About Our Immersion Dance Retreats
We call these retreats “Immersions” because that is exactly what you will do: step away from the outside world and fully immerse yourself in movement, community, and epic live DJ sets. Each Immersion offers a unique conscious dance experience, guided in the way only the DTM Team can.
The idea is simple: a group of dancers gathers in a beautiful location, connected by a central theme, and together creates something new and magical each and every time.
Each Immersion will be hosted by Bernice, DTM founder, and special guest members of the DTM Team. The retreat will combine a familiar structure with a fresh, evolving focus.
As is the DTM way, we will always begin our days with dance, while the activities and practices throughout the day shift from retreat to retreat. There will be space for connection, exploration, and rest, but always, we will dance at least twice a day, usually more, and always to gorgeously prepared sets.
The unique combination of location, practices, theme, and people makes every retreat a distinct experience, one that dancers can return to time and again.
This is a conscious, free-form dance practice, often popularly called ‘Ecstatic Dance’. There is no choreography or steps to learn, and no prior experience is required. You simply need a willingness to move, explore, and be part of the experience.
Ultimately, it is the group field — the shared creation of every human who shows up to be a part of the experience — that generates the transformative power of each Immersion.
It will not be the same without you.
To preserve the intimacy and depth of the experience, each retreat is capped at 40 participants.
This Immersion's Unique Theme
CONEXION
Connection to self, to each other, to community, and to the land: these are the four dances we will explore during our time at the Le Hameau de l’Étoile.
Through these four layers of connection, we come to better know ourselves, deepen our relationships with each other, rediscover the joy of being alive when we prioritize a sense of belonging.
At Dance The Medicine, we believe connection is at the heart of health, and what better way to cultivate it than through dancing!
Join us in the stunning Occitanie region in the south of France for a joyful immersion of conscious dance, delicious gourmet food, sunshine, poolside relaxation, and meaningful connection.
The work of creating community is important, lets do it by being playful, nourishing ourselves and having a whole lot of fun.
Come dance, connect, and celebrate the joy of being together.
What's Included
6 Days of Dance & Live DJed Music
We begin each day with dance, a practice we call Morning Movement, and return to dance again throughout the day at different times and in different spaces — indoors and outdoors — guided by the rhythm of the retreat. All dances are accompanied by impeccably curated live DJ sets.
Professional Facilitation
We will offer both dance-based and non-dance-based sessions, each relating to the theme and the evolving arc of the immersion. Non-dance-based sessions may include meditation, group process work, nature immersion, creative processes, and more. Every session is held by experienced facilitators, creating a thoughtful and supportive environment where you can meet your edges, awaken your creativity, and discover new parts of yourself.
Healthy, Nutritious Meals
The cost of the retreat includes 15 shared meals. We choose venues that value whole, nourishing food, using local and organic ingredients whenever possible. Meals will be vegetarian, with vegan options available, as well as accommodations for special dietary requirements.
Community Living
We offer this immersion as an opportunity to dance with the broader conscious dance community. While our organization focuses on conscious dance education, we recognize that some of you are seeking a chance to dance together and experience the depth, care, and connection that defines our work. This immersion offers that space. We will move, live, and journey together in a well-held and intentional container. Whether you have trained with us before, are considering it in the future, or are just discovering Dance The Medicine, you are welcome.
Immersion Pricing
Early Registration Price – €895
(Available until 17th December 2026)
Regular Immersion Price – €1,095
A €300 deposit is required to book and we offer flexible payment plans.
Accommodation is booked separately. Please see the options below.
We offer work trade opportunities for alumni. For more information, click here.
The Location
Le Hameau de l'Étoile is a peaceful, 12th-century eco-retreat nestled across 20 hectares of pristine, wooded countryside just north of Montpellier, in the south of France.
Designed as a true sanctuary for rejuvenation, in your free time you can unwind by the large outdoor swimming pool, find a quiet spot on one of the panoramic sun terraces, or stroll along the tranquil banks of the bordering Lamalou river.
