International Festival of Contact Improvisation & Tango Dance in Provence
18-24 Avril 2026 - Rustrel - 15th Edition
Contact Improvisation, Tango Dance, Improvisation, Workshops, Jams, Underscore, Live music, Nature.
15th edition of the Festival of Contact Improvisation & Tango in the French Province, in Rustrel, one of the most beautiful villages in France, located north of Apt and at the foot of the Monts de Vaucluse. A unique opportunity of immersion for 7 days, for 35 participants, to experience an exploration of dance and movement with quality workshops, jams, live music and many other proposals to share.
-
The event is open to anyone who wishes to share, learn, and deepen their knowledge of Contact Improvisation Dance. The space is open to all levels, from beginners to advanced and professional dancers.
-
Days and times: From Monday, October 27th afternoon to Saturday, November 1st afternoon.
-
Places available: Limited to 35 and will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Location: Rustrel (Provence). Professional dance space with a high-quality wooden dance floor. Meals:
-
Vegetarian meals prepared with fresh, quality products, sourced locally whenever possible. Adeline, our local cook, will delight us !
FESTIVAL PHILOSOPHY
This festival was born from an initiative between a brother and sister and their passion for dance. Mercè Nebot, who has lived in Provence for 20 years, and Pep Nebot, who lives in Barcelona, joined forces to create this space for sharing dance, creation, and beauty.
Each year, people of different nationalities have gathered for the Festival, particularly from France and Spain. However, each year other nationalities join us, which is very enriching and helps build a cultural bridge around art, dance, and creativity.
At this festival, we want to prioritize certain approaches:
-
Quality teaching in Contact Improvisation dance to promote greater body awareness;
-
Welcoming a small group who will experience an intimate and profound human adventure together for a week. We aim to generate a sense of belonging and a sense of community by creating an inclusive, generous, and supportive environment;
-
Being in contact with nature and surrounded by the beauty of the landscapes and charming villages of the heart of Provence.
-
Cultural exchange between local and international participants; We have already experienced on numerous occasions that when people from different cultures and life experiences come together, we all grow in a spiral of creativity and self-knowledge;
-
Live Contact Improvisation in its essence, with its living principles, present at all times: self-respect and respect for others, a sense of group, safety and creativity, gravitational movement, contact, attention, and self-knowledge, among others.
Structure of the intensives
CONTACT IMPROVISATION INTENSIVE – BASTIEN AUBER
“FLUX”
In this Contact Improvisation intensive, we will explore three essential technical axes that shape my particular approach to this dance:
• Grounding & Relationship to the Earth
We will refine how grounding supports stability in weight exchange while keeping us mobile and light. Through solo and duet work, we will deepen our dialogue with gravity, learning to receive and redirect weight with clarity and trust.
• Mastery of Speed Through Our Three Centers
Speed becomes a conscious choice when we understand the interaction of our center of mass, anatomical center, and visual center. This work sharpens our timing, alignment, and agility, offering greater precision when navigating space or responding to a partner.
• Momentum, Elastic Torsion & Spirals
Using the spine and the body's natural torsion, we will explore how to generate and guide momentum. Spirals will serve as pathways for fluid transitions, creative partnering, and effortless lifts or counterbalances.
Throughout the intensive, we will cultivate softness of touch, fluidity, tone, and authenticity as foundations for improvisation. The goal is to let presence and embodied listening guide our dance—an expression of our personal and shared “flux.”
NB: Flux (from Latin fluxus: flow) refers to elements moving in a common direction. In this workshop, our dance becomes that evolving movement—a journey through origin, destination, and the path between..
BTANGO INTENSIVE – GISELA NAVONIT
No Role · Both Roles · Queer Tango · The Play of the Dance
The proposal of this intensive is based on an integral vision of learning tango, approached through three inseparable pillars: mechanical technique, perceptive technique, and expressive technique. These perspectives allow us to understand tango not merely as a sequence of steps, but as a sensitive, attentive, and creative body in motion.
This intensive invites participants to dive fully into the universe of tango, from its foundations to its deepest essence. We will leave the blends with other disciplines—such as Contact Improvisation or contact-tango—for the festival’s evening spaces, where they will naturally emerge in the milongas and jams, inspired by the magnificent music of DJ Alejandro González.
Tango is an improvised dance. Therefore, it is not the form or the figures that determine whether we are dancing tango, but the quality of the bodily dialogue. So, what truly defines tango? What do we need to develop in order to dance with authenticity?
We will approach tango as a poetic language where emotions become movement and movement becomes word. Its vocabulary is subtle and full of nuance, and its primary medium of communication is the embrace—that intimate space where two people can become one.
We will explore body mechanics, deep listening with the partner, and the richness of the roles—leading and following—until reaching the state of “no role,” where both functions weave together: leading-while-following and following-while-leading.
This intensive is an invitation to investigate, learn, and enjoy, with material adaptable to all levels. Whether you have very little experience or you are a seasoned dancer, the proposal is designed so that each participant can deepen their connection to this art form, explore both roles, discover subtleties, and enjoy the full gift of tango.
Adeline: Wholesome, Local, and Full of Flavor
Throughout the retreat, Adeline, our local cook, will delight us with vegetarian meals — light, nourishing, and full of energy — served for lunch and dinner.
