In Person
September 17 - 23
Tuition, Room and Board $850.00 (shared room with 2 other people) $975.00 (shared room with one other person) $1,170.00 (single room)
Vocal Play Retreat
with Zahara
September 17 – 23, 2024
Vocal: What is your authentic sound? Your voice has the ability to heal, soothe, ignite, and command attention. Accept and learn to love your voice in all its avatars.
Play: Give yourself permission to be playful and carefree. Let your inner child guide you. Allow yourself to flow with ease and free expression.
Retreat: We create within a place of openness, trust, and vulnerability. Ground yourself in an idyllic location where you can reconnect with nature, your body and spirit. What is most important to you as an artist? How can you lean further into your artistry?
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Explore improvised storytelling through sound, movement, and body percussion, while connecting with nature in a space of openness, trust, and vulnerability.
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Immerse in vocal traditions from around the world including Konnakol, the ancient South Indian rhythmic language.
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Ease into daily Play Time with musical games and exercises that encourage you to let your inner child guide you toward finding your personal, authentic voice.
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Co-create spontaneous songs through Circle Singing; combining musical flavors from India, the Middle East, the Balkan regions, and beyond.
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Explore vocal timbres, embrace odd meters and grooves, and dig into the rich and varied musical possibilities that live within all of us.
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Collaborate with singers from around the world for a final performance on the Island.
- Zahara is a Grammy and Emmy nominated musician, educator, and arts entrepreneur. A versatile vocal improviser with roots in Kerala, India, she is a seasoned recording and touring artist, producer, composer-arranger, pianist, voice-over actor, public speaker, Emmy-nominated TV personality, and bonafide sari connoisseur.
At Boston’s Berklee College of Music, Zahara is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Grammy Nominated Berklee Indian Ensemble, a viral phenomenon with over 300 million views till date. The Ensemble’s debut album, Shuruaat featured 98 musicians from 39 countries, and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Global Music Album in 2023.
Zahara has performed with several Grammy winning legends including A.R. Rahman, Bill Whelan, Nona Hendryx, Angelique Kidjo, and Zakir Hussain, besides collaborations with music icons, Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Ghoshal, Clinton Cerejo, Vijay Prakash, Jonita Gandhi, Haricharan, Ranjit Barot, Ghatam Giridhar Udupa, Ricky Kej, and the Jazz Urbane, to name a few. Annette has spent over a decade touring the globe with internationally acclaimed vocal quartet, Women of the World; disruptors in the a cappella world, singing in 37 languages and counting, conducting music and movement workshops and master classes. In all she does, including her songwriting duo, Tigs & Nettles, and “keeping it light” her online reflection series, Annette’s message of self-love, playful resilience, and kindness are the foundation.
Retreat Schedule
September 17 – 23
TUESDAY
Arrive in Athens and travel to Mets for an evening session with a view of the Acropolis
Arrive September 17 in time for a 7-9pm evening gathering in Mets, central Athens.
Enjoy a light meal at Nana and Caryn’s place with a view of the Acropolis and the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
Spend the night in a hotel, pension, or Airbnb of your choice (not included in price). Email us for a list of suggestions.
WEDNESDAY
Travel to the island
Enjoy breakfast on your own at your B&B or pick up a Gravieropita (special goat cheese from Naxos pastry) across the street from our rendez-vous point
Morning of the 18th leave for the island (ferry/bus/cab ticket not included).
We will have cars going to the island from Athens center for a small fee all together.
We will stop in the nearby town of Karystos (10 minutes drive from Bouros) for some sight-seeing, shopping (you may want to pick up some local Greek honey, yogurt, olives for snacks or a beach mat or hat), lunch on your own at one of the tavernas along the waterfront.
Then we stop for mountain-fed spring water and arrive at the farm in the afternoon.
Farm to table dinner all together. Evening session 8pm to 10pm.
THURSDAY – SUNDAY
2 Sessions per Day
Two 2.5 hour sessions per day. Extra activities may include swimming, visiting a stunning waterfall, and participating in a student concert.
Brunch and dinner provided except for the possibility of a lunch on waterfall trip and dinner on the town.
MONDAY
Depart on Sept 23rd from the Island.
Check out around 11:30a
Pack up and leave the room by 11:30a.
Brunch provided.
Organize your transport back together via ferry, taxi, bus or metro to airport, etc.
Accommodations & About Your Stay
Choose a private room or share with one or two friends. Twin nontoxic mattresses, in room bathroom with shower, kitchenette with sink, coffee/tea and mini fridge. Every room has a sea view and is a minute’s stroll to the sea. Outdoor showers in between. Solar hot water. AC. Internet. Well water for showering. Spring water in bottles for drinking.
