Barefoot Embrace Dance Camp Cornwall
A philosophy not a dress code
A weekend of dancing, camping and community under the stars
Afro • Latin • Partner Dancing . Holistic Connection
12–14 September 2026
Porthtowan Eco Park, Cornwall
All levels welcome • No partner needed • Non-gendered dance roles
Early-bird tickets are available now:
https://dandelion.events/e/dancecamp
What we are about
We are new coastal dance gathering Camping under the stars , swimming and surfuing in the sea . walking along the coast path .Porthtowan Beach and the South West Coast Path are all close by, while the Soul Sweats sauna is located on the Eco Park site.
This is not a conventional dance festival built only around workshops, dancing and sleep. This is a gathering of people wanting to dance and create community
Alongside the classes and social dancing, there will be shared meals, music and singing around the fire, movement and body-awareness sessions, conversations, skill sharing, beach time and opportunities to connect with others.
THis years main dance strands are areound what the founders can share without being paid . Brazilian Forró and Argentine Tango, alongside Gyrokinesis®, a flowing movement practice using breath, rhythm and circular movement to develop mobility, body awareness and ease of movement
We are openly inviting other teachers , dancers as well as breathwork and movement practices to join the core team .. At the top of our list of skills we are seeking is a Kizomba dancer / with Angolan heritage.
Who are the participants
The weekend will bring together complete beginners, experienced dancers, teachers, musicians and movement practitioners to dance, learn, exchange skills and spend time together in a beautiful setting near the Cornish coast.
No previous dance experience is needed, and you do not need to come with a partner.
If you can not afford the early bird price please get in touch
A welcoming inclusive dance space
Our approach is informed by role-fluid and non-gender-led dance practice.
Leading and following are understood as skills that can be learned and shared, rather than fixed roles determined by gender.
Our approach is influenced by queer tango spaces. Where irespective of whether your Queer, straight, or soemwhere inbetween participants are warmly welcomed. By this, we mean we want to create a space that actively welcomes diversity, is a safe space to explore movement free of assumptions about gender roles in dance. We also take questions of consent seriously creating a dance environment without machismo, exclusion or established cliques — where people mix, respect one another’s boundaries and help newcomers feel welcome.
No one is expected to dance with anyone they do not wish to dance with, and everyone attending will be asked to agree to a code of conduct based on consent, respect and diversity.
This website is still under construction. Full details of the programme will be added over the coming weeks as well as a beeter design !😅
More than workshops, dancing and sleep
At its heart, the camp is about connection: between dance partners, between individuals and a wider community, and between different cultures, histories and dance traditions.
The programme is growing
The dancers, teachers and movement practitioners listed below are those currently involved. More people will be joining us to share their skills, experience and ideas as the camp develops.
Please check back for new contributors, workshops and timetable updates.
Teachers Confirmed for sep 2026
The current teaching team includes dancers and practitioners working across Brazilian Forró, Argentine Tango, Gyrokinesis®, body awareness and community practice.
More contributors will be announced as the programme develops.
Brazilian Forró Workshops
Guest teacher: Elton Rodrigues (Forró Arrastapé Sevilla, Seville)
Elton Rodrigues — Forró Arrastapé Sevilla
Originally from Minas Gerais, Brazil, Elton Rodrigues grew up immersed in Brazilian popular culture through Capoeira, Samba and, later, Forró. He trained professionally in dance, music and physical education through Grupo Ginga, the Instituto Sociocultural Grupo Ginga and Estácio de Sá University.
Elton began developing his Forró teaching practice with the Pé Descalço project in Belo Horizonte before moving to Europe in 2008 and settling in Seville in 2010. Spreading his love for Forro throughout Spain and Europe his style is warm , supportive and deeply community spirited sharing Brazilian dance and culture through classes, projects and festivals.
He is the founder, organiser and teacher of Forró Arrastapé Sevilla. His approach combines the foundations of traditional and university-style Forró with musicality, improvisation and personal expression, encouraging dancers to build confidence in the basics while finding their own freedom and creativity within the dance
Kleber Bonizzi from Forro Birmingham https://www.instagram.com/klebeber.bonizzi.forro
From Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Kleber is a founder and currently organizes and teaches as a volunteer at Forró Birmingham. He believes Forró is a dynamic and ever-evolving dance—a dance that mimics the Brazilian people in being welcoming, inclusive, and creative, mixing many cultures beyond any static definition. He believes people should be free to mold the dance to their style and personality, and not the other way around. In his classes, there is an emphasis on detailed breakdowns and leading, but also on giving in to musicality and having fun.
Maryam Mahdvar
https://www.instagram.com/forro_birmingham
Maryam is an Iranian dancer based in Birmingham who believes dance is a universal language. Alongside traditional Iranian dance, she has trained in Salsa, Bachata, and Kizomba since moving to the UK, before discovering the unique charm of Forró. What began as curiosity quickly became a passion. As a founder and current volunteer with Forró Birmingham, she loves the dance for its joyful music, close connection, and welcoming community, and she enjoys helping introduce new people to it through classes, workshops, and festivals. Her goal is simple: to make everyone feel relaxed and included, so they leave with a smile.
Argentinian Tango Workshops
Biljana Lipic
Internationally acclaimed teacher and dancer. A pioneer of women leading in tango, as well as a sought-after private teacher at the highest level. Founder of the Tango Dome in London and a key figure in the proliferation of tango in Cornwall. Alongside traditional tango, Biljana also explores more experimental and transformational approaches to movement including Shamanic Tango.
Becalelis Brodskis
Bec is the founder of Barefoot Forró and Barefoot Embrace. A lifelong lover of solo dancing, he discovered partner dance later in life and, much to his surprise, fell deeply in love with Argentine Tango.
