Our retreats at the School of Disobedience offer a unique opportunity to embark on a path of profound personal transformative and artistic growth. Over four days, you will immerse yourself in a dynamic blend of workshops, unique experiences, rituals, collaboration, individualized mentorship, multidisciplinary research, presentation opportunities, and responsible fieldwork. This is more than a retreat; it's a community space that acts as a generator of opportunities and a catalyst for change.

2025 retreats

This year, we launch four summer retreats and two autumn retreats.​
TEXT & VOICE
Join our 4-day retreat from June 9-12 (2025) specializing in Text & Voice. Discover, through a somatic, experimental, and interdisciplinary approach, how words can transcend the page and come alive with voice, sound, and music in dynamic and expressive ways.

DAILY SCHEDULE

DAY 1
Topic: Memory & Archive
  • Check in from 10h
  • Introduction / Process
  • Immersive experience with photographs leading to somatic writing
  • Voice training, research and experimentation with music, voice, and sound leading to lecture performance
 
DAY 2
Topic: Utopia/Dystopia
  • Optional: Morning gym / Running / Swimming
  • Morning: Immersive experience with clay leading to somatic writing
  • Afternoon: Voice training, research and experimentation with music, voice, and sound leading to lecture performance
  • Evening: Presentation & Feedback
 
DAY 3
Topic: Time of my life
  • Optional: Morning gym / Running / Swimming
  • Morning: Immersive experience with costumes and props leading to somatic writing
  • Afternoon: Voice training, research and experimentation with music, voice, and sound leading to lecture performance
  • Evening: Presentation & Feedback

DAY 4
Topic: Sounds, Spaces, Experiences
  • Holding spaces, creating experiences with music, voice, and sound
  • Feedback
  • Check out
EMPOWERMENT & LEADERSHIP
​In this 4-day retreat from June 16-19 (2025), you will explore and define your own leadership style—one that defies the constraints of traditional capitalist frameworks. This camp is designed to help you invent a boss style that reflects your values, while practicing a form of authority that empowers, uplifts, and energizes those around you. We will delve into practices that build confidence, foster empathy, and challenge conventional notions of power.

DAILY SCHEDULE

Day 1: Unlearning power
  • Morning session: Breaking down the leader myth
    Through reflective exercises and group discussion, we’ll deconstruct the traditional notions of leadership rooted in dominance, control, and competition. Together, we’ll explore alternative leadership models that prioritize collaboration, sensitivity, and support.
  • Afternoon session: Somatic leadership
    Leadership begins with the body. In this session, we’ll explore somatic practices that ground us in our physical presence, helping us lead with embodied awareness. You’ll learn to use your body as a tool for communication, authority, and connection without resorting to force or dominance.
  • Evening session: Leadership & vulnerability
    We’ll close the day with a session on vulnerability as a leadership strength, challenging the notion that authority requires emotional distance. By embracing vulnerability, we cultivate trust and create space for genuine connection.

Day 2: Inventing your own boss style
  • Morning session: Values-based leadership
    What does leadership look like when it’s rooted in your personal values? We’ll work on defining the core values that guide your leadership style and explore how to integrate them into everyday decision-making and interactions.
  • Afternoon session: Creative authority
    Authority doesn’t have to be oppressive—it can be creative, intuitive, and empowering. We’ll experiment with different forms of authority, from leading through collaboration to using creativity as a leadership tool.
  • Evening session: Empowering others
    Leadership is not just about the self; it’s about lifting up those around you. We’ll explore strategies for empowering others, ensuring that your leadership fosters growth, independence, and creativity in those you work with.

