about us :: Biodanza-summer-retreat

OUR TEAM

BACKGROUND ABOUT THE RETREAT

We are a team of five, three facilitators and two loving assistants. We are from four different countries, we have different backgrounds, all inspired by the beauty and the sacredness of life. We are dear colleague and close friends since many years now.

Facilitators; Rachely Turtz from Israel, Frid Langsrud from Norway and Álvaro Ferreira from Portugal. Assistants; Yvonne Koppes from Holland and Guy Turtz from Israel.

Summer 2017 we created our first Biodanza Summer Retreat in Paros, Greece. Summer 2018 we made another powerful journey together in Portugal. Then in 2019 we went to Italy. And in summer 2022 and 2023 we where back in Portugal again. All the five times we had wonderful international groups.

The summer of 2024 we welcome you to the amazing paradise of SURYALILA in the south of Spain.

FACILITATORS:

Rachely Turtz

My name is Rachely. In 2004 my first born child has been diagnosed with cancer. The personal and familial experience we have gathered through his healing process has led me to the understanding that LIFE CAN NOT GO ON AS BEFORE - as if nothing happened.

The notion that life is HERE and NOW, and that LIFE is stronger than anything else became very clear.

I could not hold only for myself this deep felt understanding.

This is something I really have to PASS ON to all those who live with me and around me.

"Life is here and now, Life is important and CONTAIN EVERYTHING"

And then, when I was ENTIRELY ATTUNED, I have met the right thing for me - I met BIODANZA. BIODANZA - LIFE WITH MEANINGFUL MOVEMENT - as its name implies, allows each of us to come into play, express ourselves and show our uniqueness.

Where and when I see and feel the dancers really allowing themselves to dance in VIVENCIA, it is a real treat for me. Dancing the "DANCE OF LIFE", gives you a strong sensation of being alive, lets you feel all the dimensions of life, the emotions, it's something that is a MUST, it's not an extraneous fact added to my CV, it's really who I am and that's really my destiny. Allowing ourselves to really feel and ACT consciously, not squeezing and sweeping away, that is LIFE for me.

Since 2008 I dance my life, with my family, and all those who come to dance with me every week.

I am the Scool Director of the Northern School of Biodanza in Israel - the School of love, with love. I am a CAREGIVER using integrated & multidisciplinary methods (both Physical and Energetic).

Frid Langsrud

I am a Didactic Facilitator of Biodanza, graduated from the Norwegain School of Biodanza, Rolando Toro System. I met Biodanza in 2011 and in the first class I knew that THIS IS IT! I immediately started school and dove into the life changing journey with all of me.

I am facilitating Biodanza since 2014. That year I went to the European Biodanza Congress in Portugal where one of the facilitators said: "This Congress might change your life!" Yes - for me it did. Because that is where I met my love, Álvaro Ferreira.

I have had regular groups both in Norway and in Portugal. I have also been giving different workshops in Norway and Portugal, and other countries as well, for adults, children, teenagers and families. Álvaro and me also give workshops together.

Biodanza extensions that I´m trained at:

Biodanza for children, teenagers and families
Identity and self-esteem
Identity and the Four Elements
Biodanza and Neo-Shamanism
Profound Masculinity and Femininity

I have also worked 16 years as a teacher in the Norwegian public school system, teaching almost all kinds of subjects and different ages. During these years I also worked a lot with different kinds of projects according to dance and movement.

Álvaro Ferreira

Didactic Facilitator of Biodanza from the Portugal School of Biodanza, Lisbon, Rolando Toro System.

I love my daughter Vera, and Frid, the love of my life, and I'm really happy and feel so lucky for having such wonderful friends, and for living this marvelous dream of helping to change the world through the beauty and power of Biodanza.

I'm a Biodanza facilitator for more than twelve years now. I've been facilitating two groups in Lisbon, of about 40 students each, an integration group and an advanced group.

I attended the Continuous Learning process with Antonio Sarpe.

I have experience in Facilitating Biodanza for Business Companies (as part of behavior and vivencial workshops for employees and management).

I also give workshops in different countries with Frid Langsrud, the love of my life.

In recent years I have acquired much experience in organizing workshops of Biodanza (of more than one day of duration).

Biodanza extensions that I´m trained at:

Identity and the Four Elements
Biodanza and Neo-Shamanism
Profound Masculinity and Femininity
Minotaur

Besides my training in Biodanza I also have other trainings and degrees

- I have a master's degree in Anthropology.

- I have a professional degree in psychotherapy and counseling by the Portuguese Association of Person Centered Psychotherapy and Counselling.

I have worked for more than 8 years as a psychotherapist - helping people overcoming addictions and compulsive behaviors.

I also have experience of over 18 years of group facilitation - self-help, therapeutic and Biodanza groups.

And I love to love, to appreciate beauty... and to dance!

ASSISTANTS:

Yvonne Koppes

My name is Yvonne Koppes and I am from Holland. For the time being I have a break in facilitating at the retreat due to personal reasons. With all my love and commitment I will support the team as I can.

I dance, and I did this with love and passion as a little girl, dancing made me happy and it is still what I enjoy so much. Since 2010 Biodanza has been in my life and from that time a start to dance my life, little by little, more and more. This has gradually become a life change.

Biodanza has increased my self-love and I can welcome myself. Biodanza gave a life change with many challenges where my heart could open. To really feel the pulsation, the flow of life. In Biodanza I discovered how to shape my dreams, this gives me courage and my curiosity creates the movement with pleasure. To see and meet the world without judgment, to be amazed from the eyes of my heart.

I would like to share a bit about one of my dreams. I dreamed about caring for people and playing with children, bringing people together, connecting people. I started working in health care, developing myself as a theater maker and player. I married and got children. My children were and are my greatest mirrors and I learned a lot about the process of life. One of my children has an intellectual disability. She is my biggest teacher for the present moment. She makes me Feel the experience from the precious NOW.

Traveling was what I had on my wishing list, meeting people, seeing and experiencing the beauty of the world. I had pushed it aside, I was limited by my own convictions.

Now! I live my dream.

I dance with passion as the little girl of that time, I reach out in my life with the possibilities that I possess, I open me and meet others, I share and receive, I let myself be touched by the sounds of life. The game, the flexibility in the unexpected twists of the movement. I make my own life journey and meet the magic of life force. I embrace the perfection of life with all the imperfection there is.

I can move.... So I exist!