With breathtaking views of the rugged Séranne mountain ridge, it provides the perfect backdrop to reconnect with yourself, your body, and nature, or to simply immerse yourself in the profound stillness of the French countryside.
Accommodation includes all meals and full access to the communal areas, with prices starting from €425, excluding tourist tax.
Please note: Accommodation must be booked directly with the venue. See below for booking details. Prices are set by the venue and may be subject to change.
Accommodation options:
Shared Room w/Shared Bathroom • €425
Share a room with up to 6 people. Share a communal bathroom.
Twin Timber Shed w/Shared Bathroom • €425
Share an timber shed with one other. Share a communal bathroom.
Shared Room w/Shared Bathroom • €475
Share a room with up to 4 people. Share a communal bathroom.
Single Timber Shed w/Shared Bathroom • €485
Your own timber shed. Share a communal bathroom.
Twin Room w/Private Bathroom • €550
Share a timber shed with one other, with a private bathroom.
Twin Chalet Cassine • €600
Share a wooden chalet with one other, with a private bathroom.
Private Room • €875
Your own room with a private bathroom.
After booking and paying your deposit our student liaison will assist you in selecting accommodation, which will be booked directly with the venue.
For any questions prior to booking, please email info@dancethemedicine.com or see the FAQs below for details on what to bring.
Your Facilitators
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.
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.
TÉTÉ ARBUÉS MOREIRA • Systemic Dance & Somatic Experiencing®
Tété is a sensitive, empathic soul who loves to dance, create, and care; an artist, the mother of three sons, and a therapist. A citizen of the world, born in Portugal. Her work is born from visual creation and deepens through listening to the body, ancestry, and the soul. Her main tools are Systemic Consciousness (Family Constellations), integrated with a somatic approach (Somatic Experiencing®) and shamanic practices, where the sound of the drum acts as an ancestral pulse. She conducts conscious dance experiences within the scope of Systemic Dance, a practice for deep connection, feeling, expressing, and transforming through the wisdom of the body. Together these tools support processes of deep reconnection with the body and personal and family history, bringing clarity to our place within the system and the world, in service of life and love.
WHAT OUR RETREATANTS SAY
Roni, Ireland
Inception Immersion Retreat 2026
I had such a profound experience in this immersion, I cannot recommend it enough. Bernice and the team created such a rich, transformative retreat, where we have all been each other's witnesses both in and outside the dance floor. I came out of it with so much inspiration, insight and memories for a lifetime. I also loved the venue and the connection to nature. Can't wait to be back...
Emmet, Ireland
Inception Immersion Retreat 2026
This is such a safe space of freedom that I have only experienced at Dance the Medicine events... It really amazes me how within such a short space of time a bunch of strangers can become so tight knit... connections are made that allow difficult stories to be shared... vulnerabilities are loved just as much as strengths... I felt I had transcended into a divine experience... brief moments of bliss where everything made sense in the human experience... So for anyone thinking about going to a Dance the Medicine Event. Just book it.
Regine, UAE
Inception Immersion Retreat 2026
What can I say… it was magical, transcending, heart opening, real, raw, magical, transformative and I can keep going. The venue was beautiful, the people in the group phenomenal. The dances filled our hearts. It was too short!!!
More Info
How to get to Le Hameau de l’Etoile
ADDRESS
Le Hameau de l’Etoile
Route de Frouzet
34380 Saint-Martin-de-Londres
FRANCE
CONTACT
(+33) 4 67 55 75 73
CLOSEST AIRPORTS
Montpellier–Méditerranée Airport (MPL). Located about 45 km southeast of the retreat centre (approx. a 40-minute drive).
SELF-TRANSPORT
If you are travelling to the venue by yourself, please see the visit the venue's "access" page here, which explains the best way to arrive at the venue by air, car, bus, taxi and train.
WHAT TO BRING
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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!
