About this Training
Do you have a dream of creating an ecstatic dance in your community? Or have you already created one and want to grow its success?
The Dance Community Leadership Training brings together everything we wish we'd known when we first started leading conscious dance events. Built from years of trial and error and hard-won lessons, this course offers practical guidance that can save you time, money, and frustration.
Our flagship training covers everything you need to lead a thriving dance community, including DJing and facilitation, taught by leaders who have built successful communities and made this work their career.
Over 9 sessions, learn every aspect of conscious dance community leadership, including:
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Entrepreneurship & Money Matters
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DJing & Music
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Dance Facilitation
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Venue Selection
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Event Production
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Team Development
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Marketing & Finding Your Dancers
Through our structured curriculum, supported by real stories and lived insight, you’ll receive the collective wisdom of established dance leaders from around the world and join a global network of peers that continues to support you long after the training ends.
Creating a thriving dance community takes more than passion and vision, it takes grounded business sense. Don’t just call your dance “conscious.” Build it consciously.
Is this for you?
This training is ideal if you...
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Dream of starting your own Ecstatic Dance community
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Are a conscious dance teacher ready to grow your classes
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Already organize conscious dance events but want to make them financially sustainable
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Are a Conscious Dance DJ or Facilitator who wants to better handle the business side
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Seek a vibrant learning cohort and future colleagues
What's Included
A Professional Education
Delivered by a global team of experienced conscious dance organizers, facilitators, and DJs.
9 Comprehensive Modules
Based on years of practical experience and taught through a well-structured curriculum, this program answers not only the most commonly asked questions, but also the often-overlooked questions that determine a dance’s success.
6 Days of Immersive Training
Each day we will split the time between lectures, discussions, small group sharing, and embodied activities to keep you engaged and able to soak in your learning in an interactive way.
200+ Page Manual
You'll receive a 200+ page printable manual and workbook, rich with practical and theoretical knowledge, alongside spaces for your insights and those of your peers.
Post-training Education
We'll give you access to the recorded classes upon your DTM graduation, so you have a valuable reference for the future.
Ongoing Community Support
Stay connected with classmates, continue discussions, and share resources via community groups and free monthly calls.
Training Rates
The Full Tuition Fee is €1,595,
with several opportunities for discounted registration:
Early Registration Tuition Fee – €1,295
(Available until 18th Aug 2027 - 60 days before start date).
We also offer work trade and scholarship opportunities for those seeking financial support or deeper involvement in the training. For more information, click here.
IMPORTANT: For all in-person trainings, participants are required to purchase an add-on package, which is separate from tuition.
This package includes your selected accommodation, a full meal plan, access to all venue amenities, additional venue-related costs, and the fee for your training manual and supplies.
We charge this package separately from tuition so that tuition prices remain consistent, regardless of differences in regional costs, venue pricing, or fee structures.
The Location
Our training will take place across three locations, each offering a different part of the experience.
Buddha Hall
Our main venue is a purpose-built retreat centre nestled among ancient olive groves and cypress trees on a beautiful hilltop in northwest Corfu. Designed for meditation, movement, and conscious living, this is where we’ll spend our mornings and afternoons.
You’ll have the opportunity to dance and learn in a beautiful 200m² hall with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, forest, and sea, while also enjoying the swimming pool, gardens, outdoor spaces, and breathtaking sunsets. The setting offers a unique opportunity to step out of everyday life, immerse yourself in the training, and connect with a vibrant community.
We will have breakfast and dinner here. Meals will be vegetarian or vegan, and dietary requirements will be catered for to the best of our abilities.
Arillas Soundgarden
We’ll also attend dances and interactive sessions at Arillas Soundgarden, the mecca of ecstatic dance in the region. This magical space overlooks the Ionian Sea and features a high-end professional sound system, giving you a first-hand experience of how a successful dance community is created and nurtured.
Nearby Lodging
Our accommodation is nestled close to Arillas Beach, making it easy to enjoy swimming and relaxing during afternoon quiet hours. We’ll stay together as a group, gathering in the evenings for discussion, tea, and fun.
We will provide a variety of accommodation choices, from shared budget rooms to private rooms with en-suite bathrooms.
Transportation between the locations is included in the add-on package.
Accommodation Package
As mentioned, the accommodation, food, venue, local transport, and materials add-on is booked separately from tuition.
Add-on packages will range from €450 to €1,050, depending on your room choice. More information on the location of the accommodation is coming soon.
If you have any questions about accommodation, please contact info@dancethemedicine.com.
