about the retreat

Holistic WCS and Movement Training

During the Westie Wellness Retreat, you'll connect with yourself so you can connect with others. Starting the day with Mindful Movement, Courtney will be inviting us to deepen self-awareness through movement, guided meditation and other experientials.

In the afternoons we'll bring that awareness into dance and partnership as Demetre guides us to explore what's possible within connection.

Intended for confident social dancers.

Incredible location

Every year the Westie Wellness Retreat travels to a new country. This year, the retreat location is in the Sacred Valley of Peru near Lima. After we fly into the Cuzco airport, we will be driven to the retreat center. Here we have a private campus set in lush flora and fauna, (it will be the end of the rainy season so pack appropriately) surrounded by mountains. Our gorgeous, private temple will be used in the morning for movement and the afternoon/evening for dancing. "Family" meals will take place in the main house.

The retreat center was built with sustainable building practices, focusing on being good to the ground it's on. We'll tie that into our practices through the week to bring honor and respect to the land that we visit.

Curated Itinerary

Expect an authentic local experience!

We set up your transportation, lodging, food, for the whole week to allow for a comfortable transition into this beautiful country.

Group activities available to you include wellness focused WCS workshops, Mindful Movement, a sound bath, a hike to a mountain lagoon, on site planetarium viewing, a local ceremony led by a Shamen, and so much more.

Optional (extra cost and self-paced) activities include massages, reiki, coca leaf reading, horseback riding, and so much more.

Focus on wellness.

This isn't your typical west coast swing weekend.

We bring you an all-inclusive experience to let you focus on your own dance and wellness journey. This includes

- meals with a private chef - bringing a focus on nutrient rich foods (and curated to dietary restrictions).

- West Coast Swing practices and workshops to focus on personal authenticity and a deeper connection to your partner.

- Mindful movement and meditation to give you space to connect to yourself.

- Free time for high vibrational activities or quiet conversations.

Prepare to have fun.

Activities like hikes, exploring, or horseback riding. Open time to explore and connect with the land as desired.

Evenings will be full of opportunities to tap into your highest vibrational self, enjoy a beverage or a mocktail, social dance, and connect with your fellow retreat goers!

This week will be one to remember - salud!

about the pros

Courtney Adair

Teaching full time for 15 years and traveling to work with dancers all over the globe, Courtney witnessed the power of dance to heal, grow and cultivate joy.

Inspired by her work with students in bringing their authentic selves onto the dance floor, she's now in the final year of her master's program in clinical mental health psychology. She is ecstatic to bring her two worlds - champion west coast swing dancer and budding Buddhist therapist - together in this unique retreat. Courtney teaches from a social justice lens with a focus on movement mechanics, authenticity and embracing our embodied experience. Who we are off the dance floor inevitably shows up within the partnership -

Let's utilize our love of this fantastic dance to grow as people, dancers and partners.

Demetre Souliotes

Our Special Guest for the Westie Wellness Retreat: Peru is Demetre Souliotes! Demetre first found dancing at a young age growing up in Los Angeles in the forms of Hip-Hop, Pop’n’Lock, and later House Dancing. He discovered West Coast Swing and has never looked back. He has been performing and competing professionally in the top division in the world, the Champions Division, for over 20 years. Demetre travels the world as a sought after Choreographer, Coach, Teacher, Judge, DJ, and Mentor. He runs local dance scenes in LA & SD, owns two annual dance conventions, and is a premier videographer in the dance space. He is one of a handful of current Champion Dancers who have helped shape what WCS is today, he been nominated to the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame 5 times.