Embodying the Organs in Voice and Contact Improvisation
Facilitated By: Nicole Bindler & Elissa Weinzimmer
June 12th-15th, 2025
This Body-Mind Centering® retreat will offer an introduction to the organs through the practices of vocalization and contact improvisation.
We will explore the principles and qualities of the organs, celebrate the deep visceral knowledge in our bodies, and unwind any holding or tension in our organs. Deepening into the organs offers opportunities in partner dancing for more of a sense of depth, weight modulation, and ease in and out of the floor. Contacting the organs also allows for more resonance, creativity, and authenticity in our voice. We will explore the locations, qualities, and movements of the various organs in the pelvis, abdomen, thorax, and skull, and we will trace their embryological development to deepen our understanding of their forms and functions.
Additionally, we will explore the connections between the organs via the facial system. The fascia connects the organs to the muscular system, which enables us to move into space, speak, and sing. Because of these connections, it is often said in Body-Mind Centering that the organs express themselves via the fascia.
At this retreat we will learn from the knowledge our bodies hold, embrace our imperfections and idiosyncrasies, and do some gusty speaking, singing, and dancing.
Who is this for?
All levels of experience are welcome. This retreat is for CI and/or voice practitioners who are curious about working somatically and interdisciplinarily. We also welcome those who have an interest in Body-Mind Centering and would like to explore applying somatic methods to artistic practice.

Sample Schedule:
Thursday
2:00pm-4:00pm: Arrival / Registration
4:00pm: Orientation & Tour
5:00pm: Opening circle
6:00pm: Dinner
8-10pm: Facilitated CI jam
Friday
9:30am-12:00pm: Voice class
1:00pm: Lunch
3:00pm-5:30pm: CI class
6:30pm: Dinner
8-10pm: Facilitated singing circle
Saturday
9:30am-12:00pm: CI class
1:00pm: Lunch
3:00pm-5:30pm: Voice class
6:30pm: Dinner
8-10pm: Facilitated CI jam
Sunday
9:30am-12:00pm: Voice class
1:00pm: Lunch
3:00pm-5:30pm: CI class
6:30pm: Dinner
8-10pm: Community activity, TBD
Monday
9:30am-12:00pm: Integration class and closing circle
1:00pm: Lunch
3:00pm: Departures
Nicole and Elissa are a super power team. I had a transformational experience that I would treasure for the rest of my life. I felt in the body, an experience that has been elusive for me, and I felt like I gained agency over my voice, something I had struggled with. It was a magical retreat, thank you so much both!
– Elena Anfimova
This place is built on love and exploration, and this retreat was built on love and exploration. I walked away with a deeper knowledge and experience of fascia and how it (literally) permeates everything we do in our bodies. This was directly applied in tension release exercises with Elissa and in facilitated CI jams and somatic explorations with Nicole. It was a beautiful time together.
– Christion Ty Edwards
I didn’t know anything about Nicole or Elissa when I signed up for this retreat. The topics of Myofascial Release in Voice and Contact Improv are aligned with my greatest passions. It is clear they are each very knowledgeable and experienced in their craft.
– anonymous participant
Lovely, this whole workshop helped me to ground into myself in a really beautiful way. I am so grateful for it! Wonderful to meet like-minded individuals, was touching!
– anonymous participant
Nicole intimately knows human movement from the inside out. Her skillful, caring application of that knowledge has not only helped me to reduce longstanding, nagging pains so I can help my clients more effectively, but has deeply increased my appreciation for my own body.
– Jessica Newman, Movement Educator, Certified FELDENKRAIS practitioner
I worked with Nicole in a dance improvisation workshop at Fundación El Ciclope, Córdoba. The workshop consisted of two days of intense work, which gave me important information for further investigation into my dance practice. I strongly recommend Nicole as a resident artist because she is a person who never stops searching and looking for new ways of moving, and most of all, she is a generous artist. I think it’s very rare to find a teacher who can share her knowledge, and is also open minded and willing to learn from others.
– Griselda de Elejalde, Dance-Theater Artist, member of KAO performatic theater, Cordoba, Argentina
Elissa is an excellent communicator – her explanations demystify the way your voice works, and take a logical and progressive journey that builds on your knowledge. I feel far more confident in my own voice and will continue to refer to many of Elissa’s examples and explanations because they explain the mind-body connection in an accessible way.
– Rebecca Pannell, Music Educator
Elissa is a master of bridging the very important connection between mind, body, and voice! And she teaches with soul because she is not only incredibly knowledgeable, but she’s passionate and interested in what she’s sharing. Her compassion makes her incredibly in-tune to what is going on with her students, so we can better understand how to use our voices in our performing and everyday life.