Your Instructors
BERNICE RAABIS • Founder of Dance The Medicine
Bernice is on a mission to spread conscious dance communities across the globe. In 2011, she founded Dance Church, a long-running and wildly successful conscious dance in the vibrant mountain town of Nelson, BC, Canada. There, she DJed and facilitated weekly, weaving epic soundscapes into transformative dance experiences that support freedom through connection to self, community, and humanity. In 2019, she set out to gather an epic team of conscious dance professionals, and the Dance The Medicine Team was born, dedicated to providing embodied conscious dance education.
Bernice is a certified Soul Motion facilitator, a student of the Tamalpa Institute, and a relational somatic therapist. Her work is deeply grounded in embodiment, community building, and supporting her students to deliver the specific type of dance medicine they feel called to bring into the world.
To read more about Bernice click here.
RENÉE LACROIX • Founder of Ecstatic Dance UK and Ecstatic Experiences
Renée is a community-builder and dance leader whose path has shaped her into a cornerstone of the UK and international conscious dance scene. After training with Bernice in 2018, she became the lead organiser, facilitator, and DJ for Ecstatic Dance UK. When the pandemic halted in-person events, she transformed the Sunday dances into vibrant online and outdoor experiences, strengthening the community rather than losing it. Now based in Lisbon, she contributes to Ecstatic Dance Lisboa and founded Ecstatic Experiences, delivering retreats in Portugal and the UK while co-teaching and supporting multiple DTM trainings.
SOPHIE AUBER • Founder of Ecstatic Dance Montpellier and Ecstatic Dance Gathering
Sophie aka DJ Soph is the founder of Ecstatic Dance Montpellier, Ecstatic Nîmes and Ecstatic Dance Oxytocine (the famous Ecstatic Dance with outdoor headphones in the south of France), she organized Ecstatic Fest Lez'Arts for 3 years and is today the organizer of the Ecstatic Dance Gathering, the first edition of which took place in July 2025. Passioned by movement from a young age, Sophie practiced competitive gymnastics for 10 years, followed by acrobatic diving. She then turned towards Yoga and dance, practices that led her to a greater body awareness and, above all, the desire to transmit the pleasure of inhabiting and being at ease with one’s body.
WHAT OUR ALUMNI SAY
Carol, Canada
Coach, DJ & Facilitator
This training is for the big visionaries, event organisers, and executives of dance programs out there. It takes you through step by step how to create an Ecstatic Dance event. The best part is, you’re surrounded by super rad people who truly believe in the vision as much as you do, and who feel alive in sharing that vision. I feel absolutely honoured to be a part of this amazing group of dancers, organisers, and beautiful human beings. Showing up with my whole heart, it changed me, and I feel like I’ve grown a lot.
Lien, Belgium
Through powerful visualisation exercises, sharing of invaluable wisdom and experience, and creation of a supportive community, I now have the confidence and knowledge to go out there in the world and make an impact through dance. This training was everything and more that I needed!
Venetia, Wales
Movement Facilitator & Ecstatic Dance DJ
I just finished the DJ training with DTM; having experienced such a wonderfully supportive container, I knew I had to continue learning with them. The Leadership Training was filled with so much wisdom and goodness. It was a journey imbued with ceremony, beauty and ritual, all in a well thought out flow. It strengthened my foundation to launch my dance projects! Any of Dance The Medicine's offerings will set you off with an enriched toolbox and a heart full of joy and warmth for everything shared.
More Info
Arrival and departure times
Please note, these times are approximate and may change.
ARRIVAL
On Sunday, September 17th, arrival is between 15:00-17:00. Allow time to check in, explore the grounds and settle in before our first dinner at 19:00.
DEPARTURE
On Friday, September 22nd, we will share one last meal together before we all depart around 15:00. Please give yourself extra time for departure, since good-byes can be tough!
How to get to Arillas
ADDRESS
The training will take place over three locations in Arillas. We will stay altogether in an accommodation in Arillas. Location of accommodation TBC.
CLOSEST AIRPORT
Corfu International Airport "Ioannis Kapodistrias" (CFU).
BY CAR / TAXI
From the airport, it is a 1 hour drive to Arillas. In our opinion, renting a car is the most economical option for transport on the island especially if shared among cohorts. It will give you the most flexibility for your time at the training and allow you to explore the area which has so much to see. That said, the town or Arrilas is very walkable.
BY SHUTTLE
Corfu Buddha Hall (one of our venues) can organise a private shuttle from the airport. Depending upon request and availability, we may organise the shuttle on your behalf or you can organise directly with them.
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT
You can take a local bus from the airport into Corfu Town's main bus station, then catch a Green Bus (KTEL) line heading toward Arillas.
What to bring
CLOTHING & ITEMS
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Headlamp or head torch to walk around at night
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Clothing suitable for dancing (we’ll dance numerous times a day, both inside and outside)
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Clothing suitable for both indoors & outdoors and for the weather (you may need a hat, sunglasses, etc)
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Swimsuit and towel for the beach
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Mosquito spray, room plugs and pants that can be tied tight at the ankle.