Day 3: The practice of empowerment
  • Morning session: Leading with empathy
    Empathy is a powerful leadership tool. In this session, we’ll practice empathy-driven leadership techniques that prioritize the emotional well-being of those we lead. You’ll learn to use empathy as a guiding principle in both professional and personal settings.
  • Afternoon session: Authority in action
    This hands-on workshop allows you to put your new leadership styles into practice. Through group activities and real-world scenarios, you’ll experiment with different ways of leading, receiving feedback from your peers along the way.
  • Evening session: Self-care as leadership
    Leadership is demanding, and burnout is real. We’ll explore self-care practices that sustain leadership in the long term, ensuring that your leadership is rooted in well-being, not exhaustion.

Day 4: Embodied leadership & integration
  • Morning session: Integrating leadership styles
    How do you carry this new leadership style into your everyday life? We’ll work on creating actionable plans for integrating what you’ve learned into your work, relationships, and community.
  • Afternoon session: Closing circle & reflections
    We’ll end the camp with a reflective circle, where each participant can share their journey, insights, and commitments moving forward. This final session is about honoring the growth we’ve experienced together and sending each other off with strength and purpose.
Poetic, fragile, and hybrid forms
​This four-day retreat from June 23-26 (2025) invites you to explore ephemeral art and fragile materials, blending nature, memory, and hybrid creative processes. You will create layered works that embrace the beauty of impermanence, experimenting with natural elements, old photographs, and soft materials. This camp is a space to explore tenderness, the ephemeral, and the poetic—allowing the process to be as meaningful as the final result.

DAILY SCHEDULE

Day 1: Ephemeral Art
  • Theory: We begin with a discussion on the role of impermanence in art, focusing on artists who create works meant to fade, dissolve, or change. We will explore the philosophical and emotional impact of creating art that isn’t meant to last, drawing connections to mindfulness and letting go.
  • Practice: You’ll work with materials like clay, fabric, and natural elements to create temporary sculptures. The focus will be on the process rather than the outcome, encouraging you to engage fully with the act of creation, knowing that these pieces will not last.

Day 2: Art & Nature
  • Theory: We’ll discuss the concept of working with nature rather than against it, exploring how natural cycles, materials, and landscapes can influence artistic expression. We’ll draw inspiration from land art and artists who collaborate with the earth.
  • Practice: Today’s practice will involve creating art directly in nature. Using stones, leaves, flowers, and branches, you’ll make ephemeral installations that reflect the natural environment. This session encourages a deep connection to the landscape and an appreciation for the transient beauty of natural materials.

Day 3: Art & People: rituals & sensory experiences
  • Theory: We’ll discuss how art can be a form of ritual, linking personal intention with communal experience. We’ll explore the role of rituals in various cultures and how they can be adapted to the creative process to deepen the connection between the artist, the work, and the audience.
  • Practice: You’ll create art that engages the senses—touch, sound, smell, and taste. This could include creating edible art with fruits and herbs, or installations that incorporate scent and sound. The goal is to create multisensory experiences that invite the audience into a ritualistic, immersive encounter with your work.

Day 4: Letting go
  • Theory: Our final discussion will center around the practice of letting go—of your art, of the need for permanence, and of expectations. We’ll explore how releasing control can open up new possibilities for creativity and personal growth.
  • Practice: To close the retreat, you’ll release your art into nature—allowing your ephemeral creations to dissolve, float away, or return to the earth. This session will serve as a symbolic act of letting go, helping you embrace the beauty of impermanence in both your art and life.
Community art & social practices
This four-day camp from June 30 to July 3 (2025) delves into the complexities of community art and social practices, confronting the challenges and pitfalls of art activism. Through theoretical exploration in the mornings and hands-on practice in the afternoons, the camp encourages critical thinking, resilience, and the development of ethical art practices.

DAILY SCHEDULE

Day 1: Art & Community - The horizontal utopia & the necessity of frames
  • Theory/Toolbox: Discussion on the vision of horizontal structures in art and community settings. We will analyze the tension between utopian ideals of flat hierarchies and the practical need for rules, boundaries, and accountability to foster meaningful collaboration without chaos.
  • Practice: Participants will engage in a collaborative art-making exercise where they create a communal project, experimenting with both horizontal and vertical leadership while establishing essential guidelines. Reflect on what rules and frames allow the art to thrive and what restricts it.