– Joan Mann, Actor
About The Facilitators
Nicole Bindler is a dance-maker, writer, activist, and Body-Mind Centering® practitioner and Yoga teacher. She is a Registered Master Somatic Movement Therapist with the International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association. Her teaching and performance work has been presented at festivals and intensives on four continents. Conference presentations include The Future of CI Conference, Body-Mind Centering Association Conferences, International Conference on Disability Studies, Arts & Education, Conney Conference on Jewish Arts, Women in Dance Leadership Conference, Jews and Jewishness in the Dance World Conference, Bodily Undoing Symposium, and the Dance Studies Association Conference where she was a conference fellow. Recent projects include curating an evening of Palestinian dance films; co-producing the Consent Culture in CI Symposium at Earthdance; somatic research on the embryology of the genitalia from a non-binary perspective; and a solo dance, The Case for Invagination, in which her scars speak candidly about trauma and desire. Her writing on dance, somatics, and politics has been published in numerous journals, and she will be included in the forthcoming Embryo Book Project. She is collaborating with Kristen Smiarowski and Ben Spatz on a new book, Gathering Sparks: Jewish Arts and Somatics that will be published by punctum books. She is currently enrolled in the Polestar Pilates Teacher Training.
nicolebindler.com
@nicole_bindler
Elissa Weinzimmer is a singer-songwriter, somatic voice coach, and the founder of Voice Body Connection. After losing her own voice at age 21, Elissa began healing herself by studying the mechanics of voice, speech, and movement. Over the years through her courses and teaching, she has helped thousands of students to find their voice and speak (and sing) their truth. Elissa holds an MFA in Theatre Voice Pedagogy from the University of Alberta and certifications in Hatha yoga, Fitzmaurice Voicework® and Body-Mind Centering® (as a somatic movement educator). Her online courses include Release Your Voice, Authentic Voice Academy, How To Warm Up, How Your Voice Works, and How To Have Presence, plus the Vibrant Voice Technique course co-taught with David Ley, her longtime collaborator with whom she teaches external vibration for the voice (yes, with a vibrator). In summer 2025, Elissa will certify a cohort of voice instructors in the Voice Body Connection Instructor Program, as well as the Vibrant Voice Technique Instructor Program. Photo by Kristen Driscoll Photography.
A note on food
We pour a lot of love into every aspect of our food system, and pride ourselves on being able to accommodate a wide range of dietary needs. We serve meat and dairy daily, and always have vegan and gluten-free options available. If you send us your dietary preferences in advance, we will do our best to make sure there is good food for you at each meal! All living accommodations have access to a full kitchen (separate from the main/commercial kitchen). We will provide breakfast groceries for you to prepare and eat on your own. Lunches and dinners are communal shared meals with participants helping 1 hour per day either with meal prep or clean. Drinks include: coffee and tea, dairy and non-dairy milk, lemon and lime juice for water, red and white wine.
Retreat Location
WildHeart is located on 46+ beautiful acres in the Hudson Valley. Retreatants will have the option to stay in a single room, double room, dorm, or camping in either our main retreat center or in private two-bedroom cabins. All options have access to shared kitchens and bathrooms. Daily events will take place in the studio, shared common spaces, and outdoors. Retreatants are welcome to enjoy the lawns, walk in the forest, and swim and boat in the lake during their stay! More info about directions and transportation options HERE.
Registration
Program Costs
By offering a variety of housing options, and two free BIPOC spots, we hope to make this retreat financially accessible to all! Beyond that, please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need financial assistance to attend: [email protected]
These prices are all inclusive! You receive all retreat content and facilitation, housing, food and drinks, and access to the land, lake, and studio spaces.
$785 Single-occupancy (private room in a shared house)
$625 Double-occupancy bedroom (per person)
$565 Dorm (for a bed in our spacious 5 person dorm)
$505 Camping (bring your own tent and equipment)
$425 Commuter with food (meals included)
$305 Commuter without food
$1050 Support Price (for those who can pay extra to help us build the dream!)
Early Bird Price- $50 discount before May 1st
Refund Policy
In advance of 2 weeks – full refund (less processing fee)
Within 2 weeks – no refund
(This policy stands even in case of sickness so we encourage participants to plan accordingly)
COVID Policy
To protect the group, please don’t come if you have any symptoms of illness or had contact in the last 3 days with anyone who has COVID
BIPOC Spots
We are offering 2 free spots for BIPOC folx. Please email [email protected] to get the registration code for one of these spots.