Fresh and Organic Ingredients
Her dishes are crafted with seasonal produce, sourced from local farms and organic agriculture, bringing freshness, color, and authenticity to every plate.
Food that Nurtures Body and Soul
With generosity and passion, Adeline invites us to enjoy a simple, vibrant, and balanced cuisine, perfectly aligned with the spirit of the retreat.
ABOUT RUSTREL
Rustrel is a village located north of Apt and at the foot of the Monts de Vaucluse. Its open-pit ochre quarries, fully exploited in the past, have enriched the area and continue to attract tourism, along with those of the "Colorado Provençal." Its dirt trails allow visitors to discover eroded cliffs with more than 20 shades of ochre, hoodoos, and more. They date back to the Cretaceous period and are composed mainly of ochre sand, white sand, and ferruginous crust.
A privileged environment: The Colorado Provençal covers more than 30 hectares in the Luberon massif, about 10 km from Apt. Marked trails lead through old ochre quarries with more than 20 shades of ochre. The site includes the "Cirque de Barriès", the "Cirque de Bouvène", settling ponds, fairy chimneys (dangerous area prohibited by municipal decree), the "Sahara", and the bed of the Dôa (a small local river). The GR 6 long-distance hiking trail crosses the site. The ochre colors of the Provençal Colorado contrast with the green shades of the vegetation and the white of the surrounding limestone massifs.
To get to Rustrel: From Avignon:
Bus Line 915 Avignon-Apt
Then Bus Line 916 Apt-Sault --- Get off at Rustrel.
ACCOMMODATION
12th-century Château de Rustrel located in the village center This 12th-century castle has recently been restored and is continually updated every year. Nevertheless, it's a truly royal experience, with dinners in the amphitheater at the foot of the castle in fine weather, rooms for 2 and dormitories with 3, 4, and 6 beds, and a large common room on the ground floor. As it's located in the center of the village, it's also a great opportunity to take a stroll around the oil mill or simply listen to its footsteps echoing through the cobbled streets. We'll have the chance to stay together in this historic building and meet there for each meal to share unforgettable moments.
PRICES
Price WITH accommodation in Rustrel castle (ony 30 beds):
-
Early Bird until March 18, 2026: €495
-
After March 18, 2026: 535 €
Price WITHOUT accommodation in Rustrel castle:
-
Early Bird until March 18, 2026: 415 €
-
After March 18, 2026: 455 €
To reserve the place, you must pay the deposit of €100, and the rest can be transferred or paid in cash at the event.
What is included in the price:
-
Accommodation in Rustrel Castle in shared rooms. People will be distributed as they register. (for those who pay the price with accommodation).
-
All lunches and dinners, with organic vegetarian cuisine.
-
Use of the common spaces of the castle, dining room, bathrooms, terraces, etc.
-
All workshops and jams.
-
Liability insurance.
What is not included in the price:
-
Breakfasts. The dining room of the Castle will be available to all participants, sleeping in the castle or not. Also, coffee and tea will always be available to everyone. A refrigerator will also be made available to all participants.
REGISTRATION & PAYMENT
To reserve your place, you must register in the registration form and pay the deposit of €100 to confirm your reservation; the balance will be paid by bank transfer before the event or paid in cash on the first day of the event.
The deposit can be transferred to a Spanish or French bank, or via PayPal:
• Spanish bank: IBAN: ES47 0081 0900 8000 0334 3240 SWIFT: BSABESBBXXX (Owner: José Nebot Muns)
• French bank: IBAN: FR76 1390 6001 4200 1891 0602 595 / BIC: AGRIFRPP839 / Association Corps Raccords
• PayPal: emotionbodies@gmail.com If you choose to pay via PayPal, a commission is applied, which can vary from €5 (Eurozone) to €20 (Israel, for example). Due to these large amounts, we will ask you to pay us this commission in cash at the festival. Thank you for your understanding
When transferring, write "your first and last name + Festival Provence" in the concept. For international transfers, make sure the amount sent is exempt from bank commissions.
Contact and information:
Contact in France: Merce Nebot +33 666124365, corpsraccords.asso@gmail.com
Contact in Catalonia: Pep Nebot +34 685166358, info@emotionbodies.com
CANCELLATION POLICY: If the workshop is canceled for a reason attributable to the organization or beyond its control, the organization is obligated to refund the full amount paid by the participant. If the participant cancels, we regret that we cannot issue any refunds, due to all the administrative work and to ensure the sustainability of the event. Make sure you have the dates available.
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION: In accordance with current regulations, we inform you that your personal data will be incorporated into a file owned by E Motion Bodies Handstand. You may exercise your rights of access, rectification, cancellation, and opposition by writing to emotionbodies@gmail.com.
IMAGE RIGHTS: By completing and submitting this form, you authorize Associació E Motion Bodies Handstand to take photos of you to illustrate the material disseminating the activities carried out. The images may be distributed on any medium (TV, press, internet, external media, promotional material, social networks, etc.). Distribution may only be carried out free of charge and for the purpose of disseminating the activities of Associació E Motion Bodies Handstand. This authorization is completely free of charge and you agree not to claim any compensation, payment and/or indemnity in exchange for the authorization agreed with Associació E Motion Bodies Handstand for the use of your image or the person you represent.