Movement Retreat

In this Movement Retreat we will take a step back from the outside world, creating space to go inside. A packed, yet peaceful, 6-days immersion into the nature, the somatic experience of our bodies and the philosophy of threading.

The program has two workshops a day and jams every night. In the workshops we will explore the movement concept of threading and other movement principals to support this research. After diner, we conclude the day with a jam to playfully integrate all the ideas form the workshops. And most importantly, holding a space to dance, exchange and have fun.

This retreat will be facilitated by Justin de Jager. A dancer, choreographer, teacher and movement researcher from The Netherlands. Justin started his journey as a breaker, where he discovered the movement concept of threading. Once he started creating his own work, threading became the foundation of his choreographies. To support his creations, he developed an accessible methodology to learn the basic principals of threading and tools to integrate them into your own language.

At the moment, Justin is focusing on transforming his collective Threading Theatre into a community for dancers and movement enthousiasts to meet, exchange and connect through the world of threading. After teaching workshops all over the world, it’s been dream to facilitate his own movement retreat. Offering an opportunity to step into a new world, without the hectics of daily life and emerge in the moment.

During the retreat there will be guest workshops by Saèl Heesemans, Laurie Case and Tia May Hockey.

Threading is a movement concept where you create physical openings by connecting body parts together and moving through those openings with other body parts. For nearly 10 years, Justin has been transforming the concept threading into a dance language that has the ability to communicate on its own and is not dependent from another dance style to be expressed within. Diving all the way to the source and express the essence.

Justin’s approach is very simplistic. Slowing down, holding on and exploring from there. Providing a clear path and focus that brings you to a state where we don’t search for a specific result. But just embodying what feels right for your body at that particular moment in your threading journey, slow excavating a path to the endless amount of possibilities our bodies provide within the world of threading.

Everyday we will have two workshops. One in the morning and one in the afternoon. During the workshops we will explore foundational threading principals. As a support to the threading research, we will invite other movement ideas like contact improvisation, floor work, release work and ‘free expression movement’ into the practice to give new perspectives in ways to integrate threading.

The practice starts by ourselves. First by understanding the basics and capabilities of your body. Once we are familiar with the principals, we will add more bodies into the mix by exploring the threading research within partner context. Revealing a beautiful interplay between you and your dance partner, narrated by the philosophy of threading.

Exploring the collaboration between holding on and letting go.

Jamming is the perfect way to step away from the density of the workshops and just enjoy the moment. While being on the dance floor or watching from the outside, we all hold the space together. So everyone feels safe to let themselves go and express whatever feels right for them in that moment, without specific guidelines. Creating a space to potentially dive deeper into the world threading, inviting other dance perspectives into the mix and simply follow the flow.

Arriving in a state of nothing, connecting to the body, following the direction that unfolds and trusting the body knows.

The Movement Retreat takes place at De Uelenspieghel. A beautiful accommodation that is covered in green and right next to the forest. The people at this place have a huge affinity with dance and are very happy to host us.

For sleeping, there will beds in shared rooms. We will try to structure it as much in according to your wishes. There are also camping spots available or places to park your van. All this will be arranged in our individual communication once you registered your interest in this retreat.

For food, we will provide 3 vegan meals a day with lot of snack options in between. If you again dietary restrictions or specific wishes, please communicate this to us and we will make sure everything is arranged accordingly.

The participation fee for this retreat is 710 euro.

Early bird price of 630 euro, for everyone the registers before 1st of June.

To complete your registration you have to submit the form at the bottom of the page and transfer a deposit of 200 euro to the bank account mentioned in the email you’ll receive. The remaining fee will be paid in cash at the start of the event.

Package deal:

• 30 hours of workshops
• 6 guided jams
• 3 meals a day plus snacks
• Bed in a shared room or camping spot

All the beautiful additions to the package deal:

• Movement and dance training that is open and available for everyone who wants to learn and try something new. The training is structured in a way that it’s accessible for every level, yet for every participant as beneficial.
• We work on a somatic level that vibrates deeply through every cell in our body. Enhancing mental and emotional growth, alongside the physical experience.
• Away from all the distraction of everyday life and surrendering into the peaceful nature of Drenthe. Committing to the program according to your needs, with the freedom to not participate at certain moments when your needs require something else.