of passage for beings who are longing to come home to their body and the earth. We co-create potent, healing, intentional space through play, song, dance, wonder, wandering, heartfelt sharing, practicing reciprocity with the land, and so many more beautiful & transformative & nourishing experiences."
— Jane
What you will experience at Earth Dance 2023:
• Nightime Moon Hikes
• Dance Journeys
• Nature-Connection
• Embodiment Practices
• Earth Medicine Walks
• Silent Nature Time
• 24hr Solo in Nature
• Emotional Support
• Earth-based Ritual
• Camping & Hiking
• Community & Sisterhood
• Sacred Fire Circles
• Plant ID & Herbal Medicine Making
• Mindfulness & Meditation
• Self-Care & Nurturing Practices
• Nonviolent Communication
• Council Practice
• Storytelling & Deep Listening
• Mentorship & Guidance
• Ancestral Skills & Tools
• Ancestral Honoring & Tending
• Connection with the Four Directions as a Life Map
• Confidence in Nature, Self & Community
• Singing Circles & Jam Sessions
• PLAY!
Itinerary
Join our FREE April Community Events!
These events are for anyone in the community- both participants and non-participants of Earth Dance 2023. Please RSVP & read more through the Events Calendar or contact us at earthdanceguides@gmail.com
Thursday 04/06, 5:30-7:30pm • Women's Full Moon Hike
Thursday 04/13, 5:30-7:30pm • Women's Beach Dance!
Thursday 04/20, 5:30-7:30pm • Cacao, Council, Fire & Earth Dance Informational
Friday 04/28, Time TBA • Fundraiser Ecstatic Dance!
Thursday 05/11, 5:30-7:30pm • Cacao, Council, Fire & Earth Dance Informational
Earth Dance 2023 Official Program Itinerary:
May 2023 – November 2023
May:
Earth Dance Opening Retreat
@ Wilder Ranch State Park
Saturday 5/13, 10am - 6pm
Earth Dance & Council
Tuesday 5/23, 6-9pm
Small Group Nature Outing: TBD
June:
New Moon Hike
@ Moore Creek Preserve
Thursday 6/08, 6-9pm
Solstice Fire, Cacao & Song Circle
@ Beach in Live Oak
Thursday 6/22, 6-9pm
Small Group Nature Outing: TBD
July:
Ancestral Wisdom
@ Private Residence
Tuesday 7/25, 6-9pm
1:1 Retreat Preparation
45-60min Zoom Sessions
Various dates/times
Small Group Nature Outing: TBD
August:
Earth Medicine Walk
@ Pogonip
Tuesday 8/8, 5:30-9pm
"Journey into the Wild"
4-night, 5-day Earth Dance Retreat
@ Private land in Santa Cruz Mountains
Includes a 24hr Solo Nature Immersion
Wednesday August 23rd - Sunday August 27th
Small Group Nature Outing: TBD
September:
Fall Equinox Integration
@ Private Residence
Tuesday 9/19, 6-9pm
October:
Medicine Making Workshop
@ TBD
Sunday 10/8, 10-1pm
Give Back Day
@ TBD
Sunday 10/22, time TBD
November:
Closing Retreat & Celebration
@ Wilder Ranch State Park
Sunday 11/5, 10am - 6pm
Small Group Nature Outing: TBD
Details:
Earth Dance 2023 begins with an Opening Retreat at Wilder Ranch State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This will be a day-long immersive journey of soulful connection, play, embodiment, dance and community! From there, we meet 2-3x per month for fire circles, outdoor adventures, dance journeys, sharing circles, song circles, wildcrafting, and more! You will be paired into small groups and given nature "home-play" to complete between our time together (titled "Small Group Nature Outing"). One-on-one mentorship and guidance is also available during this time. The first 3-4 months of Earth Dance prepares you for our August retreat, "Journey into the Wild", a 4-night, 5-day campout filled with dance, nature-connection, ancestral skills, song, fire circles, ceremony, and a 24hr Solo Nature Immersion. This journey is an opportunity for folks to celebrate and mark themselves into who they truly are and are becoming. Post retreat, we celebrate, support, and integrate our journeys through council, dance, potlucks, medicine making and a Closing Retreat during which all are welcome to invite close family and friends!
Sample Retreat Itinerary
"Journey into the Wild"
5-day, 4-night Earth Dance Retreat
@ Private land in Santa Cruz Mountains
Wednesday 8/23 – Sunday 8/27
Arrival Wednesday 8/23
12-2pm: Arrival at the Land
2pm: Opening Circle Ritual & Connection Activity
4pm: Dance
6:30pm: DINNER
7:30pm: Fire Council & Music
Sample Full Day Schedule
8am: BREAKFAST
9am - 10:30: Movement Practice
11-1pm: Morning Group Activity
1pm: LUNCH
2:30pm - 6pm: Nature Connection Activity
6:30pm: DINNER
8pm: Ritual Fire & Council & Magick
Departure Sunday 8/27
8am BREAKFAST
9am - 10:00: Movement Practice
10:30: Closing Ceremony
12pm: Lunch
2pm: Head Home
"To be part of Earth Dance felt like coming home to a familiar place I had never been before.
I learned that I have the power to make a difference in myself and in my community. I was given tools I didn't know I needed, and shown how to use them.