Bedrooms
Beds
Guests
in person jazz vocal fun awaits
Reserve today
Sky Room
Meet in the Sky Room where you can sing with a beautiful view of the sea.
Fly in to Athens
Fly to Athens possibly a day or two ahead to enjoy ancient sites and delicious restaurants. Nana and Caryn will be available for some guidance.
Taxi or Bus to Ferry
A taxi to the Ferry is about a half hour drive or take the bus right to the port.
Ferry to Island
Grab your tickets at the port and hop aboard for a one hour scenic trip across the sea to the island of Evia.
Farm to Table
Fruit, veggies and eggs come from the organic farm with some supplemental locally sourced natural and organic specialties.
Enjoy Nontoxic Body Care
Some complimentary reef safe, nontoxic body care products are provided so your body can get a vacation from hidden toxins in most commercial brands, and the environment is respected since we are so close to the sea. We will post a few weeks prior to the workshop what we have and what you might want to bring. Good for vocal health and performance as well as the planet and sea.
Possible Concert in Castle
There is the possibility that we can organize a concert to perform music at a historic castle in the neighboring town of Karystos on Saturday evening
Visit an Oasis
Platanistos is a magical oasis we can opt to visit about an hour from Bouros. Enjoy a cool shady waterfall with pools and streams of fresh crystal clear water amidst sun-dappled greenery
Have a Question?
Policies & F.A.Q.
Nontoxic BodyCare and Clear Clothes
We will attempt to create a nontoxic environment for singing with a combination of provided nontoxic products and some we suggest you bring with you. By the end of summer, our supply may be limited, so check in with us a few weeks before your trip to confirm what we are able to provide that may include reef safe sunscreen, mosquito repellant, shampoo, conditioner, body and hand soap, body and face lotion, deodorant. Bring your hair and toothbrush and leave anything with commercial fragrance or chemical pesticides at home if possible. The retreat is so close to the shore we have committed to honoring the pristine waters, and the community environment will be healthier for all. For ultimate vocal support, in preparation for your retreat, wash your clothes with nontoxic laundry products so your body and those around you will be able to relax in this oasis from chemical assaults. Brands that we know are nontoxic include Seventh Generation, BioKleen, BioPac, Ecover Zero, Sodasan or use vinegar or baking soda.
What to Bring
Comfortable clothes for singing and one outfit you could perform in
long pants for hiking if you want,
bathing suit or two and sun skinz if you want to be in the sun as long as you want
casual dinner clothes for in town dining
a sweater or wrap for cool evenings
and a beach towel
if possible prewash the above in nontoxic laundry products like Seventh Generation, BioPac, BioKleen or Charlie Soap or baking soda or vinegar.
Flip flops
hiking shoes (if you want to explore the trails)
sunglasses
journal?
toothbrush and toothpaste and any other bath and bodycare we can’t provide (we will know about 2 weeks beforehand)
comb or brush
What Not to Bring
Don’t bring:
Anything with commercial fragrance or other hazardous chemical such as DEET, parfum, scent, fragrance, chemical sunscreen
Cigarettes – the retreat center is non-smoking
For fire safety, no candles, incense or anything else that might require open flames. The surrounding area is dry and fire is a danger. With supervision from retreat staff, it is possible to build a fire in the barbeque area or on the beach in the evening, but extreme care is needed and supervision required.
Outdoor & Adventure
In addition to your swimsuit, you may want to bring a snorkel, mask and fins to enjoy the clear waters where you can spot fish and seaweed. For hiking you may want some hiking boots and long pants to give you protection from brush as well as a sun hat. For extended hours in the sun, you may want some sun skins. At the private rocky seaside, some water shoes can help.
Day Trips
We can take a day trip to a delightful fresh water oasis – Platanistos – about an hour’s drive that offers delicious fresh water pools and cool streams communing with a lush green environment.
Art & Culture
The nearby town of Karistos has regular open air concerts.
Cantina at Beach and Restaurants Nearby
Next door to us, there is a cantina with a full array of coffee and other drinks as well as food that you can enjoy in a cabana lounge chair at the seaside. Within less than a ten minute cab ride, there are an array of restaurants to choose from as well as one with a bar a short 5 minute walk from us.
Checkin & Checkout
Check in is any time after 3pm
Check out is anytime before 11am
We will work with you if your needs fall outside of these hours if we have advance notice.
Let us know your travel plans and we can help advise you on bus from airport, ferry schedules, and how to get a taxi from ferry to Center. Rome to Rio is a great site and app that will provide transport details.
It is possible to book a few extra days on either side of the retreat.
Cancellation Policy
Seven day cancellation free of charge (minus registration fee). After 7 days 50% of total workshop fee.