Grief Tending Retreat
Biodanza: The Dance of Life
18th – 20th September 2026
with Niraj and Anna
Moving through loss, a return to life
When words are not enough, let the body lead the way
An embodied journey through the landscape of loss
Between the heavy heart and the dancing spirit, healing happens?
One thing that unites each and every one of us alive on this planet is the inevitable encounter with grief/loss/sadness
Grief is not a problem to be solved, but a landscape to be navigated.
When we experience loss, it is easy to become "stuck.”
We often find ourselves at one of two poles: either avoiding the pain through busyness and distraction, or becoming consumed by it, feeling unable to move or breathe.
Healing doesn't happen by choosing one or the other. It happens in the movement between them.
At this retreat, we practice the art of "tending"—creating a safe container to honour your loss while giving yourself radical permission to rest and experience joy.
This weekend is an invitation to go beyond the taboo and allow yourself to grieve, to feel the sadness within and dance with it towards liberation.
Workshop Summary
Begins on:
Fri 18th September at 17:00
Ends on:
Sun 20th September at 17:00
Duration:
3 days / 2 nights
Hosted by:
Niraj & Anna
Redirects to Workshop Angel
Why Biodanza…
We move beyond words: Biodanza is a non-verbal practice that allows you to express the full range of human emotions , including sadness, longing, or anger, safely through movement rather than explanation.
Utilising variously themed vivencias (2hr+ dance sessions) Biodanza creates a container dedicated to grief-tending practices, where we use movement to bridge the gap between "grieving" and "living."
In the dances, we don't have to find the right words, or any words at all, but simply allow our feelings space to express themselves, relieving "stuckness" and providing an antidote to distraction. We let the body lead and the emotions to follow until we find ourselves more fluid, resilient, and alive.
Grief is often isolating. Dancing in a group reminds you that you are part of a community, providing a sense of shared support and "affectivity"—the warmth of human connection.
Radical Permission for Joy: Biodanza emphasizes the Biocentric Principle, which prioritizes life, the instincts and pleasure. It gently teaches that feeling joy or vitality again is not a betrayal of your loss, but a vital part of the "back-and-forth" movement required for deep restoration and ultimately letting go.
Who is this for…
Curious newcomers ready to taste the joy and depth of Biodanza for the first time in a safe, held space.
Individuals navigating loss who feel "stuck" in their head or life and are looking for a physical, embodied way to process their emotions & reclaim joy!
Past students and graduates of the Dorset School of Biodanza or other schools looking to reconnect with the practice and the community.
Teachers and facilitators seeking personal nourishment, inspiration, and a chance to be "held" rather than holding the space for others.
Lovers of movement and music who believe in the power of dance as a tool for healing and human connection.
Supporters of the next generation of Biodanza facilitators, witnessing the growth of the practice through Niraj and Anna’s collaboration.
Anyone seeking "restoration"—those who need permission to laugh, rest, and feel alive again without the weight of guilt.
Your Facilitators
Niraj has been the Director of the Dorset School of Biodanza since 2006 and has led four cycles of the teacher training. Anna is the most recent graduate from that system this past February. The synergy between Niraj and Anna creates a deeply supportive container for the Biodanza & Grief Tending weekend, blending decades of therapeutic wisdom with soulful facilitation. Together, they offer a heart centred approach to your healing journey.
Niraj & Anna: Masters of Energetic Flow
Both Niraj and Anna possess a unique and intuitive gift for reading the room’s energy. They act as bridges, helping you navigate the delicate gap between your private, internal world of sorrow and the external support of the communal circle.
Niraj brings a masterful understanding of the Biocentric Principle—the impulse towards life. He senses exactly when the group needs to be held in stillness and when it is time to invite the "spark" of vitality back into the body.
Anna’s connection to the divine heart helps you move through emotional blocks and "stuck" energy, gently guiding you toward a place of inner wholeness and transformations in the heart.
By weaving together ritual grounding with Niraj and Anna’s energetic fluidity, we offer you a complete support system. Whether you are in a moment of deep release or quiet integration, the facilitators and the group are there to mirror your journey and hold the space for your transformation.
