About this Training
Have you ever attended a conscious dance event and wondered how such a powerful and cohesive sense of community is created?
That deep group field doesn’t happen by accident. It’s created through the steady attention and devoted presence of an embodied facilitator—someone who weaves practical skills with intuitive guidance to lead dancers into the journey, stay present with them throughout, and gently guide them back out again in a way that supports grounding and integration.
In our vibrant learning community, you’ll learn proven somatic tools and embodiment techniques to integrate into your existing skill set, all within an atmosphere of fun, support, and collaboration. Our teaching team includes facilitators from diverse backgrounds and modalities, all of whom have many years of training and practical, on-the-dance-floor experience.
Whether you're a dancer, event organizer, DJ, therapist, yoga teacher, breathwork facilitator, or other wellness professional, you’ll leave equipped to guide transformative dance experiences.
Is this for you?
This training is ideal for...
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Passionate dancers eager to deepen their involvement in Ecstatic Dance.
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Conscious dance event organizers seeking to enhance participants' experiences.
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Ecstatic DJs who want to facilitate their own DJ sets.
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Therapists & psychologists looking to integrate movement-based practices with clients.
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Leaders & professionals who want to confidently guide others through dance.
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Wellness professionals looking to deepen their connection to embodiment & dance.
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Experienced dance facilitators seeking to expand their skills & find fresh inspiration.
This version of our facilitator training is taught in-person. If you would rather take the online training, click here.
What's Included
A Professional Education
Delivered by a team of experienced conscious dance organizers, facilitators, and DJs.
10 Comprehensive Modules
A comprehensive 10-module curriculum featuring three 3-hour pre-training video recordings, a 7-day immersive in-person experience with participants from around the world, and a 3-hour live Zoom session with your cohort and our team after the training.
Practical Assignments
To help you stay engaged and apply your knowledge so that your education can be applied in your life.
Ongoing Community Support
Stay connected with classmates, continue discussions, and share resources via community groups and free monthly calls.
Digital Manual
A 200+ page Dance Facilitator Manual & Workbook in PDF format. This manual is a vital part of the learning made available for printing to be used throughout the training to capture ideas, inspiration, and key learnings.
Graduation Certificate
You will receive a certificate of completion recognizing your accomplishment. For those who wish to continue their education with us and pursue professional certification as a DTM Certified Dance Facilitator, this certificate counts toward the required education hours.
Training Rates
The full tuition price for this training is €1,795, with several opportunities for discounted registration:
Early registration tuition fee – €1,595
(Available until 14th February 2026 - 60 days before start date).
Portuguese nationals rate – €898
(desconto de 50%)
A Dance the Medicine reconhece os desafios financeiros enfrentados por muitos portugueses devido ao aumento do custo de vida e, em resposta, oferece um desconto de 50% nos seus programas de ensino exclusivamente para nacionais portugueses.
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: At all of our in-person trainings, participants are required to pay an “add-on package,” separate from tuition. These packages include your choice of accommodation, a full meal plan, access to all amenities, extraneous venue costs, and a fee for your manual and supplies. We do this to ensure tuition remains stable despite variations in regional pricing or venue fee structures.
The Location
Quinta São José dos Montes is a retreat centre in central Portugal, surrounded by mountains and just a short walk from Castelo do Bode Lake. The venue offers fresh, locally sourced vegetarian meals and a range of accommodation options, from cosy rooms in the main building to nature-immersed domes and camping on the farm. Whether you prefer comfort and convenience or a deeper connection with nature, the centre provides an inspiring setting for rest, learning, and renewal. Read more about the venue here.
Accommodation and meals are booked separately from tuition and come as an "add-on package" that includes a full meal plan, access to on-site amenities and supply fees.
Your Accommodation options are:
ON THE LAND• Camping/Camper Van • €375
Self-sufficient? We provide a nice space for your accommodation set-up and access to shared toilets. PLEASE NOTE There is no electrical hook-up for campers
IN MAIN BUILDING • Dormitory • €425
A single bed in a dorm with up to 7 others, shared indoor bathroom facilities. Bedding, towel, and locker provided.
