Essence & Edge
8-13 July 2025
The Venue
Earthdance welcomes guests from around the world to engage in events that center movement and embodied practice, Contact Improvisation, and collaborative art making.
The retreat will take place at Earthdance Creative Living retreat center in Plainfield in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts.
We are grateful to continue hosting this event at Earthdance – an arts organization, rental and retreat center that hosts workshops, artist retreats, and community programming. At its foundation are dance, somatics, movement research and interdisciplinary arts training with an awareness towards community building.
Earthdance is surrounded by forest in Western Massachusetts, on unceded, ancestral Nipmuck, Pocumtuc and Wabanaki Confederacy Land.
10 years of growth at the East Coast of the USA
For over a decade, Touch&Play has found a home at Earthdance, the retreat center and community that has been holding us. Touch&Play organitsation has been growing and evolving alongside the western mass and USA community. From its humble beginnings, it has flourished into a thriving culture—one that has shaped us, challenged us, and held us in profound transformation.
We honor the roots that have nurtured while embracing the establishment we have built. Yet, we know that to truly lead, we must also be willing to look into the shadows—to own our mistakes, to welcome discomfort, to keep questioning.
This is an invitation to celebrate, to integrate, and to keep nourishing the culture that has given us so much. Let’s hold space for both wisdom and curiosity, for foundation and experimentation, for essence and edge.
NOURISHMENT
Three fresh, organic vegetarian and vegan meals will be provided each day. Meat will be an available option for a couple of meals. A snack and tea station is available at any time.
We will gather information around food intolerances at registration. Our kitchen team will do their best to accommodate special dietary needs related to intolerances. However, we cannot guarantee a completely allergy-free kitchen, as all dishes may contain traces of ingredients used in our cooking.
There is a guest fridge available to store any personal supplemental foods you may need or wish to bring. Please note that the kitchen is unavailable to guests.
ACCOMMODATION
Earthdance provides 2 lodging options: campsites and shared dorm rooms.
The Apple Orchard and 125 acres of forest provide ample space for personal tent camping. Campers have access to the shared bathrooms in the main Farmhouse which include indoor and outdoor showers.
The Gratitude Lodge (a.k.a. the Earthdance dorm) is connected to the Farmhouse by a short wooded trail. The Gratitude Lodge offers an assortment of large and small rooms featuring dormitory-style bunks and beds (twin & queen size). The dorm also has a shared common area and bathrooms.
COMMON SPACES
Two large beautiful dance studios, communal dining area, cozy living room, library/’soothe space’, dungeon, and lots of open, outdoor spaces await.
OUTDOORS
Earthdance is embraced by acres of private woods.
SAUNA & HOT TUB
A wood-fired sauna sits just feet from a cold plunge into the quarry.
A hot tub is available on the deck of Nine Mountain. For those not staying there, a fee of $5 per soak or $20 for the whole week is expected to be paid.
FACILITIES
Little Earthdance shop and free shop.
Local food coop 5 minutes by car.
ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION
TICKETS
Sliding scale for different economic realities.
TROUPE
All participants can share preferences of the morning troupe they wish to join. A troupe will be each morning with the same group and teacher. While we aim to accommodate your preferences, we cannot always guarantee your first choice. However, we can assure you that participating in the morning troupe offers an intimate journey with a smaller group, fostering a more grounded and meaningful experience throughout the festival.
INCLUSIVITY FOUND & DISCOUNTS
We have a number of Lower-cost tickets available.
Priority for these tickets is given to people with economic needs, taking in consideration belonging to one or more marginalized groups.
Various criteria are considered when distributing these tickets, which are outlined in the application.
To be considered, please fill out the application form.
CONTRIBUTE TO THE FUNDRISING
When register you can choose between different ticket types. We aim to both keep our prices accessible, while holding financial sustainability. Please help us meet this balance by paying, with intuition and integrity, the highest price point you are able to afford.
We are able to offer supported tickets because there are participants that are contributing extra with their economic contribution.
Also consider contributing to our Inclusivity Scholarship Fundraiser! There will be a place to make a donation at checkout. You can choose the amount you want to contribute.
This will support welcoming people with economic needs and marginalized identities who are unable to attend this event otherwise.
PRACTICALITIES
GUIDELINES
Introduction to T&P
Community Agreements
More questions? We welcome you to read the FAQ
GETTING THERE
Earthdance is located at 252 Prospect Street, Plainfield, MA 01070
Once you register you will receive a link to a RideShare board to self-organize around carpooling.
ARRIVING
PARTICIPANTS: On-site registration for all participants: 3:00pm – 6:00 pm
SOOTHE&CARE: Attend meeting at 3:00pm for all Soothe&Care Team volunteers.
WORK EXCHANGE: Meeting at 1:00 pm
TEACHERS: Arrival at 10:00 am
This event is a closed container. No late arrivals and all participants are expected to stay during the event. In case you leave the venue, we ask that you check in with an organizer.
DEPARTURE
Last day between 3:00 -5:00 pm
What's the Soothe & Care Team?
When you register you will be asked if you want to be part of the Soothe & Care team.
In order to create a safer container we invite volunteers (participants, teachers) to form part of the Sooth&Care team. This means contributing a little of your time supporting participants in processing their experiences by (e.g. co-regulation, deep listening, being present, finding a container for emotional release). As part of the Sooth & Care team you will need to attend a short pre-festival briefing onsite by the Soothe & Care Team Lead(s) in the afternoon the festival starts. During the festival you will meet once or twice as a team to share your observations and experience of the group. The commitment to the role doesn’t require much times and it is flexible so it aligns with your own needs and boundaries. Within the team you’re mutually supporting each other and it’s a lovely way to bring your contribution.
More info in the page YOUR PRESENCE
CONTACT
hello@touchandplay.org
Earthdance assumes no responsibilities for the activities of the Touch&Play Event as a renter of its facilities.