Follow Your Passion
a retreat to ignite artistry and self-discovery
september 28th- october 4th 2024 in Honolulu, hawaii
Gather on the island of O’ahu during autumn for a week of ballet classes, live music, and self-discovery.
daily Ballet classes
Enjoy daily ballet classes and workshops featuring requested dream-role repertoire (by you!) to awaken your inner artist.
live piano music
Dance to beautiful live music accompanied by a classical pianist to find a deeper connection to your movement.
yoga and mindfulness
Compliment your ballet practice with restorative practices to inspire self-discovery.
meet your guides
topaz aleah davis | former professional ballet dancer, yoga and meditation instructor and energy practitioner
Aloha everyone! My name is Topaz and I’m the founder and owner of Island Paddle Bliss, a floating yoga studio based in the heart of Honolulu on O’ahu. This retreat is very personally inspired and I am truly excited to bring this experience to life that intends to inspire self-discovery through artistic expression. Read more about me HERE and feel free to connect further on socials or by joining a class if you are on-island or traveling through.
some other things to share…
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I started my ballet training under the direction of Christina Hampton and Robbin Elowe in my hometown of Mesa, Arizona through Classical French technique with influence in Neoclassical Balanchine style. Beginning at the age of 13, I spent summers away training at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet in New York City and Chicago, Nashville Ballet, City Ballet of San Diego, Moxie Contemporary Ballet in Portland, and participated in a summer immersion at The Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Russia-which was an incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience. In the later years of my training, I joined the full-time pre-professional II trainee division of Miami City Ballet School in Miami Beach, Florida.
I then went on to dance professionally in the Corps de Ballet of The California Ballet Company (presently liquidized) in San Diego and as an Apprentice with Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance for their summer season in Asheville, North Carolina, before relocating to New York City to audition and perform in collaborative projects, choreographer showcases, freelance productions, and with smaller based contemporary ballet companies before the start of the pandemic.
In this short period as a professional dancer, I gratefully was able to have performed ballets by George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Septime Webre, Gerald Arpino, Heather Maloy, Jared Nelson, and others. Some of my favorite performances include, “Orange Girl” in “Birthday Variations” (Arpino),“Tootles The Lost Boy” in “Peter Pan” (Webre), and in the corps de ballet of “Serenade” (Balanchine).
As a teacher, I’ve taught ballet and pointe classes for all ages for nearly fifteen years. I especially enjoy working with adult dancers who arrive to class with a deep appreciation for this art and seek to develop their own artistic expression, strength in the body, and understanding of this beautiful practice, simply for the pure love and joy of it.
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I love to incorporate variation-like combinations that feel light, airy, and “pretty.” Port de bras, footwork, allegro, and waltz are my favorite to highlight. As a teacher, it’s important for me to get to know each dancer individually and to give personal corrections and encouragement that’s unique to each dancer’s body, natural strengths, and movement style. Overall, I’d say my classes are very personable and are intended to uplift and make you feel beautiful in your body.
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To me, self-discovery is all about exploring yourself, your strengths and weaknesses, and what lights you up in order to develop who you are, step into your unique purpose, and contribute to the world around you. Some of my personal favorite ways to dive into self-discovery is through artistic expression, travel, and study of the self-all which will be featured through this experience.
suzuka ichikawa | Professional pianist
Hello everyone! My name is Suzuka and I’m a professional pianist, based in Tokyo, Japan. I was born in Osaka, Japan and was raised in Malmo, Sweden. I have a degree in Classical Piano Performance from the Norwegian Academy of Music (Oslo, Norway) and Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia (Rome, Italy). I have participated in and won multiple awards at international piano competitions such as Steinway Piano Festival (Stockholm, Sweden), Berlingske Tidens Music Competition (Copenhagen, Denmark) and Roma International Piano Competition (Rome, Italy).
I have been performing since an early age and now I currently work as a pianist at a 5-star hotel; ANA Intercontinental Tokyo where I play classical, pop and jazz for the guests! I also enjoy collaborating with other artists in the Tokyo music scene as well as doing my own solo recitals. I also share my passion for music with piano content created on social media platforms where I also introduce Japanese culture through piano playing. You can also listen to my piano covers on Spotify! To learn more about me, let’s connect further on socials here!
A few things to share…
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My favorite composer is Chopin because in my opinion he wrote the most beautiful piano music out of any composer, telling stories through music, evoking a wide range of emotions into each and every piece. When I heard his Nocturne for the first time when I was 10 years old, I started shedding tears and it was my first time feeling touched by music and I never knew this feeling existed!