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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 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
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Toiletries (only natural, biodegradable products please)
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Ear plugs (if sharing accommodation)
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Two talismans
FAQ
→ I'm coming from abroad. Do we need a visa to enter France?
Mostly likely you will not. But be sure to check with your own government and your own 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 immersion is inclusive, and we strive to create a culture of belonging through group exercises and daily sharing circles.
→ Is this a festival?
No. Festivals are typically larger, with multiple programs and flexible attendance; meals are usually not communal. Our retreat is a closed container—we begin and end together. Participation is limited to foster a more intimate experience. There is one shared program, and all activities, including meals, are communal. This retreat is an invitation to dive deeper into your practice and disconnect from the outside world.
→ 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 25 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 booking to someone?
If you 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 immersion 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.
Immersion Overview
Please note: The following is an example schedule. As this is an immersive retreat, the exact timing may shift, but all elements of the overall program will be included.
Day 1 • WELCOME
Make your way to Le Hameau de l'Étoile, our stunning retreat centre.
15:00–17:00 Upon arrival, check in with our team, settle into your accommodation explore the grounds.
17:30–19:30 Gather to meet the team, your fellow retreatants, and share our first full dance.
20:00–21:00 Gather in the dining tent for our first meal together.
21:30–22:30 We’ll share practical points and introduce you to your small group.
Day 2 • INWARD
9:00–10:00 Morning Movement. We always start our day with dance.
10:15–10:45 Fuel your body with a hearty breakfast.
11:30–13:30 Our second full dance session. We end the session by meeting in small groups.
14:00–14:30 Enjoy a filling and delicious midday meal.
14:30–16:00 Free time. Lounge by the pool, swim, write in your journal, reflect, meditate, and integrate the morning session.
16:30–18:30 Non-dance-based session involving art or nature, or a somatic session.
19:00–20:00 Back at the dining room for a wholesome dinner.
21:00–21:30 A group check-in before bed.
Day 3 • OUTWARD
9:00–10:00 Morning Movement.
10:15–10:45 Fuel your body with a hearty breakfast.
11:30–13:30 A nature-based session.
14:00–14:30 Enjoy a filling and delicious midday meal.
14:30–18:30 Begin with small groups and end with an afternoon off to enjoy the pool, retreat grounds, or simply relax.
19:00–20:00 Back at the dining room for a wholesome dinner.
21:00–22:30 Our third full dance session at the heart of the immersion.
Day 4 • UPWARD
9:00–10:00 Morning Movement.
10:15–10:45 Enjoy a hearty breakfast.
11:30–13:30 Our fourth full dance session, a social activation. We end the session by meeting in small groups.
14:00–14:30 Enjoy a filling and delicious midday meal.
14:30–16:00 Free time. Use this time to enjoy the pool, journal, meditate, or simply relax.
16:30–18:30 Take part in a non-dance-based session, a celebration.
19:00–20:00 Back at the dining room for a wholesome dinner.
21:00–21:30 A visualization session to ready you for the dream state.
Day 5 • ONWARD
9:00–10:00 Morning Movement.
10:15–10:45 Enjoy a hearty breakfast.
11:30–13:30 Take part in a non-dance-based session building on the theme to begin the process of group integration.
14:00–14:30 Enjoy a filling and delicious midday meal.
14:30–16:00 Free time. Use this time to enjoy the pool, journal, meditate, or simply relax.
16:30–18:30 Our fifth full dance session, the beginning of the end of our time.
19:00–20:00 Back at the dining room for a wholesome dinner.
21:00–21:30 A closing circle session to ready us for our final day.
Day 6 • INTEGRATION
9:00–10:00 Packing time.
10:15–10:45 Fuel your body with a hearty breakfast.
11:00–13:00 Dance your heart out in our final full dance session and closing ritual.
13:30–14:30 Enjoy your last meal at Le Hameau de l'Étoile and exchange numbers with your new family.
14:30–15:00 Pack your bags and take in the majestic view before saying goodbye.