Earth Dance is acceptance & love."
— Maya
"Earth Dance is a beautiful journey that invites you deeper into connection with self and with sisters through practicing being in deep relationship with Mother Earth. This journey is beautiful, soul nourishing medicine."
— Emily
Your Guides
Ari Eve Williams & Deanna Renee Falge
Deanna
Ecotherapist, Transformation Coach, Rites of Passage & Embodiment Guide
Deanna is a passionate guide, Earth steward and dancer. She believes that our bodies and the Earth are inseparable, and that by developing a loving relationship with both of them, we can live a meaningful, connected and healthy life. Through her transformational experiences in nature, she has developed a relationship with the Earth that has served as an essential anchor for navigating her life and soul's purpose. She wants everyone to have this same opportunity.
Deanna has formal education in Biological Psychology from UC Santa Barbara, and is a certified Professional Life Coach, Transformational Wilderness Guide, Ecotherapist, Wilderness First Responder, Embodiment Facilitator and DJ. She has years of training and experience in somatic therapy, outdoor education, rites of passage, vision fast ceremonies, wilderness survival, community building, mindfulness, dance, embodiment facilitation, and being a human. When she is not guiding, Deanna loves to play in the ocean, surf, dance, climb oak trees, play music, tend fires, talk to plants, and drink cacao!
Ari
Rites of Passage Guide, Backpacking Guide, Birth & Postpartum Doula & Chef
Ariana is a certified Birth Doula, Postpartum Chef, Wilderness Guide, Body Worker, & Rites of Passage Facilitator. She has dedicated her life to supporting women’s transformations and initiations into motherhood, adulthood & womanhood.
Ariana is a Nature lover. She is here to empower women to connect to their own inner knowing, innate wisdom, and body intelligence to lead a life of love for themselves, the Earth, and their communities. Ariana bridges a connection between Earth, Body, and Spirit and uses nature as her guide to support others. She founded Hummingbirth Doula and has a blooming practice in Santa Cruz.
Ariana also has a degree in Outdoor Education and Holistic Health from San Francisco State University. She is trained in nonviolent communication, is a Wilderness First Responder and Wilderness First Aid. For many years, Ariana has studied meditation, yoga, council facilitation, the art of play, dance, and feminine embodiment practices.
Ariana loves to hike, dance, sit in circle, commune with the Earth, swim in the ocean, travel, share songs, and be among great women and men.
Guest Guides & Elders
We will be joined by guest guides and an elder who will offer additional support throughout our journey!
BIOS COMING SOON!
Registration & Tuition
Tuition:
Early Bird:
$200 off if you sign-up before Sunday March 5th!
Tier 1:
"Need Support"
$200/month for 10-months
(full tuition $2,000)
Payment Plans Available
Bonus: (1) 45-60min "Retreat Intention Session"
Tier 2:
"Financially Stable"
$2,200.
Payment Plans Available
Bonus: (1) 45-60min "Retreat Intention Session" +
(1) 1:1 Earth-based Guidance & Coaching Session
Tier 3:
"Financially Supported"
$2,400.
Bonus: (1) 45-60min "Retreat Intention Session" +
(2) 1:1 Earth-based Guidance & Coaching Sessions
Scholarships & alternate payment plans available (see below)
What's Included:
• 5-day, 4-night August Retreat on private land
in the Santa Cruz Mountains
• May Opening Retreat
• November Closing Retreat
• 24hr Solo Nature Immersion
• Guided Night Hikes
• Day-time Outdoor Adventures
• One Ancestral Tool (you get to make this!)
• One Herbal Medicine (you also make this!)
• Solstice Celebration with Fire, Songs & Cacao
• Multiple Dance Journeys
• Multiple Council & Sharing Circles
• Monthly Earth Medicine Walks
• Monthly Nature & Embodiment "Home-Play"
• One Community "Give Back" Project
• One Family & Friends Celebration
• Dance & Embodiment Facilitation
• All meals at retreats
• Cooking/Kitchen supplies at August Retreat
(except occasional lunches)
• Snacks during hikes & dances adventures
• One-on-One & Group Support
• Two experienced guides supporting you every step of the journey
• Guest mentors and elders for additional support
• Life-long friendships
• The journey of a lifetime
What's Not Included:
• Travel to-and-from locations
(we will help coordinate carpools)
• $40 camping fee
• PCR or Antigen tests
• Lunch for opening & closing retreats
• Camping gear, such as tent, pad, bag, etc.
(however, we will supply cooking/kitchen
gear, and we can help you find any other gear that you need)
Scholarships:
We are offering a partial scholarship to BIPOC folks, folks from marginalized groups and/or folks who want to join but do not have the funds. Scholarships require an informal interview and letter explaining why you want to join Earth Dance 2023.
We are choosing to make Earth Dance as affordable as possible, and
we do not want to turn anyone away for lack of funds!
If money feels like a barrier, please contact us and we can help find a way to make this work for you!
Application & Registration:
To Apply, please read & fill-out our Application Form HERE
Once we receive your Application, we will set-up a time to speak on the phone about next steps!
Please contact us with any questions at:
We are so excited for this adventure with you!!!
With love and gratitude,
Deanna & Ari