ON THE LAND • Yurt • Shared Double • €550
A single bed in a yurt shared with 1 other. Wood burner heat. Nearby dry toilets, outdoor sinks, and hot showers. Access to a shared kitchen. Bedding & towel provided.
IN MAIN BUILDING • Room • Shared Double • €650
A single bed in a room shared with 1 other. The room has an en-suite bathroom. Access to a shared kitchen. Bedding & towel provided.
ON THE LAND • Yurt • Private • €800
Your own private yurt. Wood burner heat. Nearby dry toilets, outdoor sinks, and hot showers. Access to a shared kitchen. Bedding & towel provided.
IN MAIN BUILDING • Room • Private €900
Your own well appointed private room with a double bed, a private en-suite bathroom and seating area w/access to a shared kitchen. Bedding & towel provided.
ON THE LAND • Deluxe Dome • Private €900
A double bed in a deluxe dome with an ensuite bathroom and in-room bathtub. Access to a shared kitchen. Bedding & towel provided. Wood burner heat.
IN MAIN BUILDING • Apartment • Private €975
Your own studio apartment with a double bed. Full private bathroom (with bathtub) and kitchen. Bedding & towel provided.
After booking and paying your deposit our student liaison will assist you in selecting accommodation. For any questions prior to booking, please email info@dancethemedicine.com or see the FAQs below.
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.
ALEX SEVILLA • Ecstatic Dance Madrid & Co Teacher in the DTM DJ School
After more than two decades behind the decks as a club DJ, Alex stumbled upon conscious dance—and everything changed. The encounter transformed both his personal life and professional path. He soon left his career as a computer engineer to become a conscious dance entrepreneur, now dedicated to sharing his love for dance, music, and embodied awareness with the world.
Each time we welcome special guests from the DTM team, who have real-world experience and many years in the ecstatic dance scene, to share their unique approach and skills so you can learn directly from the best. Our DTM team includes:
ESTA POLYESTA • Global Ecstatic Dance DJ & Dance Facilitator & Resident DJ @ Ecstatic Dance Goa
FABIO FREDDI • Founder of Ecstatic Dance Italy & Ecstatic Dance DJ & Facilitator
SOPHIE AUBER • Ecstatic Dance Montpellier & Ecstatic Dance Gathering France Founder
ÉADAOIN NÍ CHALLARÁIN • Open Floor Facilitator and Co-founder of WILD
Click here for a complete list of our team.
WHAT OUR ALUMNI SAY
Sarah, UAE
I found the Embodied Facilitator Training at the perfect time (or maybe it found me). I didn't really know what I was getting into but just trusted and followed the inner guidance and it was beyond what I could have imagined. I feel like this training has not only given me the tools I need, but something much deeper and indescribable - I feel like so much more is possible now. I am so grateful to Bernice, all the teachers and organisers, all the work and all the LOVE that was poured into this training. It will continue having a ripple effect in my life and in the world. Thank you!
Felippe, Italy
Co-Founder of Ecstatic Dance Bologna
Throughout the week, I witnessed and felt transformation in everyone, participants and team alike. Just like every dance, the training itself became a big, beautiful hold, where each of us could shift, unfold, and remember who we are. I return home with a clearer vision, a fuller heart, and a deep sense of belonging. I feel truly part of a global community, and I’m committed to sharing what I’ve learned—with a humble and open heart. And yes, Dance is the Medicine
Mina, UK
Founder of Move with Mina
& Somatic Coach
I had a wonderful time. I felt held by the team, making it possible to express authentically and experiment without perfection. The team are extremely experienced and dedicated to their practice. It comes from the heart. I loved the content and the opportunity to embody that within the training. All in all, I had a wonderful heartfelt experience where I came away with a deep trust in myself to carry this work forward into the world. Thank you Dance the Medicine.
More Info
Do you want to become an Embodied Dance Facilitator?
Learn the art of embodiment and develop somatically based skills to confidently guide others into a deeper connection with their bodies, experiences, and communities through the transformative power of dance. Whether called a "Ceremony Leader," "Space Holder," or "Dance Facilitator," the role is the same: guide dancers, in an embodied way, into a dance journey, stay present with them throughout, and help guide them back out by grounding and integrating the experience.