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For one concert I was promised a grand piano, however on the day of the performance, upon arriving at the venue and seeing for myself, lo and behold, there was a keyboard with no notes stand or pedal. Yikes. (I still played and enjoyed the concert but no more keyboards please!)
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Passion for me means infusing my music with emotions and personal expression. It involves pouring my heart and soul into music, allowing my emotions to drive my creativity and performance. I believe putting passion into music creates a deeper connection with the audience and evokes stronger emotional responses.
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What you’ll experience
a journey into the world of ballet and classical music…
This retreat will include daily opportunities to dance to live accompanied piano and ignite your passion through both ballet and classical music. Each day will incorporate a morning technique class, followed by a repertoire workshop paired with live music, to further explore your artistry and awaken your passion.
Self development and growth
Compliment your daily ballet practice with restorative practices surrounding self-discovery to explore both your movement as a dancer and uniqueness as an individual. We’ll utilize artistic expression through dance and music as a catalyst to further explore your life as a whole and uncover new aspects of yourself both in and out of the ballet studio.
a creative and inspiring space
The atmosphere of this experience will be inspiring with artists of all backgrounds and experience levels gathering together to follow their passion and ignite their artistry through a shared appreciation of classical ballet, music, and mindfulness.
what’s included
group classes and workshops
5 ballet classes, 5 repertoire workshops (variations from your requested dream roles), 3 restorative practices (meditation, journaling, etc), and 2 SUP Yoga classes.
Accommodation and daily transportation
6 night/7 day stay and daily transportation to and from group class facilities and hotel.
group meals and breakfast
Opening and closing group meals are provided, as well as (5) daily breakfast vouchers to utilize on site at the hotel ground floor restaurant.
gift bag
A retreat gift bag with ballet essentials, samples, and gifts.
what’s not included?
Not included in your booking is airfare, airport transfer, trip and travel insurance, five days of lunch and dinner, and free time activities or excursions.
sample day
7am-8am | Breakfast
9am-10:30am | Ballet Class w/Live Music
10:30am - 11:45am | Break
11:45am-12:45pm |Repertoire w/Live Music
1pm | Lunch, Relaxation, and Free Time
6:30pm | Sunset Restorative Yoga
7:30pm | Dinner
Who is this experience for?
those with a passion for ballet and classical music
Whether you are a former professional ballerina, a teacher, a past childhood dancer, or an adult student, this experience is for anyone who has a special place in their heart for ballet and classical music. If you have a desire to retrace your former ballet practice or grow your present practice, this experience will provide daily opportunities to ignite your passion and deepen your artistry for ballet.
those looking to discover new aspects of themselves, both as an artist and individual
If you have an interest to further explore your artistry in your dancing, as well as your unique talents and strengths as an individual-this is for you. Each day will incorporate restorative practices surrounding the concept of self-discovery to reflect on new aspects of who you are both as a dancer, as well as outside of the studio.
those seeking an encouraging and creative community
What better community to join than one of the artist? Dancers, musicians, and artists of varying backgrounds and experience levels will gather together for this retreat to encourage and uplift one another. The atmosphere of this experience will be very inviting, nurturing, and encouraging to allow for both individual and collective artistry to shine.
ready to join us?
The Space
the gold coast of waikiki
Gather and restore on the beautiful island of Oahu in a tucked away area of Waikiki in Honolulu, Hawaii.
6 night/7 day stay
Enjoy a six night and seven day stay at an oceanfront boutique hotel, The Kaimana. You’ll enjoy on site dining, oceanfront amenities, and a serene tucked away area on the Gold Coast of Waikiki.
private room w/queen bed and city view
Enjoy a private one bedroom room w/ a full bath overlooking the city.
private room w/queen bed and diamond head view
Enjoy a queen bed and full bath, overlooking Diamond Head.
private room w/queen bed and ocean view
Enjoy a queen bed and shared full bath, overlooking ocean view.
The Nourishment
on site dining and off site destinations
breakfast voucher
Included in your stay is five days of breakfast credit to utilize towards daily on site breakfast at the Hau Tree.
opening and closing group meals
Private opening and closing retreat group meals are included in your retreat stay.
lunch & dinner options
Five evenings of lunch and dinner are excluded in your retreat stay. There are several restaurants and bars located within walking distance in the area, as well as the on site ground floor restaurant, Hau Tree.
