Diving Deep, Flying High
A week-long retreat for Solo Dance, Contact Improvisation, and Somatic Research
September 20-26
Ponderosa (Stolzenhagen, Germany)
With Šuka Horn
This retreat is dedicated to the study of dancing—alone and with others.
While there are many reasons to dance, we will focus on the intrinsic joy of movement that emerges when dancing is approached as an infinite game. With the somatic emphasis on listening to the signals of your body and the aim of becoming adaptive movers, this approach is not concerned with how the dance looks from the outside. A certain aesthetic may arise as a consequence of the principles we embody—but this remains a side effect. We will not chase it by trying to look a certain way. Instead, we will carefully study the mechanics of the body and the use of attention, with the aim of moving better and learning to savor the experience of dancing more fully.
The retreat is grounded in the premise that solo dance and Contact Improvisation can mutually enhance and enrich one another.
You can expect six hours each day exploring the following topics:
❋ Somatic Research
By refining our capacity to listen to and interact with our sensations, we develop a heightened sensitivity to the needs and abilities of our bodies in the moment.
This attunement becomes the foundation for navigating challenging, dynamic movement scenarios skillfully and safely. It is also essential for our emotional intelligence and self-reflective capacity.
❋ Dancing Inside Out & Upside Down
Rather than focusing on performing for an audience, we will approach dancing as an embodied examination and celebration of our anatomy and the physics of motion.
Through floorwork, rhythmic phrases in standing, and soft acrobatics, we will study fundamental principles of movement that can greatly enhance movement quality, not just in dancing but also in other contexts.
❋ Contact Improvisation
Dancing with others brings in relationship, negotiation, and shared exploration—along with a healthy dose of chaos. This is good news, as learning to engage skillfully with chaos is one of the most enjoyable aspects of movement practice.
We will explore key principles and techniques of contact improvisation, alongside different ways of relating to our experience and to the unfolding of the dance.
Each day will also include some time for free jamming.
Moving together in these ways has the potential to deepen our sense of empathy, care, and connection, while pointing us toward the joy of shared adventure.
Quick Overview
Schedule
Sunday · 20 September
Arrival from 16:00
Welcome Dinner at 19:00
Monday–Friday · 21–25 September
6 hours of practice per day
Saturday · 26 September
Breakfast & Check-out until 11:00
For Whom?
People with experience in both Solo Dancing and Contact Improvisation
Pricing
Retreat Fee
Sliding scale from 360–620 €
(depending on registration date)
Accomodation
135–230 € for the full week
(depending on room type)
Food
Optional organic catering: 265 € for the full week
(Vegan and vegetarian options available)
You can also cook for yourself and use the kitchen on site.
Who is it for?
This retreat is open to anyone with a regular dance practice and at least basic knowledge of both solo dancing and Contact Improvisation. You do not need to be a professional dancer, but if you are a complete beginner, this is not a good entry point. In any case, we will be a group with varying experience levels. I will offer several variations to each exercise in order to meet everybody where they are.
About Šuka
Šuka Horn was born and raised in Germany, where he began his early training in martial arts and music. His passions found a meeting point when he discovered breakdancing at the age of 12. This love for dance eventually led him to earn a degree in Dance from Codarts University in Rotterdam. After performing in projects across Thailand, Spain, and the Netherlands, Šuka relocated to Athens in 2020 to join Dimitris Papaioannou’s production, Transverse Orientation. This collaboration led to another creation: INK, a duet performed with Papaioannou himself.
During this time, Šuka also developed a deeper interest in meditation, which led him to begin an ongoing mentoring process as a private student of Mushtaq Ali al Ansari, supporting his journey toward awake living. He also deepened his studies of the human body and movement training with Frey Faust. After touring the world for five years with Papaioannou’s productions and conducting his own workshops, Šuka decided to move to Leipzig to focus solely on developing his research and teaching. His workshops and retreats have been held in universities, dance companies, festivals, and studios in more than 20 countries.
About the Location
"Ponderosa is an art-centered place in the German countryside, in the village of Stolzenhagen, around an hour on the train from Berlin, close to the border with Poland. For 20 years it has been a site where people gather and exchange in and with the stunning natural beauty of Brandenburg. Through a history of deep involvement with dance, contact improvisation, yoga, and international and regional artistic exchange, Ponderosa is a place where the theory and practices of dance, performance, somatics and contemporary art making merge.“ https://www.ponderosa-dance.de/
Meal and Food Options
Dinner on the arrival day is included for all participants.
There is the option to book full organic catering for the entire week at an additional cost of 265€. The meals can be vegetarian, vegan, or include some meat from a local butcher.
If you prefer to cook for yourself, you are welcome to use the communal kitchen. Please note that the nearest grocery store is 10 kilometers away, but there's the option to rent a bike.
Accomodation
You will stay in a shared dorm at Speicher Guesthouse, a peaceful house located within walking distance of the studio.
The ground floor provides a spacious common area with an open kitchen, tables and a lounge, where we are going to have our meals together. The house opens into a garden that can be used for relaxing, socializing, or enjoying some quiet time outdoors. Click here to learn more about the accomodation: https://www.ponderosa-dance.de/location/accommodation/
Bed linens are provided. Please bring your own towels.
A limited number of beds in double or single rooms are available in a seminar house close to the Speicher Guesthouse and Studio.
You can also choose to sleep in wooden Garden Cabins or in your own tent.
Pricing & Registrations
The retreat fee is offered on a sliding scale to make participation accessible for people with limited financial resources. This is based on the idea that participants in a stronger financial position may choose to contribute more than the minimum amount.
You are free to choose any amount within the following ranges:
Retreat Fee
Includes dinner on the arrival day, but does not include accommodation or full catering.
Early Bird — 360–520 €
(until July 5)
Medium Bird — 420–580 €
(until August 10)
Late Bird — 470–620 €
(after August 10)
Accommodation Options
You can choose between the following accommodation options.
Dorm: 135 € for the whole week
Double Room: 195 € per person for the whole week
Single Room: 230 € per person for the whole week
There is a limited number of beds available in double or single rooms.
Optional Catering
Full organic catering for the entire week is available for an additional 265 €.
Vegan and vegetarian options are available. You can indicate your dietary preference in the registration form below.
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel your registration before June 20, 2026, you will receive a refund minus a 50€ cancellation fee. After this date, cancellations are non-refundable except in cases of genuine emergencies. However, you are welcome to transfer your spot to someone else at any time.
Questions?
Feel free to reach out to Lulu, who is organizing the event, at luisa.moebus@posteo.de