What to expect from our program
Join us for an immersive 7-day experience at Quinta São José dos Montes, set on 20 hectares overlooking Albufeira de Castelo do Bode. This intensive training will focus on facilitation through the lens of DTM’s 5 Pathways framework, designed to simplify the creation of conscious dance exercises and classes, while inspiring new ideas and concepts. This will be a journey of self-embodiment where you'll refine your facilitation skills, learn proven somatic tools, and deepen your ability to lead transformative dance experiences.
In our vibrant learning community, you’ll integrate proven somatic tools and embodiment techniques with your existing skill set, all in an atmosphere of fun, support, and collaboration. Your team will include facilitators from diverse modalities and backgrounds —whether you’re a dancer, DJ, psychologist, yoga teacher, breathwork instructor, or wellness professional, you’ll leave with the tools to guide transformative dance experiences. Our goal is for you to feel confident incorporating dance into your offerings in a way that liberates and connects people through movement.
The in-person version of the Dance Facilitator Training is ideal if...
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You seek a supportive, vibrant learning community.
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You thrive in group settings and value interaction with both instructors and peers.
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You learn best when you can connect, exchange energy, and be inspired by the presence of others.
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You love the idea of dancing several times a day!
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You want to be a part of a global network of passionate conscious dance professionals to foster embodiment, connection, and healing in our world
How to get to Quinta São José dos Montes
ADDRESS
Quinta São José dos Montes
Estrada Municipal
530-1 nº 134, 2300-087
Tomar
CONTACT
(+351) 917 935 392
CLOSEST AIRPORTS
Lisbon Airport: The nearest airport, offering both domestic and international flights. It is approximately 140 km (88 miles) from the retreat center, or about a 1.5-hour drive.
ARRANGED TRANSPORT
We will arrange a round-trip minibus service departing from Lisbon and returning after the training. If you plan to use this service, we recommend booking flights that land before 13:00 and depart after 20:00. The cost for this transport is €75. You can add this to your booking during checkout closer to the training date. For any questions or additional information, please contact info@dancethemedicine.com.
SELF-TRANSPORT
Quinta São José dos Montes is located 150 km north of Lisbon (roughly a 1.5-hour drive). Alternatively, you can reach the retreat center by a combination of train and taxi. The cost is approximately €40 each way (€10 for the train from Lisbon to Tomar and €30 for a taxi). When you register, you’ll be added to a WhatsApp group where you can arrange ride shares or coordinate with others for shared taxis from the train station.
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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Other clothing, including layers as it can get cold at night! (Especially for those in ON THE FARM accommodation)
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Shoes suitable for walking on natural ground in a rural setting
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Swimsuit and towel for the pool and the lake
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Comfortable and appropriate outdoor shoes to walk/dance outside (lots of nature to explore)
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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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Your manual! Plus the same pens and markers you used in the pre-modules
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Toiletries (only natural, biodegradable products please)
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Ear plugs (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 Portugal?
Mostly likely you will not. But to be sure, check with your own government and check your specific requirements.
→ 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 I receive a certification?
Yes! Participants who complete the training live, either in person or on Zoom, are awarded a Level 01 Completion Certificate. The self-paced version does not include certification, as we are unable to confirm completion of the coursework; please contact us if this presents a problem. Full certification as a DTM Conscious Dance Facilitator requires successful completion of Levels 02 and 03, though many graduates report that the Level 01 certificate is sufficient for obtaining insurance.
→ What's your cancellation & refund policy?
In case of cancellation from your side, we don't offer any refunds, regardless of the reason. We require a minimum of 15 sign-ups to go ahead with in-person events. We will issue you a full refund if we do not hit this number. Please make sure to insure any travel ticket as DTM can not be responsible for cancellation fees on travel.
→ 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 book and secure your place. Balance due 15 days before the event starts. Please carefully read our Event Terms & Conditions as by booking on our event, you become legally bound by these terms. We offer flexible payments plans, please inquire with info@dancethemedicine.com
→ 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.