Spring Awakening Retreat 2026
A Deep-Dive Ecstatic Dance, Embodiment & Wellness Immersion
Wednesday 8th April – Sunday 12th April
Gillingham, North Dorset · 2h from London
Awaken Your Body, Mind & Spirit This Spring
Step into spring with four days of deep embodiment, ecstatic dance, nature connection and inner renewal. Held in the heart of the Dorset countryside, Spring Awakening is an intimate transformational retreat where movement, music and community come together to open the body, uplift the spirit and reawaken your creative life force.
This is not a festival, it’s a spacious, heart-centred personal growth immersion with 50–70 wonderful humans, held in a warm, grounded, alcohol-free environment. Whether you join us for the full retreat or the weekend, Spring Awakening offers the perfect reset after winter and a joyful return to aliveness.
What to Expect
Across four days, you’ll journey through a rich, diverse programme of embodiment, wellbeing and movement practices designed to support emotional release, nervous system regulation, deep connection and creative expression.
Workshops take place across two beautiful spaces: Zorba, our indoor workshop hall, and our marquee, plus outdoor sessions among ancient oak trees and spring blossoms when the weather allows.
Throughout the retreat, you’ll experience:
Movement & Expression
Ecstatic Dance sessions & evening dances ✧ Trance dance rituals ✧ Authentic movement ✧ Yoga, stretching & morning movement practices
Healing & Intergration
Active meditations ✧ Breathwork journeys ✧ Bioenergetic Alchemy™ ✧ Sound journeys ✧ Singing circles & vocal awakening ✧ Saunas & cold plunges
Community & Nature
Conscious touch & connection ✧ Campfires, community spaces & soulful connection ✧ Nature walks & outdoor integration time ✧ Cacao ceremonies
Between workshops, there is spacious free time for sauna, nature, journaling, massages (extra cost), café treats, resting on sofas and integrating at your own pace.
A Seasonal Reset
Spring is a natural moment of expansion: a time when energy rises, blossoms return, and the body begins to open after winter. This retreat supports you to:
- release emotional stagnation
- reawaken creativity and life force
- reconnect with nature and joyful movement
- ground into your body with clarity
- step into the season with intention and renewed vitality
It’s a gentle, embodied reboot; nourishing, inspiring, and deeply human.
Who Is This Ecstatic Dance Retreat For?
This retreat is open to everyone; no dance or meditation experience needed. It’s especially supportive for:
- people seeking a meaningful spring reset
- those wanting to deepen their embodiment practice
- anyone craving nature, movement and connection
- individuals feeling stressed or disconnected
- people longing for a sober, nourishing community space
- curious newcomers ready to explore ecstatic dance & somatic healing
You’ll be welcomed exactly as you are.
The Venue
Our retreat takes place at The Leela Personal Development Centre in Gillingham, Dorset — a peaceful, heart-led community set among rolling fields and ancient trees.
The grounds offer:
- three indoor workshop spaces
- a marquee and opportunities for outdoor sessions
- beautiful nature, walking trails and open skies
- a wood-fired sauna (evenings + select daytime sessions)
- cosy communal areas, sofas & hangout spaces
- a vegetarian kitchen serving delicious meals
- showers, toilets & power sockets throughout
- an onsite coffee & cake shop run by the Leela community
Camping is included, with upgraded accommodation available.
The venue is just a 10-minute drive from Gillingham station, an easy 2-hour direct train from London. Free car parking is available, and we provide a WhatsApp lift-share group for attendees.
Your Facilitators
Your retreat will be lovingly held by Seth Newman and Diana Upite, co-creators of URUBU School of Transformational Arts and Ecstatic Dance London.
Seth Newman
Retreat Host · Facilitator · DJ · Coach
Seth has been leading Ecstatic Dance, Active Meditations, Bioenergetics and embodiment workshops since 2009. With a background in humanistic therapies, body psychotherapy and transpersonal psychology (and decades of experience as a musician and DJ) Seth holds powerful, heart-centred movement spaces that support deep release, play and authentic connection.
Diana Upite
Retreat Host · Sound Journey Guide · Vocalist
Diana is a singer, musician and facilitator with a passion for sound, rest and nervous system nourishment.
She guides sound journeys, singing circles, sauna rituals, cacao ceremonies and creative spaces that gently invite participants back into their hearts. She is also known for crafting the most velvety raw cacao in town.
