A women's dance retreat in Costa Rica
Find your rhythm.
Five days of dancing, rest and real connection on the Pacific coast. Shake off the year you've had, and step into the one you want, at whatever pace feels right.
What the retreat offers
Five days to move, reflect and reconnect.
Everything is an invitation. Join in fully, sit something out, or change your mind halfway through.
Dance & movement
Dance is the heart of the week. It's how we come back to ourselves, find our joy and let go of what we've been carrying.
- Dancing every day, at whatever pace feels right
- Bija Beat with Tracy: joyful, all-levels choreography
- Daily yoga, and yin yoga in the evenings
Reflection
Time to close out the old year and set intentions for the new one.
- Daily journaling on what you want to create and call in
- Sharing circles, where you're truly listened to
Connection
Arrive as strangers, leave as a circle. Three workshops bring us together:
- The Wisdom of Dance: history, neuroscience and regulation
- Calm is a Skill: learn tools to regulate your nervous system
- Write a Song Together: each voice adding its own note, becoming one
Optional activities
Plenty of unscheduled rest, plus a few extras if you want them.
- A hike at Las Catalinas
- Massage (extra cost)
- Tennis lessons (extra cost)
Nature
We plan the day around the sun.
- Beach mornings, a 7-minute walk away
- Late afternoons on the beach or by the pool
Food
Our local chef Ale pours love and joy into every meal, and her genius shines through in the sample menu.
- Meals shared together
- A cooking class with Ale
A day, loosely
The schedule follows the heat.
- 7–9 amBeach
- 9–10 amBreakfast together
- 10 am–4 pmWorkshops, yoga, dance & rest indoors
- 4–6 pmBeach or pool
- 6:30–8 pmDinner together
- EveningYin yoga, optional massage
Who it's for
This is for you if…
You don't need to be a dancer, a yogi or a meditator. You don't need to be flexible. You just need to come.
- You want more joy, and you're tired of waiting for it to show up on its own.
- You spend a lot of time in your head and miss feeling at home in your body.
- You'd like a real reset before the new year gets going.
- You want to meet women you actually connect with.
- You've never danced in front of anyone, and the idea makes you a little nervous.
Take part in whatever way feels right. Every practice is optional, and resting counts.
Meet Rebecca
Rebecca Sharzer
Rebecca has been dancing for more than forty years. At her first Five Rhythms class, over twenty years ago, she found something she hadn't felt in a club or a studio: the freedom to follow her own body instead of someone else's steps. That's where she truly found her rhythm.
She wrote The Wisdom of Dance: Pathways to Healing, Liberation, Joy and Connection. Today she leads dance journeys, coaching and day retreats for women at her home in the Hudson Valley. In her sessions there are no steps to learn and nothing to get wrong.
thewisdomofdance.com →
Meet Tracy
Tracy Straus
Tracy is a New York-trained dancer and choreographer who has spent thirty years creating rooms where people feel what dance can do. She created Bija Beat, a joyful, all-levels dance class with live music, in her loft in Tribeca. She also founded Celebrate the Beat, which brings free dance classes to children in Colorado schools.
Casa Vista Prieta is Tracy's home in Costa Rica, and for these five days she's opening it to us.
Where we'll stay
Casa Vista Prieta
Tracy's home near Las Catalinas, on Costa Rica's Pacific coast. It has two pools and an open yoga studio, and the beach is a 7-minute walk away.
Practical details
Rooms, prices & what's included
Jungle Deluxe Suite
KINGThe largest bedroom. Stay solo, or share it with a friend.
Mariposa Deluxe Suite
KINGSteps from the pool. Stay solo, or share it with a friend.
Jardín Suite
QUEENA private suite for one, with a queen bed.
Las Palmas Suite
4 QUEENSFour queen beds, for up to four women. Bring friends, or come solo and meet new ones.
Aire Suite
QUEENA private room for one. The bathroom is outside the room, not en suite.
Included
It's all-inclusive, except flights, massages and tennis lessons.
- Five days at Casa Vista Prieta
- Round-trip transportation between Liberia Airport and the retreat
- All meals from Ale, our local chef
- Daily dance, yoga and evening yin yoga
- Every workshop, plus a cooking class with Ale
- A hike at Las Catalinas
- Journaling and sharing circles
Not included
- Flights to Costa Rica
- Massages
- Private tennis lessons
Questions
Good to know
Do I need dance experience?
No. Tracy's Bija Beat choreography is joyful and made for all levels, and in the rest of the dancing there's no right way to move. If you can sway to a song in your kitchen, you can do this. If you can't, you're welcome too.
I'm not flexible. Can I still do the yoga?
Yes. You don't need to touch your toes or hold any pose. Move in a way that feels good, and rest whenever you want to.
Do I have to do everything?
No. Every part of the day is optional. Sitting out, napping or watching from the side are all welcome.
Can I share a room with a friend?
Yes. The two king suites (Jungle and Mariposa) can be shared by two friends, and the Las Palmas Suite sleeps up to four. Prices are per room, so sharing lowers your cost.
How do I get there?
Fly into Liberia's Guanacaste Airport (LIR). We'll pick you up at the airport, drive you to the retreat and bring you back at the end, and it's included in the price. Arrival at the house is after 3 pm on January 11, and departure is before noon on January 15, so please book flights that fit those times.
What should I pack?
[Packing list to come.]
Can the chef work with my dietary needs?
Yes. Tell us about any dietary restrictions or allergies when you book, and Ale will plan around them.
How do I reserve my place?
Choose your room above and pay a non-refundable deposit of $1,000 to hold it. That covers a solo or shared suite, or one bed in the Las Palmas Suite. The deposit secures your place and lets us confirm your room, facilitators and experiences. Final payment is due 60 days before the retreat, by November 12, 2026.
What if I need to cancel?
We understand that life happens.
- More than 60 days before the retreat (before November 12, 2026): we keep your deposit and refund any other payments.
- 30–60 days before (November 12 to December 12, 2026): we refund 50% of your total payment, minus the deposit.
- Within 30 days (after December 12, 2026): we can't give refunds, because of the commitments we make to our venue and team.
If we're able to fill your spot, we'll refund your balance, minus the deposit. We recommend travel insurance with trip cancellation coverage, to protect your investment in case of the unexpected.
January 11–15, 2027 · Up to 10 women
Come join us in paradise.
If something in you said yes while you were reading, trust that. Write to Tracy with any questions, or reserve your room. We'd love to have you.
Request details