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Bring layers. It may get cold at night!
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Comfortable and appropriate outdoor shoes to walk/dance outside
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Dress up for a fun night; not fancy, just fun. Bring something if you enjoy dressing up
OTHER
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Toiletries
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Refillable water bottle
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Pens and markers
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Ear plugs and eye mask (if sharing accommodation)
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Talisman (or sacred item) for the community altar
FAQ
→ I'm coming from abroad. Do I need a visa to enter Greece?
Most likely not, but be sure to check with your own government and your specific requirements to enter.
→ Can I come on my own?
Absolutely! Most of our participants actually come on their own, and many do not know anyone else who is coming. This training is inclusive, and we strive to create a culture of belonging through group exercises and daily sharing circles.
→ Will this training cover DJing?
We have one module dedicated exclusively to music (What music is appropriate for conscious dance events? What structure is used to create a conscious dance musical journey? etc). However, this is NOT a DJ training, and we won't cover any of the technical aspects of DJ-ing. We do offer in-person and online DJ trainings for both beginner and intermediate students. If you prefer to learn DJ skills, click here to see our full list of upcoming offerings.
→ Will I receive a certification?
Yes, at the end of the 6 day training you will receive an official DTM certification of completion of the program.
→ I can’t make the in-person training. Do you offer online trainings?
Yes! We have an Online Dance Community Leadership Training happening from Sep 23 - Dec 02, 2026, which covers the same content over 11 weeks (9 sessions with a 2 week break). Find our more info and register here.
We also have a Self-led Conscious Leadership Training, where you will gain immediate access to our 200+ page manual as well as 22 hours of engaging video content across 9 structured modules. You'll enjoy unlimited access to the video materials for 9 months. We also include a free 45-minute 1-on-1 coaching session with a teacher of your choice.
→ What's your cancellation & refund policy?
Cancellations on your part are non-refundable, but deposits can be transferred to a future DTM event. All in-person trainings require a minimum of 15 participants to proceed. If this number isn’t met, your payment will be fully refunded. We encourage you to insure your travel tickets, as DTM can’t take responsibility for travel cancellation costs.
→ If I can no longer make it, can I transfer my payments to another event?
If you can not make the training you have signed up for we are happy to transfer your payments to another event or keep it in trust until you are ready to take the training. We will honour this for up to a year. If you want to transfer your booking to someone else, there's a €100 admin fee. If the event is full, and you want us to sell your spot, we'll keep your deposit and refund the balance only if we find a full-paying replacement. Booking transfers and posts on our social media are allowed only when the training is fully booked.
→ What are the payment requirements and do you have payment plans?
A non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place. We offer flexible payment plans—please inquire at info@dancethemedicine.com. Regular payments are required as the event start date approaches, with the balance due 15 days before the training begins. Please read our Event Terms & Conditions carefully, as booking confirms your legal agreement to these terms.
→ I'm not sure which path is right for me. Can you please advise me?
Absolutely! Simply send us an email at info@dancethemedicine.com or book a 30 minute consultation with Bernice.
The Curriculum
Module 01 • DANCE
→ What makes conscious dance 'conscious'?
→ Why are conscious dance communities so connected?
→ What does it take to run a successful Ecstatic Dance?
Module 02 • VISION
→ How do I turn the community I dream of into a reality?
→ What format will best serve my community?
→ What are the first steps I need to take?
Module 03 • COMMUNITY
→ How do I attract a diverse community?
→ What is the best location for my dance?
→ How do I gather a dream team to help me?
Module 04 • VENUE
→ How do I find the perfect venue?
→ What should I look for and what pitfalls should I avoid?
→ How do I negotiate with the venue manager?
Module 05 • MARKETING
→ What are the most effective ways to promote my dance?
→ How do I create artwork that will draw people to my dance?
→ How can I grow my following on social media?
Module 06 • MUSIC
→ What music is appropriate for Ecstatic Dance or conscious dance events?
→ What is required to create a dance journey specifically for conscious dance?
→ How do I select the right DJs, and hire them?
Module 07 • MONEY
→ Can I make a living running an Ecstatic Dance?
→ How do I calculate my pricing?
→ What should I pay my team?
Module 08 • FACILITATION
→ Is it necessary to have an opening and closing circle?
→ How do I facilitate the dance in an embodied way?
→ Does a conscious dance have to be spiritual?
Module 09 • ONWARD
→ How do I keep momentum once my dance has begun?
→ What top tips do you have to avoid common pitfalls?
→ How do I continue to grow my community?