Day 2: Art & Politics - Two dangers: institutional frames and growth killing the intention
  • Theory/Toolbox: Explore how scaling up and institutionalizing art can dilute its radical intentions. Through case studies like the commodification of queer art, we will discuss how political art can become co-opted by the very systems it aims to challenge, and the dangers of losing integrity in the pursuit of growth.
  • Practice: Participants will work on creating a small-scale art project that retains its radical spirit, deliberately resisting the pull of institutional approval or market viability. Reflect on how to maintain the core political intention without compromise.

Day 3: Art & Social Practice - Ethical dilemmas in contemporary artivism
  • Theory/Toolbox: Delve into the ethical complexities of socially engaged art. We will dissect real-life examples such as festivals for refugees where artists are unpaid and the prevalence of abuse and toxicity in contemporary artivist settings. How do we balance the needs of the community with the rights of artists?
  • Practice: Participants will create ethical guidelines for their own social art practices, ensuring that their work fosters empowerment without exploitation. Reflect on how to implement these practices in real-world projects and how to remain vigilant against toxicity.

Day 4: Toolbox & Case study - The School of Disobedience: failures, mistakes, and teachings
  • Theory/Toolbox: A candid reflection on the School of Disobedience’s journey—our mistakes, missteps, and what they taught us. This session will provide step-by-step guidance on how to navigate the challenges of community art practices and avoid the pitfalls of poor decision-making.
  • Practice: Participants will work on creating a detailed plan for a community art project they will implement after the camp, applying the lessons learned throughout the retreat. They will leave with a concrete strategy to bring their ideas to life while staying true to their values.
Art & text
Join our 4-day retreat from September 4-7 (2025) specializing in Art & Text. Explore our immersive, somatic, and authentic creative writing methods, and discover new inspirations, tools, techniques, and processes.

DAILY SCHEDULE

DAY 1: "Masks & Mirrors"
  • Check in from 10h
  • Arrival
  • Welcoming Ceremony / Creative Writing / Lecture Performance
  • Discussion-Philosophy / Presentation / Introduction
 
DAY 2: "Symbols & Signs"
  • Optional: Morning gym / Running / Swimming
  • Morning: Discussion-Philosophy-Inspiration / Creative Writing
  • Afternoon: Reading / Lecture performance creation with light / sound / prop / costume design
  • Evening: Presentation & Feedback / Relaxation
 
DAY 3: "Personal Mythologies"
  • Optional: Morning gym / running / swimming
  • Morning: Creative Writing / Editing
  • Afternoon: Editing / Reading / Lecture performance creation with light / sound / prop / costume design
  • Evening: Presentation & Feedback / Relaxation

DAY 4: "Texts, Spaces, Experiences"
  • Holding spaces, creating experiences with text and voice
  • Feedback
  • Check out
CREATING SPACES, EXPERIENCES, COMMUNITIES
This four-day camp from September 11-14 (2025) will provide participants with the tools, skills, and experiences needed to create and facilitate safe, brave, and transformative spaces—whether in artistic, educational, or healing contexts. Through a combination of theory and practice, participants will explore methods for designing immersive experiences, fostering community, and supporting individual growth.
Drawing from over two decades of experience in alternative pedagogy, non-formal education, community models, and artivism, we will delve into the three main components of the School of Disobedience method:
  1. Somatic practice & bodywork
  2. Alternative pedagogy
  3. Immersive multi-sensory experiences & community rituals

DAILY SCHEDULE

Day 1: Foundations of safe and brave spaces
  • Theory: Building safety and setting boundaries
    Participants will explore the foundational elements of creating safe and brave spaces. This session will include discussions on setting and respecting boundaries, fostering a judgment-free environment, and understanding the dynamics of group energy. We will introduce the first component of the School of Disobedience method: Somatic Practice & Bodywork as a way to ground individuals and groups.
  • Practice: Somatic exercises & bodywork for group settings
    Through guided exercises, participants will explore somatic practices and bodywork techniques. The focus will be on designing personalized exercises that support grounding, relaxation, and creativity in group settings. Participants will also begin developing their creative toolboxes for facilitating these practices.

