Threads of Our Ancestors II
conscious dance w/ Jo Hardy
26 to 29 Nov 2026, SerVivo (Palmela)
"
“My ancestors are calling, my ancestors are calling.
They call to remind me who I am,
they call to remind me what I should be.”
— Qiniso Mogale
We are the living edge of an unbroken thread. Behind you stand the generations with their courage, their song, and their survival, reaching back into deep time. Their resilience is in our bones; their dreams are in our breath. In Threads of our Ancestors, we will immerse ourselves into a conscious dance journey that awakens this living connection: embracing the gifts and wisdom of our lineages and bringing movement and care to what still waits to be digested.
There’s a rhythm underneath everything, and the dance floor is where we find it. In wild, spontaneous dance we ground deeply in the body, enliven our awake-ness, and experience the profound interconnectedness of life. From this resourced ground we will:
• Dance like crazy! For joy, for play, because our creative selves can make dances out of absolutely everything
• Tune into the resilience, beauty and strength our ancestors handed down, and claim these as living resources
• Get curious about the ancestral patterns still moving through our own embodiment and nervous system
• Dance the undigested... dance for reclamation, for release, for forgiveness
• Let our bodies dance our lineage stories, giving creative shape to both the wounds and the riches we carry
Together we create a brave and caring container to hold what lives at the edges - the tender places, the unspoken stories, the not-yet-danced. All welcome.
When we stand in our lineage with love and honesty, our ancestors draw close. When we go deep together, the field between us grows richer and more present, and we begin to become what we are here to be: good ancestors, dancing new seeds into the next generations.
About the Teacher
Jo Hardy (UK) has worked with hundreds of people over more than 30 years as a conscious dance and group facilitator, somatic psychotherapist, transformational coach, supervisor and trainer. She is an accredited teacher of 5 Rhythms (Waves and Heartbeat), Open Floor and Movement Medicine. Her work integrates conscious dance, dynamic heart inquiry, embodied awakening, somatic psychotherapy, internal family systems, process work, authentic relating and deep ecology. She teaches workshops in Portugal since 2023 and is offering, for the second time, a year-long embodiment facilitation training here in 2027. Find more information about the training here and read her full bio and testimonials here
Voices from the dancefloor..
Hear the participants of We-Space workshop, which happened in November 2023 at Feel2B (Lisbon).
Memories from Threads of Our Ancestors I at Ten-Chi, 2024
In June 2024, Jo held "Threads of Our Ancestors I" at Quinta Ten-Chi, Portugal. We travelled in time through the 4 directions and felt into our ancestral lineages. We re-membered the intricate fabric we were made of, and the way it connects us to the web of life. We forgave, thanked and celebrated those who came before us, and healed some of the wounds that were passed on through generations. This upcoming workshop in November 2026 will be, in a way, a continuation of that work (but you don't need to have participated in the previous one to come).
The Venue
This immersive workshop will happen at SerVivo, a lovely community-held venue that could not be a better fit for this work! Surrounded by the beautiful nature of Arrábida National Park, this special place has a great dance studio and a cozy living room with a wood-burning stove , perfect for integrating and sharing sweet moments during the breaks ❤️
Plus, it is close enough from Lisbon (30 - 40min) to give those who live there the chance to sleep at home. It also offers very affordable accommodation in bunk-bed dormitories for those wanting to offer themselves these days to go all-in (alternatively, there are airbnbs nearby if you want more privacy). See more information about accommodation below :)
Practicalities
Schedule
- Thursday: 11:00 - 18:30
- Friday: 10:30 - 18:30
- Saturday: 10:30 - 18:30
- Sunday: 10:30 - 16:30
* check-in at 10:00 on Thursday
Workshop Fee
The earlier you register, the less you pay. We have three pricing tiers:
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First Slot (15 places): 300 € - ONGOING
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Second Slot (15 places): 320 €
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Third Slot (15 places): 340 €
Discounts on workshop fee:
- 10% discount applies for current members of the Release Embodied Arts Association whose annual membership fee is up to date. Not a member yet? You can become one by quickly filling in this form.
- 15% discount applies for those who completed their participation in the Art of the ChangeWeaver training.
* these discounts are not cumulative
Accommodation Options
You have different accommodation options (price for 3 nights):
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Your home (if you live nearby) = 0 €
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Bunk bed in dormitory at SerVivo = 50 €
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Own tent / caravan at SerVivo = 40 €
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Airbnb or other nearby accommodation = find something that fits your budget :)
Note on staying at SerVivo:
- Dormitories are shared with up to 8 people. We cannot guarantee gender-separated rooms.