The Practice
awaken and ignite
Each day will begin in the ballet studio to awaken the body and spirit. We will move through a full technique class, followed by repertoire to ignite your artistry and deepen your connection to your movement through live music.
reflect and discover
Each evening will evoke the mind by ending with collective group meditation and restorative practices surrounding self-discovery. You will reflect on your personal strengths, your interests, your unique talents, and ways to invite more opportunities into your life that fuel passion and purpose in your day-to-day.
inspire and uplift
Through both the combination of actively pursuing and returning to your creative passion for dance, as well as through internal reflection, you will feel inspired to embrace new aspects of yourself both in and out of the ballet studio. Artistic expression paired with personal reflection will ignite self-discovery from the inside-out.
The Connection
In alignment with Island Paddle Bliss’s core mission of unifying the mind-body-spirit with nature, there will be plenty of time to integrate with the beautiful surroundings of Oahu. Throughout this experience, open ocean SUP yoga classes, outdoor restorative practices, waterfront accommodations and meal services, as well as open aired ballet classes among the mountains will be provided, to encourage a deeper connection to nature.
The Time
Each day will include an open moment for you to rest, relax, and indulge in personal time for yourself. You may choose to swim in the ocean, rest near one of the many quaint areas around the resort, book a Watersport lesson or rental, or experience a sightseeing activity or excursion off site. This time is open for you to listen to your body and to spend as you feel called.
The Intention
To provide a collective space for dancers, musicians, and artists to gather together on the beautiful island of O’ahu to express their passion for classical ballet and music. The intention of this experience is to inspire self-discovery and purpose in everyday life through heartfelt practice of classical ballet, music, and mindfulness.
The Investment
deposit | $2,500 usd
city view | $3,650 USD
diamond head view | $3,750 USD
Ocean view | $4,150 USD
4.7% Hawaii State Tax is applied per each booking. Remaining balance for on-site accommodation is due 30 days upon arrival.
FAQ
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Please note that Hawaii charges 4.7% tax on all services. This will automatically be added in your total cost when booking.
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A $2,500 USD deposit is required to reserve your spot. 100% of this deposit is fully refundable prior to 60 days from the start of the retreat. 50% of this deposit is refundable prior to 30 days of the start of the retreat. Within 30 days of the start of the retreat, this deposit is non-refundable.
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Upon submitting deposit, you will receive a confirmation email with terms and conditions, remaining balance instructions, a ballet questionnaire to complete, travel details, and information regarding your retreat welcome packet.
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Upon submitting deposit, you will receive a private group link to reserve your accommodation online through the hotel’s website. This will require one night down on a credit card with the remainder due upon arrival.
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100% of your payment is fully refundable prior to 60 days before the start of the retreat. 50% of your payment is refundable prior to 30 days before the start of the retreat. Refunds are not accepted within 30 days of the start of the retreat. Date or retreat transfers are not accepted.
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Travel insurance is required for all out of state participants and must be purchased separately. We recommend Allianz Travel Insurance. Estimates are around $150-$500 depending on your age. Proof of travel insurance must be submitted 60 days prior to your arrival.
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An agreement stating payment, travel, liability, and participation terms and conditions will be required to review and sign prior to arrival.
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This retreat welcomes individuals ages 18+.
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Just to give you an idea, your hosts within the ages of 29-35 years old. But we are confident we will all be able to connect regardless of age.
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October of 2024.
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No. This retreat is promoting artistic expression and artistry through dance and music, as well as further exploring new aspects of yourself as a dancer and an individual through internal reflection and community.
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Repertoire taught will be selected from requested repertoire from retreat participants. Upon booking, you’ll receive a questionnaire to request a particular ballet or solo variation you would like to learn during the retreat. This is an excellent opportunity to request “dream role” choreography that you are fond of, have never learned, or have always wanted to dance but never had the opportunity to do so.
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All levels are welcome for the yoga classes and do not require any previous experience.
However, it’s recommended to have several years of ballet experience as we will not introduce beginning level steps during this retreat. HERE is a basic list of recommended steps to have prior knowledge of and experience with, before joining this retreat.
Please note that these recommended steps do not need to be at a certain skill level by any means, but rather just have already been taught to you, so that the class as a whole is on the same level of awareness.
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A few yards from the shoreline. Please note that there are no harmful sea life creatures in the area (no sharks). However you will not be able to stand in the water, so please be sure to have basic swimming skills.
Have another question? Feel free to reach out to us HERE and we will respond as soon as possible
Hawaii Residents
book a staycation or per class drop-in
6 night/7 day staycation | 30% OFF
Take some time for yourself to join this retreat as a 6 night and 7 day staycation. Join as a Hawaii resident at a discounted rate. Must show proof of residency. Inquire below for link to reserve.
drop-in per class | $34
Join on a per class basis and book per class. Book below.
