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Return of the Light - Winter Solstice Music and Dance Camp

Name: Return of the Light - Winter Solstice Music and Dance Camp
Start: 2026-06-19T16:00:00+10:00
End: 2026-06-19T16:00:00+10:00
Location: Lizzy's Homested

About

Join us at Lizzie's homestead on Gadubanud Country in Gellibrand. Set in a beautiful 71 acre bush setting in the heart of the Otways, this small gathering will be a celebration of the longest night and the return of the longer days of sunshine. The camp includes solstice rituals with African drumming and dance, storytelling through singing and Ukelele, as well as Yoga practices that honour the season's transition. Whether you are an experienced dancer, musician or yogi, or looking to connect with others, this Winter retreat offers an opportunity for transformation. Embrace the return of light, celebrate renewal and leave with joy in your Heart, inspiration for your Soul and a meaningful connection with a creative community.
To keep it cosy, the camp is limited to 7 participants.

Date

Friday 19 June 2026 4:00 PM - Sunday 21 June 2026 5:00 PM (UTC+10)

Location

Get directions

Lizzy's Homested
Fry's Rd, Gellibrand Victoria 3239

PROGRAM
FRIDAY EVENING
Arrive between 4.00pm - 6.00pm
7.00pm Welcome Dinner
8.00pm Ukelele and Singing with Lizzie. Enter into our shadow side through beautiful songs of grace
Bring your Uke or guitar (if you prefer) or let us know if you would like us to provide a Uke for you.
9.00pm Fire drumming and dance ceremony with Jacqui. Acknowledging our sorrow, grief and
releasing our emotional pain to the fire of transformation for renewal and growth.
10.00pm Yoga Nidra with Alita. Bringing our body, mind and Spirit to a restful place ready for deep
slumber through guided deep relaxation.

SATURDAY
8.00am Hatha Yoga with Alita to awaken into the new light of the day.
9.00am Breakfast
10:00 AM: Return of the Sacred Kingfisher through drumming, to ground the new light using sound, rhythm, and storytelling with Jacqui.
11.00am Welcome back Kingfisher dance to our Stamping Ground ki ki ki kik with Jacqui.

1.00pm Lunch
2.00pm Forest walk and river immersion (optional for the very brave!) for renewal. (Requiring a 20
minute drive.)…. Or option to relax at the Homestead or walk the Beechy line trail.
5.00pm Ukelele and singing with Lizzie. Songs that bring in the love and light for a new beginning.
7.00pm Dinner
8.00pm Fire burning brightly - drumming and dance ceremony with Jacqui, to weave our new stories together as one.
9.00pm Music Jam for uplifting Spirits.
10.00pm Yoga Nidra with Alita. Bringing our body, mind and Spirit to a restful place ready for deep
slumber through guided deep relaxation.

SUNDAY
8.00am Hatha Yoga with Alita to awaken the senses into a new beginning.
9.00am Breakfast
10.00am Willy Wagtail drumming to celebrate the balance of the dark and the light.
11.00am Willy Wagtail dance for finding our happy place at the heart centre.
1.00pm Lunch
2.00pm Forest walk along a section of the Beechy Line Rail Trail
4.00pm Afternoon Tea in the forest and Closing Ceremony and farewells
7.00pm Gellibrand Hotel for dinner (optional extra)

YOUR TEACHERS

Jacqui Dreessens

Jacqui Dreessens is an ethnochoreologist, multidisciplinary artist and community arts practitioner in choreography and percussion. Her inspiration draws from nature and the environment, exploring the ecology of place and embodied experience through dance ritual at the intersection of sound, movement, poetry and film. She is inspired by Indigenous World Dance cultures and their expression of connection to ancestral spirit and the land and how this connection fosters a sense of place. All the traditional as well as her new songs, dances and rhythms are easily accessible to a complete beginner. Or if you are already an accomplished singer, dancer and musician, Jacqui can guide you on when and where to shine your light.

Alita Trafton

Alita has been teaching yoga since 2010. She is passionate about sharing the many benefits of classical style Hatha Yoga and Yoga Nidra (guided deep relaxation) with anyone from absolute beginners to seasoned yoga practitioners. Her teachings include turning inwards being mindful of the breath and the body to find a balance between comfort and challenge, creating space for the body and mind to strengthen, rejuvenate and relax. During our Return of the Light yoga sessions Alita will also focus the practice on major energy centres Manipura and Anahata chakras to help us connect to the Winter light of transformation in Manipura and renewal through the light & wisdom of the heart in Anahata. These practices can also help to keep the body and mind happy & healthy, leading us towards a more balanced, fulfilling and happier lifestyle free from stress and physical limitations.

Liz Hamilton

I moved to the Otway Ranges in 1990 and around that time I really started getting into learning music starting with percussion then singing, ukulele, guitar and my favourite – the harmonica. I’ve been performing for the last 20 or so years with various bands – currently with Chestnut Street. I love jamming and helping to teach people new tunes and techniques – whether they are beginners or experienced musicians. Our retreat will be held at my beautiful property in Frys Rd, Gellibrand which is close to the forest and has lovely elevated views to the north. We are adjacent to the Beechy Line rail trail and not far from many of the treats that our region has to offer. I started building my off-grid home as a single mother, owner-builder in 1995. It’s been a never-ending labour of love and a lot of work but my home, land and the surrounding forest nourish and reward me in so many ways – it’s a big part of who I am. I’m so looking forward to sharing my home and music with like-minded people again as we celebrate the changing season and bring in the light together through song, dance, yoga and great company.

ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS
Full accommodation, (2 nights), Vegetarian Meals and Program: Friday - Sunday afternoon
$450.00
Friday evening dinner and program. Saturday breakfast, lunch, dinner with full activities. Sunday
breakfast, lunch and full activities.
Note: accommodation will be either at Lizzie’s home or at a farm stay property ~ 3km away near
Gellibrand township. Participants will have their own bedroom and shared bathroom.

Off-site accommodation, Vegetarian Meals and Program: Friday - Sunday full activities
$350.00
For those who’d like to organise their own accommodation. Friday night dinner and program.
Saturday breakfast, lunch and dinner at Lizzie's with full activities. Sunday breakfast, lunch and full activities

You are welcome to camp on Lizzie's land or if you have a campervan or caravan. Please email Lizzieham9@gmail.com before you book.

If you have any dietary or other special mobility requirements, please email Liz Hamilton:
Lizzieham9@gmail.com before you book as the program, accommodation or meals that we are
planning may not be suitable for your needs. If you would like to share your room with a friend,
please let me know.

Outdoor activities may be weather dependent. Please bring appropriate clothing and footwear for the weather conditions.

BYO yoga mat, ukelele if you have one. Drums are available or byo if you wish

We so look forward to meeting you!

Return of the Light - Winter Solstice Music and Dance Camp

Return of the Light - Winter Solstice Music and Dance Camp

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