Costa Rica Contact Improv Dance Scholarship 2026

Dear Dance Community,

Help fund 3-5 Costa Rican dancers (and Central American dancers) attend the 12th Annual International Contact Improv Dance Retreat in Cahuita, Costa Rica.

Eleven years ago I started this initiative to make this retreat more accessible to Costa Ricans who are eager to participate but face financial barriers. Despite the significantly reduced rates I offer to local dancers, the economic reality in Costa Rica and neighboring countries often makes it difficult for them to attend. At the last retreat due to the generosity of our community committed to inclusion and accessibility we were able to raise enough for 4 Costa Rican dancers and one Guatemalan! Their participation not only enriched the retreat but also provided them with invaluable training and inspiration to share within their local dance communities.

This year, I’m reaching out once again to the Dance community and beyond for your support. To maximize the impact of every donation, I will be waiving my workshop fee, and Goddess Garden Retreat has generously offered discounted room and board rates. This means we only need to raise $500 per scholarship recipient. Every contribution, no matter the size, will help make this possible.

When I began teaching Contact Improv in Costa Rica 15 years ago, there were no Contact Jams and very few dancers trained in this art form. Today, thanks to collective efforts, there is a thriving weekly jam initiated by my former students. Your support will ensure that this vibrant community continues to grow and flourish.

Recipients will be chosen on January 2, 2026 from a pool of eligible dancers who have shown their commitment to the local Contact Improv community and who have submitted applications to be considered. If we reach our primary goal of $1,500 to support three Costa Rican dancers, we’ll aim for another $1000 to sponsor two additional dancer from Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico, or another Central American country.

Every donation—big or small—makes a difference. Together, we can empower these dancers, enrich their communities, and create a more inclusive retreat experience for all.

in loving memory to Jefferson Chacon (1995-2023) who was one of the scholarship recipients in 2017, was well loved in the Costa Rica dance community and who will be missed.

For Costa Ricans or Central Americans interested in applying for the scholarship (or to share with a friend who is eligible) here is the application form: https://forms.gle/G6BaJHeCVchBkf386

Thank you everyone who helped by contributing these last eleven years! Please consider donating this year!

In Motion & Gratitude,

Moti