What to expect…
Friday: The Courage to Feel
Vitality & the Physicality of Grief
After a nourishing meal sourced from Leela’s organic grounds, we use movement to gently break the stasis.
Through the line of Vitality, we begin to find the rhythm of our own heartbeat again. We move not to “get over” the pain, but to create a body strong and fluid enough to carry it.
This is the foundation: remembering that, even in sorrow, we are still pulsing with life.
Saturday Morning
We begin with a sharing circle, offering space to express our feelings and have them witnessed by the group, followed by:
The Permission to Bloom
Creativity & the Art of Living
Grief can make us feel as though our story has ended. Through Creativity, we begin to explore the movement back and forth between the old life and the new.
We use the line of Creativity to express what words cannot. This isn’t about making “art”; it is about creating a moment of beauty, or discovering a new way of moving despite the pain.
We give ourselves permission to innovate our lives, finding new shapes and expressions for our existence in the wake of change.
Saturday Afternoon
There will be time for rest and recuperation, with the option to spend quiet time in nature or journal for reflection and discovery, followed by:
The Reclaiming of Self
Sexuality & the Sensual Soul
In Biodanza, the line of Sexuality relates to our capacity for pleasure and our desire to live. This is often where much of the guilt around grief can reside.
We reclaim the right to feel the sun on our skin, the beauty of the music, and the simple pleasure of togetherness and being alive.
By re-sensitising the body to pleasure, we generate the restorative energy needed for the long-term work of grieving. We move to remember that joy is not a betrayal of those who have died, but a celebration of the life they shared with us.
Saturday Evening
An open space for whatever the group most needs in that moment. This may include more dance, more sharing, a ritual sauna or a bonfire to support further release.
This will be decided together on the day.
Sunday Morning: The Heart That Holds Everything
We bring together Affectivity, our ability to love and be loved, with Transcendence, our connection to something greater than ourselves.
Through the dance, we move from the personal “I” to the communal “We”, discovering a sense of belonging that reaches beyond our individual loss.
Together, we create a ritual space where our love for what we have lost becomes a gateway into a deeper connection with all of life.
Why This Workshop Matters
Considering the ubiquity and inevitability of grief to the human experience, we in the west are very bad at it! There is no place for its expression or even its mention. We are simply expected to Keep Calm and Carry On. Maintain a stiff upper lip and don't let your feelings show...utter madness!! The genuine emotion of loss or hurt then gets trapped in the body with no way out leading to dis-ease. By coming together with a common purpose - to acknowledge and honour such feelings and give space to their expression as a collective, we can rewrite the script of how we should process loss and open a pathway to healing.
Ultimately, this workshop matters because it offers a path back to wholeness. It is an invitation to stop "surviving" your grief and start moving with it, reclaiming your right to be fully alive.
Workshop & Accommodation Costs
Start weekend: Friday September 18th @ (Arrive from 5pm on the Friday to settle in, dinner is at 7pm, the training commences at 8.15pm)
End: Sunday September 20th @ 5:00pm
Price weekend: £310 (includes workshop & food)*
Early bird till August 28th: £280
Note: You can make a payment plan, the total price should be full paid before the retreat is starting.
*Accommodation is not included in the price and can be selected separately during checkout via the booking link.
Payment Plans
We understand that everyone's financial situation is unique, so we've designed our payment plan with flexibility in mind.
Secure your place by spreading the total cost into manageable instalments. We offer the option to pay a deposit and spread the balance over the remaining months before the payment deadline which is a few weeks before the start of the event. Payment plans are free, and payment dates will be clearly outlined when you book.
Cancellation & Refunds
Our can cellation and refunds policy can be found by clicking here
Redirects to Workshop Angel
Food at Leela
All food is vegetarian, drawing inspiration from cuisines from around the world. Garden produce is used when available including green salads and culinary herbs.
There is a separate tea making area with a wide range of beverages which include herbal teas, coffee, decaf, green and black teas, hot chocolate, plus cow’s milk and alternative milks.
We cater for the following diets …
Dairy-free / Egg-free
Gluten Free
Sugar conscious
Vegan and vegetarian
Food is prepared in a shared kitchen where allergens are present. See our food information page for details.