Together, Seth & Diana hold a warm, trauma-aware, welcoming space where you can explore movement, creativity and connection at your own pace.
They are joined by:
To be Confirmed
Bodywork & Massage
Coming Soon
Darpan
Gong Bath Facilitator
From the Leela Community
To be Confirmed
Yoga teachers
Coming Soon
Prabuddho
Active Meditations
From the Leela Community
To be Confirmed
Workshop facilitators
Coming Soon
To be Confirmed
Ecstatic Dance DJ’s
Coming Soon
Pricing & Booking
Super Earlybird: £400 | Earlybird: £440 | Regular: £480
Weekend-Only (Fri–Sun): £260
Reserve your space with a £20 deposit today. The remaining balance is due at the end of February 2026 via an emailed booking link.
❋ Includes workshops, meals, sauna, teas, cacao
❋ Camping included
❋ Accommodation upgrades available
Spaces are limited to keep the retreat intimate.
Early booking strongly recommended.
Having trouble booking your ticket? Click here to reserve your space directly on Eventbrite.
Have Questions?
Check out our information below for more details.
If you can’t find an answer to your question, check out our EventBrite listing for more information.
Camping Included
- Bring your own tent
- Access to showers & facilities
Shared Dorms
- From £10/night
Deluxe Dorms & Private Rooms
- From £20–£40/night
Accommodation details released Dec 20.
7:00 — Yoga / Active Meditation
8:00 — Breakfast
9:30 — Workshops & Dance
13:00 — Lunch
14:30 — Free Time / Sauna / Nature / Massages
18:30 — Dinner
20:00 — Evening Ecstatic Dance
22:00 — Campfire / Sauna / Creative Spaces
Once you’ve reserved your ticket, you’ll receive an email with further information about your booking.
You’ll receive a link that will take you to the our hosts booking website, The Leela Centre. Full payment of your ticket will be required by end of February.
If you have more questions, or want to read more about this beautiful retreat, head over to our EventBrite Page here
Do I need any experience to join the retreat?
No experience at all is required. The Spring Awakening Retreat is designed for complete beginners and seasoned movers alike. All workshops — including ecstatic dance, breathwork, active meditations and sound journeys — are guided with care and offered in a trauma-aware, accessible way. You’re welcome exactly as you are.
What is included in my retreat ticket?
Your ticket includes all workshops, sauna sessions, cacao ceremonies, chai and unlimited teas, plus three nourishing vegetarian meals per day (12 meals total for the full retreat). Camping is included, and optional accommodation upgrades (shared dorms, deluxe dorms, private rooms) are available at an additional cost.
Can I attend just for the weekend?
Yes. You can book the Weekend-Only Retreat from Friday 10 April – Sunday 12 April 2026. This includes all weekend workshops, meals, evening dances, sauna time and activities. Please note that accommodation for weekend-only guests is limited and prioritised for full retreat participants.
Where is the retreat held and how do I get there?
The retreat takes place at The Leela Personal Development Centre in Gillingham, North Dorset — a beautiful nature-rich venue just 10 minutes from Gillingham train station.
By car: Free onsite parking is available.
Attendees will receive a WhatsApp lift-share group a few weeks before the retreat.
By train: 2 hours direct from London Waterloo. Taxis to the venue cost under £10.
What is the accommodation like?
You can choose from:
- Camping (included) — bring your own tent
- Shared Dorms — from £10/night
- Deluxe Dorms — from £20/night
- Private Rooms — from £40/night
All accommodation options have access to shared bathrooms, hot showers and cosy communal spaces. Bedding is provided for indoor accommodation.
What should I bring to the retreat?
We recommend:
- Comfortable clothes for movement and dancing
- Layers + warm evening wear
- A swimsuit/towel for sauna
- Torch or headlamp
- Yoga mat & blanket
- Reusable water bottle
- Camping gear if applicable
- Natural toiletries
- Acoustic instruments (optional)
- Snacks if you want extras between meals
A full “What to Bring” list will be emailed after booking.
Where is the retreat held and how do I get there?
The retreat provides three delicious vegetarian meals daily, with vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free options clearly labelled. Meals are freshly prepared onsite and designed to nourish your body through the full retreat. Unlimited teas are available, and the community café offers coffee and cakes (extra cost).
Ecstatic Dance Spring Retreat FAQ’s
Have more questions that aren’t included in our FAQs? Get in touch with us here and we’d be happy to help answer your queries.
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