Bailando Retreat: Havana 2019

Cuban Salsa | Cultural Immersion | Self-Discovery

9 Day / 8 Nights

9-17 Novemebr 2019

Immerse yourself in Cuban culture by learning to dance with locals and exploring some of the best dance experiences that Havana has to offer! In this nine day programme, you will join a curated group of likeminded women for a blend of dance, culture and personal growth 🌸

This retreat is for you if you want to:

Learn with the best dance instructors in Havana

  • Be part of a special programme designed exclusively for this retreat.
  • Progress with private classes and practice on the dance floor with your own instructor.
  • Benefit from classes tailored to all levels and needs—from total beginners to advanced dancers.

Immerse yourself in Cuban culture

  • Stay in a casa particular (homestay) with Cuban hosts for a unique perspective on local life.
  • Learn to dance in magical settings from nostalgic salons to Old Havana’s rooftops.
  • Go out dancing where the locals go—from concert halls and clubs to the streets and city walls.

Embark on a journey of self-discovery

  • Use dance as a unique tool for your personal devepment and re-evaluate your life priorities.
  • Challenge yourself by confronting your fears, taking risks, and learning from failures.
  • Strengthen your sense of discipline and perseverance, for increased confidence and creativity. 

Join a group of inspiring and likeminded women

  • Join a curated group of female leaders, entrepreneurs and creatives.
  • Be part of a community of women who share your values and interests.
  • Leave with new connections, friendships and ideas!

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1

  • Arrivals
  • Welcome Dinner

Day 2

  • 2 hours Private Dance Training
  • Clave Workshop: Percussion and Rhythm
  • Evening Programme

Day 3

  • 2 hours Private Dance Training
  • Musical Walking Tour through Old Havana
  • Evening Programme

Day 4

  • 2 hours Private Dance Training
  • Orishas Workshop: Afro-Cuban Roots
  • Evening Programme

Day 5

  • 2 hours Private Dance Training
  • City Tour in Vintage American Cars
  • Evening Programme

Day 6

  • 2 hours Private Dance Training
  • Transfer to the Beach House
  • Group Coaching and One-on-One slots
  • Cubana Workshop: Essence of the Cuban Woman

Day 7

  • Goddess Hour
  • Beach Time!
  • Group Coaching and One-on-One slots
  • Mojito Making Workshop

Day 8

  • Goddess Hour
  • Beach Time!
  • Group Coaching and One-on-One slots
  • Farewell Dinner: Barbeque Beach Party with Instructors

Day 9

  • Goddess Hour
  • Departures

What Others are saying

What's Included?

  • 8 Nights accommodation
  • 10 Hours of private Cuban Salsa classes with your own instructor
  • 3 Dance workshops focused on specific themes
  • 4 Nights evening programme with your instructor
  • 2 One-on-one coaching sessions
  • 3 Group coaching sessions
  • 3 Mindfulness sessions
  • Musical walking tour through Old Havana
  • Vintage American car tour
  • Mojito workshop
  • Daily breakfast
  • Welcome dinner
  • Farewell dinner party
  • Airport and beach house transfers
  • Curated group of international and like-minded women
  • …and more surprises!

What's Not Included?

  • Airfare
  • Meals not stated above
  • Travel Insurance

Terms & Conditions

  • This retreat is limited to only 10 people. $350 deposit required to secure your spot.
  • Payment plans are available.
  • All payments are non-refundable. Please make sure you have travel insurance to get covered in case of any cancellation.
  • Purchasing your own travel insurance is mandatory.
  • Please see here for full terms & conditions.

Investment

$1,870 (shared room)

$2,070 (private room)

Have any questions? Book a free discovery call below!

About your Host

Aliénor Salmon
Founder, Bailando Journey

Aliénor founded Bailando Journey following her transformational journey learning to dance through Latin America as an adult beginner. As a social researcher, she documented her journey to gain an in-depth understanding of how dance give us a unique perspective on the local culture, history, values and way of life. Through her Bailando Retreat, she aims to share with others how dance is a unique cultural expression and tool for personal development and well-being.

Frequently asked questions

Absolutely not! This retreat is open to all levels from total beginners who would like to start from scratch, to advanced dancers who would like to perfect their skills. Working with your own private instructor will allow for a personalized experience no matter what your level is.

Although knowing a few basic phrases will get you a long way, you do not need to speak Spanish in order to take part in this retreat. Your retreat hosts will be available to translate and interpret whenever needed. Don’t forget that dance is a language in itself!

This retreat is open to anyone over the age of 18. There is so much that we can learn across different generations, life experiences and new ideas. Having people from different age groups creates a beautiful form of diversity for the group.

This retreat is designed based on my personal journey learning to dance through Latin America as a total beginner. Dancing in local settings with local people was a life-changing experience for me and led to huge personal growth. The Bailando Retreat will give you the opportunity to embark on your own dance journey, where coaching sessions and mindfulness experiences will guide you to discover dance as a unique tool for your own personal transformation.

The Bailando Retreats are carefully crafted to give you the best value at the best price. They are designed to provide you the absolute best dance and culture focused experience: you will have your own private instructor to maximize your learning as part of a small and intimate group, accompanied by custom-designed workshops and other activities. You will have both an international and local host working around the clock to make sure this is an inspiring, empowering and rewarding experience for you. All these costs add up, with the remaining 10% profit being used to support the running of the Bailando Journey website to promote local artists, cultural events and festivals around the world.

Bailando Retreats are currently only available for women. Because this retreat is designed based on my personal experience, it goes deep into my learning process of learning to dance as a woman, while immersed in a culture as a form of self-discovery and personal development. Many aspects of this development are unique to being a woman, and topics such as femininity, empowerment, and sensuality that will form a central part of this retreat. In the future, we hope to open new retreats designed specifically for men, couples, and co-ed groups.

It is often the people, more than the place, that make an experience so special. The retreat is limited to a small group of likeminded women who are selected based on their values, interests and achievements. This includes female leaders, entrepreneurs, and creatives so that you leave the retreat with new friendships, perspectives and ideas.

Cuba continues to be very popular for tourism, and continues to mystify its visitors through a unique time-warp experience. Before your arrival, you will be provided with a detailed welcome pack so you know exactly what to prepare for your upcoming dance adventure. Topics include currency, accommodation, food and security. It will also include a useful packing list and a dance shoe guide so you know exactly what you need to buy before you fly!

While internet access is available in Cuba, it is rather limited. You will be provided with a 5 hour internet card as part of your retreat welcome pack. This requires going to a location with an internet connection (most hotel lobbies and public parks), and inserting your card’s login details. Some cafes also have a wifi connection which you can use, although they tend to be quite slow. Disconnecting from the internet, your to-do list, and your everyday life is a crucial aspect in immersing yourself fully into the retreat experience and soaking it all in. You will not regret it!

You will most likely need a visa for Cuba, depending on your nationality and passport. Most airlines offer the visa at the airport upon departure, however it is highly recommended to acquire your visa through a specialised agency ahead of your trip. Make sure you check your country’s government travel advice or the Cuban Embassy website. For US citizens, despite recent restrictions, you can still travel to Cuba on the “support to the Cuban people visa”.

All deposits are non-refundable, however you can check the retreat Terms and Conditions to see whether you can obtain a partial reimbursement of retreat payments.

Get in touch and we’ll get back to you soon.