Andrea Olsen and Mandoline Whittlesey met in the summer of 2001 at Bates Dance Festival on the Atlantic coast in Maine, USA. Andrea was leading a three-week intensive, Writing Down the Bones, interweaving writing with Authentic Movement. Mandoline was studying creative writing and dance at Oberlin College. A shared love of embodied language, somatic intelligence and mystery has brought them here, 24 years later !

The wild sand dunes of Saint Jean Trolimon by the Atlantic Ocean have been a beloved site for Authentic Movement since 2012. Mandoline has been hosting retreats there every summer, exploring geological, biological, cultural, and mythological landscapes, inner and outer

We intend to share these loves, and the way they can enter into dialogue : the gifts of embodiment, experience-based language (written, spoken, read), connecting to place and to each other… All the while trusting in the participation of what we do not know and all that holds us in time and space.

Venue : Gîtes de Tronoen

The « Gîtes de Tronoën » are four houses built on the sand dune. The ocean is ten minutes away by foot, and there are several small villages around for basic amenities (bakery, pharmacy etc).

www.lesgitesdetronoen.fr

You will be sharing double rooms, with four people per gîte. Beds will be made, but you must bring towels.

Each person/gîte will organize their own meals, with some taken all together at a nearby creperie if desired. We’ll organize on-site food shopping (this is usually fun 🙂 )

Arrivals and Departures

Arrivals on Sunday August 24^th, in the afternoon. Arriving here takes some time ! Most people travel over two days… Please plan to arrive at the gîtes between 3 and 6pm.

Departures on Saturday 30^th, in the morning.

You will find the map here : http://www.lesgitesdetronoen.fr

Payment

Full cost : 850 euros.

This includes tuition with two full-time teachers, as well as housing. Meals are not included in the price.

In order to save your spot, please wire a non-refundable deposit of 200 euros, ensuring your participation and allowing us to commit to each other, the venue and you ! The remaining 650 euros should be transfered by late July. (No refunds after August 1^st.) 

Please contact Mandoline for any inquiries regarding participation: mandolinew@yahoo.com