Mexico Dance Adventure (March 17-24, 2019)
Tentative Schedule:
*Please Note: The agenda below is merely a rough sketch from 2018. Given the number of activities to choose from, the schedule may be changed according to the group's interests & what is available locally. Our theme is "a little learning and a little play each day"
Sunday (March 17th):
- Arrive at "Casa de Tortuga" (while official check-in is 4pm, feel to arrive sooner, and if your room is not available, you may still check your luggage with the concierge and enjoy the amenities)
- Official Welcome, Orientation, & Introductions, 6:00pm (Please be on time!)
- Walk into town for Welcome Dinner & Group Social, 7:00pm
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday (March 18-20, 22-23):
- Morning Workshops with Ari, 10-12:00 (See dance topics list below)
- Group Lunch & Socializing
- Adventure Activities or Time On Your Own (See adventure options below)
- Dinner & Dancing (or other evening activities)
Thursday (March 21th):
- Free Day: Enjoy a relaxing day on the beach, excursions, visiting nearby towns
- [Optional] Day Trip to Puerto Vallarta
Sunday (March 24th):
- Sleep in. Relax. Pack.
- Last Meeting, Wrap-Up and Goodbye's (details TBA)
- Optional group brunch (details TBA)
- Check out. Shuttle to airport.
*Note: Because you will want to give yourself at least three hours to communte to and check in at the airlport in Puerto Vallarta, you may want to arrange your travel home on Saturday (April 8th) late in the afternoon or early evening
Dance Workshop Options:
Our choices for daily dance topics are quite diverse, as are the levels (from beginning to advanced). Much will be decided by the group on location. Class topics may include, but are not be limited to:
- The Invisible Art of Dance Connection, Flow, & Energy
- Secrets to Effortless Partnering
- All Things Salsa (steps & combos, tricks, styling, connection, modern fusion)
- Romantic Rumba (steps & combos, styling, connection, modern fusion)
- Fabulous Cha Cha (steps & combos, tricks, styling, modern fusion, etc)
- Fun with Merengue (steps & combos, tricks, styling, modern fusion, etc)
- The Art of Tango (steps & combos, tricks, styling, modern fusion, etc)
- Bachata Made Easy(steps & combos, tricks, styling, modern fusion, etc)
- Intro to Kizomba (steps & combos, tricks, styling, modern fusion, etc)
- Lifts, Dips, & Garnishes to embellish your repertoire
- Musicality
- A Taste of Swing (steps & combos, tricks, styling, modern fusion, etc)
- Mastering the Blues (steps & combos, tricks, styling, modern fusion, etc)
- Intro to Fusion (energy, flow, connection, and more)
- Fun with West Coast Swing
Adventure Options:
Our choice of group activities, dining locations, cultural activities, etc, can be fairly flexible. Much will be decided by the group on location. Activities may include, but are not be limited to:
- Additional Specialty Dance Workshops & Classes, Extra Dance Practices
- Visit the fabulous Hot Springs!
- Attend the "La Penita Market" (Thursday)
- Petroglyphs Trail Hike
- Fishing Tour
- Surfing
- Snorkeling
- Whale watching
- La Penita market day
- Crocodile farm visit
- Acheological site visit
- Private beach trip & picnic
- Sayulita day trip for zip lining or surf school
- Evening trip to disco in Sayulita or Gauyabitos.
- Learn Spanish with a local tutor
Evening Dining & Dancing Options:
- Acelas Rooftop Restaurant (dining & dancing)
- Oceanfront Palapa (dining & dancing)
- Mingos Oceanside Open Air Dance Floor (Saturday is "posole" day!).
- Karlas Top Story Hot Spot (dance party with the locals!)
Enjoy the magic of Chacala, where you’ll find a unique, almost spiritual feel, with instant warmth and connectedness. It may just transform you!
CLICK HERE to see a news reel about Chacalas.
CLICK HERE to read a blogspot about Chacalas.
EVENING ACTIVITY OPTIONS, EXPANDED:
Our evening activity options can include a group dinner & dance at a different local venue for 4 or 5 of the nights. Our actual itinerary will be decided by the group during the week:
* Tuesday: A dance at Mingos, a simple open air restaurant which has a large polished concrete floor and is on the ocean. They are famous for their Saturday posole day as well, so we might also combine a dance with that. It’s in a visible spot so it's quite popular with the townsfolk.
* Wednesday: A town party at Villa de Tortugas; the top level is large enough for dancing, the party happens on the 2nd level. Jae hosts one of these every time she is in town and they are always a hit, 50 – 100 people. We may offer a dance lesson as part of it...
* Thursday: Dance at the weekly town gathering. Karla, who has been very active in the town for many years, hosts a weekly gathering on Thursdays on her rooftop for anyone who is in town. It's a great place it to meet locals, and dance. The locals will love it too….
* Friday: A dance on Acelas upper deck. Open air with a palm palapa cover, this restaurant is on the beach, actually on the sand, like many others here. We can do this dance with or without food or bar, it's outr option. Their Sarendeado, a local speciality of BBqd fish, is considered the best in town and must be ordered in quantity so might be nice to have a small buffet.
* Saturday: A dance at Mingos, a simple open air restaurant which has a large polished concrete floor and is on the ocean. They are famous for their Saturday 'posole' day, so that should be fun.