SILK AND ROPE JUNE 21-28, 2025 | AerialSeaSilkRetreat

Silk and Rope with
Dana Auguštin & Gaia Santuccio

June 21-28, 2025 ¦ Istria, Croatia

What can I expect from this retreat?

This immersive retreat in Aerial Silks is designed for those seeking to build strength, improve flexibility, and master essential techniques—all within a welcoming environment that supports all levels. Through guided sessions, you’ll progress from foundational moves to more complex sequences.

What should I be prepared for?

Dynamic Warm-Up: A unique aerial warm-up prepares your body for safe, effective movement.
Strength & Conditioning: Using aerial silks, you’ll engage muscle groups throughout your body, building strength through various aerial positions.
Core Techniques: Learn climbing, keys, inversions, and rolls—fundamental skills that create a solid base for advanced moves.
Enhanced Flexibility: Targeted stretching techniques promote greater range of motion, complementing your aerial training.

Join us to expand your skills in an inspiring setting, connect with fellow aerialists, and deepen your love for the art. Are you ready to soar?

EXPERIENCE

Exploring Creativity and Connection through Rope with Gaia

In the sessions with Gaia, we will dive into the world of creativity and research, both on the floor and in the air.

She will share the Rope Manipulation methodology she has developed since her Master’s studies at DOCH (now SKH) in Sweden. As part of such, we will engage in a series of task-based improvisation approaches designed to create focused spaces for exploration, allowing practitioners to experiment freely with the aerial apparatus.The emphasis of this investigation is to learn to speak the language of knots, where each knot represents a potential new pathway. The aim is to encourage mindful movement and presence, to enhance and deepen adaptive skills, as well as to broaden our technical understanding of our practice through personal experiences.

We will also delve into the interplay between rope and ground and how our relationship with the floor informs and transforms our movement and vocabulary. Gaia will share her own repertoire and the creative processes that underpin her individual explorations.

As part of this journey, we will have a session focused on movement research through the lens of writing as a method to verbalise the body. This poetic, profound process aims at stimulating participants to come closer to the emotions embedded in their movement and in the actions we normally do without noticing.

Culinary Experience: Nourishing, Delicious, and Fresh

Indulge in wholesome, home-cooked meals prepared daily by our private chef, who crafts each dish with care and attention to flavor. From nourishing breakfasts to satisfying lunches and dinners, plus a variety of snacks, every meal is thoughtfully designed to fuel your body and delight your palate.

Our chef is happy to accommodate specific dietary needs, ensuring that every guest enjoys a delicious dining experience tailored to their preferences. Join us for a culinary journey that complements and enhances your retreat experience!

Location: A Serene Retreat in the Heart of Istria, Croatia

Nestled in the heart of Istria, Croatia, our retreat takes place in a spacious private house reserved exclusively for our group. Relax in cozy, comfortable rooms—available for solo or double occupancy—offering the perfect atmosphere for rest and rejuvenation. Enjoy refreshing dips in the swimming pool, unwind in a beautiful garden equipped with aerial rigs for practice, and soak in the tranquil surroundings.

With amenities like internet access, air conditioning, a fireplace, and ample parking, this serene setting provides everything you need for a restorative retreat experience.

Aerial Silk on a Sailboat: A Day of Adventure and Aerial Artistry

Embark on an unforgettable day as we take Aerial Silks to the open sea! During this unique experience, we’ll bring sailboats equipped with aerial rigs, giving you the chance to explore silks high above the water. Feel the breeze and embrace the thrill of creating stunning figures against the breathtaking backdrop of the ocean. Whether you’re seeking graceful poses or bold moves, this setting invites you to connect with nature and elevate your aerial practice in an entirely new way.

A professional photographer will be with us, capturing these incredible moments so you can take home memories of this extraordinary adventure. Join us on the water to experience Aerial Silks like never before!

Aerial Silks Program with Dana Augustin: Elevate Your Skills in Our Exclusive Retreat

What You’ll Experience:
- Progressive Learning: Start with the basics and advance at your own pace, mastering
both fundamental and intricate climbing techniques.
- Hip Movement Mastery: Refine essential hip motions for hip keys, hip rolls, and
dynamic entrances, gaining fluidity and control.
- One-Handed Grips & Balancing Positions: Learn the one-handed grip and connected
figures, along with a variety of balancing poses to boost your confidence in the air.

