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DANCES OF UNIVERSAL PEACE RETREAT AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING
Join us in co-creating nurturing, inspiring sangha, in the beauty of the Northwest rainforest.
Learn to lead the Dances, play drum, be a Dance musician, or just come to support those who are learning, and enjoy.
Bonney Lake, WA
with
Dance Mentor
Elizabeth Dequine
and
Senior Dance Mentor and
Sheikha Amara Karuna
Registration will open June 2025
Deepen into the Dances of Universal Peace, meditation, zikr, Sufi and other spiritual practices for a sweet and renewing weekend.
Each practice will be fully taught, no experience is necessary. If you cannot dance, sit and sing!
Sharing hearts: Enjoy the company of those inclined to a spiritual path, with deep discussion and connection
Relax: and really enjoy a renewing vacation, with time for meditation, song and interfaith prayer.
Enjoy the beauty of a rural northwest rainforest.
Guest Dance leaders are welcome! You can join in creating shared afternoon Dance sessions, where you can share new dances. We appreciate you supporting the emerging Dance leaders.
We have spaces in the early mornings for participants to lead morning practice/ yoga.
We welcome all people, regardless of race, sexual orientation, gender identity, vaccination status or socioeconomics. We strive to make this a safe and welcoming spot for all those in our community.
We are not set up to accept children at this camp, so the minimum age of attendance is 14.
We will be staying at a rural retreat center called Wildfern Grove, that has a yurt for meeting in, and a large lawn as well for dancing.
The site is rustic, with outhouse toilets and a lovely hot tub. There are short walks between all the buildings.
The yurts do not have running water, but most have electric.
Those at Wildfern Grove are an intentional co-housing community and they live in a beautiful forested sanctuary that allows them an immersive experience in nature. Their mission is to connect humans in an environment that offers a foundation to bring out our best.
We have many wonderful offerings to delight you, presented by our very skilled leaders and other guest teachers including:
Dances of Universal Peace
Singing and chanting sacred, ancient phrases creates a heart opening, full body healing vibration, and when conscious movement is added it becomes a powerful spiritual practice.
All levels welcome, no previous dance experience necessary.
Drumming Training
Dance Musicianship Training with Zarifah
Experienced Leaders Sharing new Dances
Leaders in training will have opportunities to practice leading Foundation Dances and give and receive feedback on technique.
We have room for 6 Dance leaders in training and several musicians. You will be sent a separate letter to prepare a foundation dance to present.
Rumi Cafe and Creativity Sharing
Come and share your songs, poems, dance, stories or skits! Let's entertain and inspire each other!
Community Service: Everyone contributes a bit of service to help camp run smoothly. This can include tidying shared spaces, etc.
We ask that people give an amount that is both generous and joyful.
If you are unable to contribute at bottom of the sliding scale, please contact us – we may be able to work something out!
We have a few openings for part time work trade.
Those of you who are able to pay at the higher end of the sliding scale enable us to hold this retreat in a spirit of generosity and inclusiveness. Then we can give some discounts to others.
Part Time: (only if we have space)
These do not include meals or lodging. Dorm accommodations, private tents or yurts can be rented for extra cost.
TO APPLY: Fill out the application and send payment.
If you want part time, wait until you are confirmed.
Final payment deadline is August 20th at the latest.
You can use Venmo, Credit cards or Checks. We prefer checks.
More payment info will be sent when you register.
Extra nights- You can choose to spend an extra night before the retreat for additional charge, at the cost of $55 per night for camping or $100 per night for indoors. Arrange this with the venue by contacting Amara.
One Day Tickets are available if we have space. Preference given to full retreat participants. We have room for about 35 people.
One day and one evening Tickets will be on a waiting list and you will be notified if we have space. So no need to send payment until you are confirmed.
There are only full weekend tickets for residential stays because of limited indoor space.
Safe Container: It is essential that everyone attending the full retreat be at Orientation which begins the first evening.
Early Departure: If you can't stay for the entire time, DIF retreat can still be a sweet connective experience. There is no discount for leaving early.