Day 2: Alternative pedagogy and empowerment
  • Theory: Empowering participants through alternative pedagogy
    This session will delve into alternative approaches to pedagogy, focusing on how to empower and motivate participants in educational and artistic settings. We’ll discuss strategies for opening doors without pushing and explore techniques for facilitating feedback and group discussions in a way that promotes self-acceptance and growth.
  • Practice: Facilitating empowerment in groups
    Participants will design and facilitate short group activities based on the principles of alternative pedagogy. The focus will be on empowering others, encouraging spontaneity, and creating a supportive environment for individual and collective growth. Exercises will be reflective of each participant's unique leadership style.

Day 3: Crafting immersive multi-sensory experiences
  • Theory: Immersive multi-sensory experiences & rituals
    Participants will be introduced to the art of creating immersive environments that break with everyday routines and foster creativity and relaxation. We’ll explore rituals, ceremonies, and sensory experiences as tools for deepening connection and enhancing collective creativity. Copyright and ownership in creative work will also be discussed.
  • Practice: Designing multi-sensory spaces & rituals
    In this hands-on session, participants will design and lead immersive multi-sensory experiences. Using materials such as fabrics, scents, sounds, and natural elements, they will create environments that engage the senses and evoke powerful emotional responses. Ritual design will be practiced as a way to ground and unite the group.

Day 4: Holding space and building communities
  • Theory: Creating and holding spaces for communities
    This session will focus on how to hold space effectively for collective growth and healing. We’ll discuss the ethics of facilitation, handling sensitive situations with calmness and preparedness, and the importance of building communities around events and workshops. Participants will learn techniques for maintaining an open, welcoming, and inclusive space.
  • Practice: Designing community events & workshops
    Participants will work in small groups to design and present community events or workshops. These events will be focused on empowering participants, fostering creativity, and building lasting communities. The session will conclude with reflections on how to sustain the energy and impact of these spaces after.

why choose our transformative retreats?

  • Empowerment through transformation: Engage in processes that reflect on yourself and the world, empowering you to dream big and act boldly.
  • Multidisciplinary curriculum: Break free from creative blocks and handle pressure with new inspiration, insights, and perspectives.
  • Leadership and social change: Gain producing and leadership skills that foster social change and sustainability.
  • Artistic exploration: Dive deep into your artistic curiosity to explore and create new aesthetics, forms, experiences, spaces, and communities.
  • Innovative thinking: Move beyond seeing things as they are; be constantly encouraged to formulate out-of-the-box proposals and build the world as it ought to be.

frame

While our retreats provide valuable opportunities for self-reflection and sharing, it's important to understand that these are creative, not therapeutic, spaces. Our focus is on artistic exploration, personal growth, and community building through art education, empowerment, and transformation.
Please also note that our space is not equipped for explicit discussions of trauma. We kindly ask all participants to be mindful and avoid over-sharing sensitive personal experiences. At the School of Disobedience, we celebrate adulthood, responsibility, and respect for each participant's emotional journey and availability.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in maintaining a supportive and enriching environment for all.

practical information

Facilitator: ​Anna Ádám
Language: English
Accommodation: Simple and basic traditional Hungarian summer house (no wifi) in Balatonalmádi (Hungary), close to the beach with 2 shared bedrooms (bed + mattress), shared bathroom, terrace, garden…
Creative infrastructure: Lights, mike, sound, costumes, props...
​Application deadline: Ongoing
Number of participants: ​min. 2 - max. 4 / camp
Conditions: Open for all women, regardless of age, professional, artistic or educational background…
Vegetarian food: 3x / day
Price: 500 € / retreat (including accommodation, meals, workshops...)