- Dynamic Drops & S-Wrap Entrances: Explore multiple ways to enter the s-wrap,
from static to dynamic entrances, linking them seamlessly to drops.
- Scorpio & Helicopter Moves: Discover and perfect entrances into the Scorpio, plus
the “helicopter move” or flare, adding dramatic flair to your repertoire.
- Back Flag & Roll-Up Techniques: Practice exercises for the back flag and experiment
with entrances, along with roll-up techniques for strength and control.
- Open Drops: Master the breathtaking open drops, performed without key holds,
enhancing your aerial performance.
- Choreography & Flow: Bring it all together as we combine these elements into short,
beautiful choreographed sequences that flow naturally.

Schedule:
Schedule subject to change in case of raining.

June 21 (Saturday):

16:00 – Check-in and Welcome Meeting | 17:00-19:00 – Technique Class (Dana) | 20:00 – Dinner and Welcome Barbecue

June 22 (Sunday):

07:30-08:30 – Breakfast | 09:00-12:00 – Technique Class (Dana) | 13:00-14:00 – Lunch | 16:00-19:00 – Floor Rope Class (Gaia) | 20:00 – Dinner

June 23 (Monday):

June 24 (Tuesday):

07:30-08:30 – Breakfast | 09:00-12:00 – Technique Class (Dana) (15-min break from 10:30 to 10:45) | 13:00-14:00 – Lunch | 16:00-19:00 – Floor Rope Class (Gaia) | 20:00 – Dinner

June 25 (Wednesday):

07:30-08:30 – Breakfast | 10:00 – Transport to Boat Trip | 11:00-18:00 – Sailing Boat Trip | 19:00 – Transport back | 20:00 – Dinner

June 26 (Thursday):

07:30-08:30 – Breakfast | 09:00-11:00 – Technique Class (Dana) | 13:00-14:00 – Lunch | 16:00-18:00 – Writing the Body Class (Gaia) | 20:00 – Dinner

June 27 (Friday):

07:30-08:30 – Breakfast | 09:00-11:00 – Technique Class (Dana) | 13:00-14:00 – Lunch | 16:00-18:00 – Duo Class (Gaia) | 20:00 – Goodbye Barbecue Party

June 28 (Saturday):

07:30-08:30 – Breakfast | 09:00 – Checkout

Price:

Shared House (Queen Bed) - €1,950 (Per person)

Share a queen size bed with a friend and save! (3 people per house).

Shared House (Sofa Bed) - €2,150 (Per person)

Sofa bed with shared bathroom (2 or 3 people per house).

Twin Room (Shared Bathroom) - €2,300 (Per person)
Two single beds with shared bathroom (2 people per room).

Twin Room (Private Bathroom) - €2,500 (Per person)
Two single beds with private bathroom (2 people per room).

Private Room (Shared Bathroom) - €2,850 (Per person)
Private room with shared bathroom.

Non-Participant Partner - €1250 (Per person)

If you are booking a private bedroom you can bring along a non-participant partner or friend to share your bedroom with. We welcome non-participating partners to join all meals and extra activities with the rest of the group!

Book now!

WHAT'S INCLUDED

NOT INCLUDED

7 days in Casa Karnevali
3 meals per day.
13 hours of Silk classes
13 hours of Hoop classes
Aerial silk on a sail boat
Picnic on sail boat
Professional pictures
Transport to and from the excursion
Welcome drink and good bye drink
Personalised gift

Travel Insurance (we highly reccomdend that you purchase an individual travel insurance policy)
Transport to arrive Casa Karnevali and return to Pula, but we can provide, let us know about your needs!
Drink/Alcohol
Shopping/gifts

WE WELCOME

WHAT TO BRING?

Comfortable clothes for training, warm for the evening, swimming costume for sea days, nice swimsuit which you would like to have a nice pictures on sail boat day and your powerful energy!

Beginner Requirements
To join at the beginner level, you should already be able to:

Comfortable performing the hip key (from Russian climb, preferably also directly)
Able to suspend with both arms—either silks together or split (holding two poles)
Can perform inversions on the ground and in the air (any variation—bent arms, bent legs, straight legs & straight arms)
Comfortable with the installation of catchers
Knows basic climbs, such as Russian and French

- Intermediate

- Advance

Minimum group size is 12 people, maximum 16.

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

Hagar Tzabary

If you want to join to the warmest and most professional aerial family, do yourself a favor and sign for this retreat.

Yael Weber

Scheduling this retreat was one of the best things I could do for myself.

Doing silks is one of my favorite things to do, so It was absolutely amazing!

Neta Lapin

If you are reading this review I’m telling you now, sign up as soon as possible! This retreat opened me to a new world of aerial I didn’t know existed. I had the most amazing time I could never imagined.

Jesika Roybal

This retreat was so wonderful!! We had perfectly challenging lessons with an instructor that could work well with beginners to advance with plenty to learn for everyone.

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Silk and Rope with Dana Auguštin & Gaia Santuccio