Youth Tickets Full Retreat ages 14-18: Please attend if you want to participate in the main program, as there will not be a separate youth program. We may have some scholarship funds available, and can recommend other places to apply for scholarships such as:Ruhaniat's Next Gen Sufi's has a scholarship fund for Dance Camps - apply six weeks ahead: https://nextgensufis.org/scholarships
Refunds
Substitutions of attendees may be made at any time. Attendees must cancel by midnight, Pacific time, August 5th, 2025 to receive a full refund minus $50 cancellation fee per person.
Cancellation requests received after August 5th, 2025 and before August 20th, will be refunded half of the fee, unless we can fill your spot. In which case you will get all but $50 back.
Cancellation requests received after August 20th, 2025 or failure to appear for the event will result in forfeiture of the entire fee, unless we can fill your spot. In which case you will get all but $50 back.
Stay in your own home and commute.
An offsite option of a private room in a nearby vacation rental is also a possibility.
The site is close to Olympia, WA as well as Seattle.
Accommodations on site
include a dorm bed (foam floor mat, on the side of a workout gym, bring your bedding, unless you wish to rent some from us),
or bring your own tent or RV. Or rent our tent.
Rent a space in a yurt, we have several available at an extra cost. ($100 per night for up to 3 people). They have water dispensers and are lined with felted yak wool! Queen bed, and more floor mats can be added as beds.
Please inquire to Amara for the list of available places.
Airport Pickups: We can provide pick ups from the SeaTac airport, which is 1 hour away from the site, for $50 per trip for one person, or $30 per person if more than one. This provides a benefit to those who can arrive on the afternoon of the beginning of camp. If you arrive at an odd time, expect to get an Uber or Taxi.
We will help with carpooling as well.
Weather: Typically changeable. Expect hot to cold and wet to dry. Mostly wet.
We will be taking steps to insure all of our health safety, including:
*requesting a period of you moving in a relatively tight bubble at least 5 days beforehand:
*refraining from risky practices such as going to large events,
*avoiding anyone who is sick,
*We will probably not do a rapid testing of everyone the day the event starts at the site, since we find them to be inaccurate and ineffective at preventing outbreaks, The best prevention is to take care of our health beforehand.
*If you have any symptoms of illness, please do not come to the event.
For the prepared dinners: We provide a variety of dishes to cover the various dietary needs of today's health issues, but we are not able to cater to all special diets.
Dinners are available Friday, Saturday and Sunday for $20 each.
Please list special requirements on the registration form and our kitchen coordinator will reach out to you as needed.
Leave at Home: Alcohol or recreational drugs, valuables of any sort, pets of any make or size.
Participatory Music: All music-making is encouraged & greatly appreciated. Bring your instruments, voices, and talents. Be the live music & let's celebrate you!
There will be a quiet time curfew of around 10 pm, because of our neighbors.
Personal Foods: There will be limited room for personal food in one refrigerator and shelf space.
Please bring your own food that is easy to prepare, including coffee if you want it. If you are staying overnight, please bring your own food and/or sign up for the dinners for $20 each. We have access to a full kitchen but it may be crowded as everyone works to prepare meals.
Snacks will include fresh fruit, crackers, nuts and seeds.
We request that you store sufficient but not excessive amounts of food in the fridge and that you keep your items compact and well-organized.
Please bring your own cooler and Ice bottles/packs. In addition, there will be space available for non-refrigerated items.
Registration will open in June, 2025.
Amara has been leading the Dances of Universal Peace since 1985 and is a Senior Dance Leader, and has been involved in mentoring new Dance leaders.
She has been on teaching staff for five NW Sufi Camps has led many weekend retreats, zikrs and rituals which included the Dances.
She served as Secretary, and then President, on the Core of the International Council for the Dances of Universal Peace, working as a volunteer to oversee the organization for several years.
She specializes in Dances from the Goddess and Earth traditions, and leads with lively humor and devotion. She is a Sheikha in the SRI lineage of Sufism.
Elizabeth Dequine is a very experienced dance leader and mentor of Dances of Universal Peace. She has lead dance leader training and retreats in Guatemala, México and the United States. Her leading style is joyful and the heart. Her greatest joy is mentoring new leaders.
Angelic Gloria Dance
Amara's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW1Z6osOvEe2r6AOR9TEMfA
Playlist of Gayan leading
See a playlist here... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9D11EA4211E8A11B
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