His experience of tango extends well beyond the dance floor, informed by numerous visits to Buenos Aires, managing a leading tango couple, producing a feature documentary about tango and founding Barefoot Tango Practica in Cornwall. More recently, Bec has helped introduce Brazilian Forró to Cornwall, organising the county’s first Forró workshop with Felipe Abreu
Alongside his dance work, Bec is an award-winning filmmaker and animator, as well as a highly experienced group facilitator and educator. He has a postgraduate diploma in teaching, extensive experience in higher education and community settings, and a PhD focused on participatory practices that explore the relationship between people’s perceptions and lived reality.
Early-bird tickets are available now:
https://dandelion.events/e/dancecamp
Body workers in authentic movement
Daisy Brodskis
Daisy Brodskis has worked with movement and body conditioning since childhood, beginning with her training at the Royal Ballet School and her career as a ballet dancer. She later trained as a Pilates teacher and has continued to develop her practice through Thai Massage, Gyrokinesis®, anatomy and movement study, and is currently studying craniosacral therapy.
For the September camping festival, Daisy will bring this deep understanding of the body into our shared exploration of authentic connection — helping us become more aware of how we inhabit our own bodies, how we move, and how that awareness supports connection with others
more info https://daisybrodskis.co.uk/
Financial model
At its heart, the camp is being developed on cooperative, not-for-profit principles. We want to keep it accessible while also working towards paying contributing artists fairly for their time and skills.
In this first year, with a target of 40 participants, we are only able to offer contributing artists camping and food in exchange for their involvement. Those who help shape this first edition will become part of the camp’s developing community, and our intention is to invite them to continue with us in future years. As attendance and income grow, paying contributors a fee will be a clear priority.
The programme
The weekend will include:
- Brazilian Forró and Argentine Tango workshops
- Guided practice and social dancing
- Gyrokinesis®, movement and body-awareness sessions
- Opportunities for skill sharing
- Shared meals and community activities
- Group discussions relating to dance, culture, diversity, the embrace and consent
- Music and singing around the fire
- Time to enjoy the beach and surrounding landscape
Building something together
This first year is both a dance weekend and an invitation to help build something longer-term.
The intention is to bring local and regional dance communities together with international dancers and teachers who share an interest in community-building through dance, cultural exchange and embodied connection.
If enough people join us to make this first camp financially sustainable, and a wider group emerges to help develop the next stage, we hope to grow it gently, year by year.
The longer-term vision is an annual cooperative dance camp in Cornwall for dancers, teachers, musicians and movement practitioners interested in connection, embodiment, cultural exchange and community.
New collaborations are welcome.
Contributing to the camp
We hope people will come not only as participants, but as contributors to the shared life of the weekend.
This might involve sharing a skill, helping with a practical task, supporting another participant, contributing to a group discussion or simply helping create a welcoming atmosphere.
Participation in these activities is welcomed rather than compulsory.
We would also be pleased to hear from people interested in volunteering during the planning and pre-production stages, or contributing their skills to this or future editions of the camp.
Tickets and pricing
The ticket price has been set to cover the basic costs of running this small first-year event. At around 40 participants, the camp just breaks even, with the small core organising team receiving food, camping and travel rather than payment for their work.
Early-bird workshop passes begin at £65, rising through several tiers to £100.
The workshop pass covers the workshops, dance practice, community programme and hanging out in a field
If you can afford more ?
We invite those who can afford to do so to make an additional donation. This will help us offer more concessionary places and make the camp accessible to people on lower incomes.
If you can’t afford it at all ?
Get in touch . We never want a lack of income to get in the way of dancing.
If attendance rises above 50 people, additional income will be used to involve more teachers and begin paying the core team a basic fee for the work involved.
Camping and food
Camping and food are additional and must be booked in advance.Reduced rates have been arranged for Dance Camp participants.
A limited number of shepherd’s huts are also available through Porthtowan Eco Park for those who would prefer more comfort.
The shared meal package is designed to make the weekend easier, keep us eating together and support the community atmosphere. Self-catering is possible, but please be aware that there are no shared kitchen facilities.
Participants are welcome to extend their stay at the Eco Park before or after the camp, subject to availability
Provisional timetable
This is a rough outline of the weekend. Exact workshop times and activities will be confirmed as the programme develops.
Friday 11 September
Afternoon — Arrival and time to set up camp
18:00 — First workshop
20:00 — Official welcome and opening of the camp
20:30 — Dinner
21:30 — Evening social dance, possibly a tango milonga with Forró tandas
Saturday 12 September
08:00 — Morning movement session
09:00 — Breakfast
10:00 — Dance workshops begin
13:00 — Lunch
14:30 — Workshops resume
19:00 — Dinner
20:00–22:00 — Music and singing around the fire
From 22:00 — Late-night dancing continues in a secret location
Sunday 13 September
08:00 — Morning movement session
09:00 — Breakfast
10:00 — Dance workshops begin
13:00 — Lunch
14:30 — Workshops and dancing resume
16:00 — Closing gathering for those leaving on Sunday
After 16:00 — Dancing continues
19:00 — Dinner
20:00–22:00 — Music and singing around the fire
The timetable will remain flexible, allowing space for additional teachers, shared skills and activities as more contributors join the camp.
The programme is still growing. More dancers, teachers, musicians, bodyworkers and movement practitioners will be joining us to share their skills and help shape the weekend.
Book your place
Early-bird tickets are available now:
https://dandelion.events/e/dancecamp
This website is still under construction. More details will be added soon as further dancers and practitioners join us to share their skills.
Barefoot Embrace Dance 