DMB Retreat

2026

A dance escape in Greece

Movement and connection in the Cretan sun

If you are craving a few bright days before winter arrives, this retreat offers a gentle pause to reconnect with your body, your breath, and the people around you. It is designed for those who want movement that feels freeing rather than demanding, and real connection without pressure or performance.

No dance experience is required — only curiosity and a quiet willingness to say yes.

This is your pause

Over three full days, you will be guided through embodied movement, breath, voice, and shared experience. The journey begins softly, with space to settle back into breath and body, then unfolds into:

• Breath-led creative movement to support vitality, expression, and ease
• Improvisation with movement, voice, and others, moving from solo exploration into shared dance
• Embodied integration and ritual, including emotional processing, social dances, and creating your own choreography

There is time for solo exploration and for moving together. There is structure and play. There is depth and laughter.

When

11-15 November 2026

4 nights

Arrival evening: 11 November
Practice days: 12–14 November
Departure morning: 15 November

Where

Armonia Retreat Center, in the village of Douliana on the island of Crete, Greece.

Expect Mediterranean sunlight, olive trees and stone houses, warm November air, shared meals outdoors, and quiet mornings followed by starry evenings. It is a place to step away from routine and return to presence.

Why

Sometimes what we need most is beautifully simple: sun on the skin, movement in the body, voices in the same room, and breath shared.

This retreat invites you to step out of daily noise and into something essential — movement, expression, and human connection. You may arrive alone, and you will not feel alone here.

Investment & booking

Accommodation is in shared 3- or 4-bed rooms with private bathrooms on the grounds of Armonia Retreat Center.

Meals are included each day: nutritious vegetarian and vegan buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner made with local ingredients.

Early Bird: €995 (only 3 spots)
Regular Price: €1295
Deposit: €290

Limited places available.

Retreat flow

Day 1 - Arrival

• Welcome circle
• Gentle opening movement
• Cretan and Romanian social dances

Day 2 - Breath & Creative Movement

• Connecting breath and movement for vitality
• Afternoon creative session
• Time to rest, explore, or enjoy the sun

Day 3 - Voice & Improvisation

• Breath and voice for somatic expression
• Improvisation with movement and sound in solo, duet, and group

Day 4 - Body Wisdom & Creation

• Using the body to process emotions
• Movement to find balance in body and mind
• Crafts and dance to create your own choreography as a closing ritual

Day 5 - Departure

• Breakfast and check-out by 11:00am
• Optional hike or bathing in the sea before heading home

Armonia Retreat Center

Beauty, serenity, and playfulness.

Frequently asked questions

• Do I need dance experience? No. This is about presence and exploration, not technique.
• Can I attend with a friend or partner? Yes. You are welcome to join together while still being invited into individual and group exploration.
• Will there be free time? Yes. There is space to rest, walk, journal, or simply sit in the sun.
• What is included? Accommodation, all meals, and all sessions.
• What are the daily session times? Facilitated sessions take place from 9:00–12:00 in the morning and 16:00–19:00 in the afternoon/early evening. Lunch is served at 12:30 and dinner at 19:30, leaving space to rest, enjoy the sun, or simply be in between.

Getting to the retreat

• Flying to Chania (CHQ) is the closest and easiest option. From there, you can take a taxi directly to Douliana, or travel via Chania city by bus and continue onward.
• Flying to Heraklion (HER) requires travel to Chania first by coach, then continuing to Douliana by bus or taxi.
• Shared transfers can be arranged with the retreat center for small groups on arrival and departure days.

The team

Dr Katerina Kandylaki
Facilitator

Bridging dance, neuroscience, and creativity, Katerina offers a nurturing space where you can soften, explore, and come home to your body's natural intelligence.

Fotis Savvopoulos
Chef

For Fotis, cooking is a form of caring. From street food to high-end kitchens, he blends creativity and love into every bite, nourishing both body and spirit.

Katerina Vakonaki
Concierge

Passionate about dance, movement, and nature, Katerina brings care to the retreat and supports the sessions and daily life.

We look forward to welcoming you in Crete.