- Showers and toilets are accessed via outdoors.
- The facilities are simple, but you can count on clean spaces, fresh sheets and warm showers ❤️
Recommendations on alternative accommodation at a 5-10 min drive from SerVivo (price for 3 nights):
- Albani Hostel (dormitory or twin room) = 59 € - 237€, breakfast not included
- several AirBnb options = from 160€, breakfast not included
- Pousada Castelo de Palmela (twin bed room) = 333€, breakfast included
* Uber works well in the area and is quite affordable (5€ - 7€ from SerVivo to your accommodation)
** Booking and arranging accommodation outside SerVivo is entirely the participant's responsibility. Release Association has no formal partnership with any of these places.
Meal Options
During the 4 days we will share, enjoy delicious vegetarian, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free meals prepared by the SerVivo chef using mostly organic and locally sourced ingredients:
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4 Lunches = 60 €
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Full meal package (from Thursday lunch to Sunday lunch - 10 meals) = 108 €
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Bring your own food from home = 0 €
Note on food:
- Participants staying at SerVivo cannot use the kitchen for cooking. Therefore, bringing your own food is only an option for those not staying at SerVivo, unless you are travelling with a van equipped with its own kitchen.
A little help with the math :)
Here area few common combinations (workshop fee based on the first price slot 300 €):
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Workshop + Stay at SerVivo (dormitory) + Full meal package = 458 €
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Workshop + Stay at SerVivo (tent/van) + Full meal package = 448 €
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Workshop + Stay elsewhere + 4 Lunches = 360 € (plus your accommodation)
Getting to SerVivo
SerVivo is located 30-40 min drive from Lisboa, 15min from Setúbal and 5min from the town of Palmela.
We will share with all participants a ridesharing sheet so you can connect rides! You can also reach it easily by train/bus + a short uber ride.
It is also quite easy to take an uber from Lisbon airport, and it costs around 35€ - 45€.
>> Google maps location here
Registrations
Book your place by filling up the form at the link below!
Don't wait for the last minute, as Jo's workshops are always sold out ;)
For any questions, write us to releaseembodiedarts@gmail.com
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is it okay if I come alone and don't know anyone?
A: Absolutely! This is the case for many, if not most, of the participants. By the end of the workshop, it often feels like one big family you've known forever 😉.
Q: My body is not in its best shape. Can I still participate?
A: If you have an injury or you're older, dancing on a chair is a possibility! If you're unsure, feel free to write to us and we'll help you figure it out: releaseembodiedarts@gmail.com
Q: I have never done a conscious dance or self-inquiry/self-development workshop before. Is this a good place to start?
A: This workshop is not designed for absolute beginners. We would not recommend it as your first conscious dance experience if dancing and/or sharing your emotions with others already feels like a big edge for you. If you're starting, we recommend you join first our Sunday Dances at Upaya! If you're unsure, you're very welcome to write to us and we'll help you think it through: releaseembodiedarts@gmail.com
Q: I am struggling with anxiety, depression, or another psychological condition. Is it advisable to participate in this workshop?
A: If you're currently feeling emotionally unstable or your nervous system is easily dysregulated, we recommend not taking part in such deep group work and instead seeking professional one-to-one support. If you're unsure, you're very welcome to write to us and we'll help you think it through: releaseembodiedarts@gmail.com
Q: Are the facilities warm enough if it is cold outside?
A: We would say so! As in much of Portugal, there is no central heating at SerVivo. However, the living room has a cozy wood-burning stove, the studio is equipped with air conditioning for heating, and the rooms and dormitories have electric heaters. Each bed also comes with an extra blanket. Still, we recommend bringing warm pyjamas and socks, just in case. 😉
Q: Can I bring my dog along?
A: Sorry, dogs are not allowed at SerVivo.
Q: Can I stay at SerVivo before or after the workshop?
A: Normally this isn't possible. However, if you really need to, we may be able to arrange one extra night before or after the workshop. Just send us an email 😉.
Q: What is the cancellation policy?
A: You'll find the full cancellation policy in the registration form.
Q: I am considering taking The Art of the ChangeWeaver Facilitation Training with Jo next year. Is this a good opportunity to get to know her work better and become clearer about my decision?
A: Yes, absolutely! This workshop offers a great introduction to Jo's approach and the tools she uses in her work, many of which are also taught in the training. At some point during the workshop, Jo will host an informal Q&A about the ChangeWeavers program for those who are interested. You're also very welcome to approach her during the breaks, as well as Coco (the organizer) or one of the participants from the last edition of the training.