Our Mission

At Arraízo, we create opportunities for cross-cultural understanding using dance as our language. Through ethical and conscious travel, we invite participants to engage with cultures in meaningful, respectful ways, fostering authentic connections to the land and its people. We’re dedicated to a growth mindset designed to use movement to expand our consciousness, unite communities, and build lasting connections. By embracing a deeper, more holistic approach to self-discovery, we ensure that every step of the journey honors the planet and the communities we encounter.

Our Foundation:

The 5 C’s:

We believe in the global transformative power of art and Creativity.
We believe in building Connections through authentic Cultural engagement.
We believe in developing a Community of responsible and Conscious travelers.

RETREAT LEADERS

Ashlé Dawson

Ashlé Dawson is a coach, director, choreographer, and educator known as one of the most versatile creators in the arts. Ashlé has an unwavering passion to educate and inspire while leading others to their greatest potential using positive psychology. She started exploring self-healing 20 years ago and is committed to sharing the knowledge she’s gained. Dawson is a Certified Creative Leadership Coach trained in Somatic Modalities, Triple Certified in The Art of Mindful Communication, and holds certificates from Embody Lab in Somatic Attachment Trauma Therapy and Integrated Somatic Trauma Therapy; she is also Danscend Certified. Dawson’s methodology is based on spiritual modalities: aligning the body, mind, and spirit to create a holistic approach to education, movement, and healing.

Dawson has been educating for the last 2+ decades and was one of the first International Master Teachers in Costa Rica, bringing her enthusiasm, energy, and safe spaces to the Tico communities. Her ability to connect to dancers worldwide has made her an in-demand guest educator and lecturer.

Ashlé’s experience in the entertainment industry includes:
In The Heights (Film), Mira Quien Baila (Spanish DWTS,) Latin Grammys, Latin Billboards, iHeart Fiesta, SYTYCD Top 4, America’s Got Talent, AGT, Wild’N Out, Times Square NYE (Univision.) Artists Don Omar, Prince Royce, Gloria Estefan, Wisin y Yandel, Leslie Grace, Romeo Santos, Alejandra Guzman, and Tito Puente Jr. Top names like Steven Spielberg, Anne Hathaway, John Leguizamo, John Oliver, Martin Short, Mario Cantone, and Rachel Dratch. Ashlé has been featured in publications including DANCE magazine, Dance Spirit, Dance Teacher, and The Wall Street Journal.

Cory Davison

Cory Davison is a Fulbright 2020 recipient and holds her MFA in dance and choreography from Mills College and an individualized BA in dance and psychology from UMass Boston. She has been a visiting artist at UMaine Orono, UMass Boston, and MIT. Her philosophy focuses on a respect for and understanding of the roots and traditions of different dance styles which she has fostered by working with dance companies in Cuba, Brazil, Australia, Trinidad, New Zealand and around the U.S. This deeper understanding allows dancers to push the boundaries of what technique means and helps them find their own artistic voice.

Cory is the Founder and Artistic Director of Aleación Dance Company in San Francisco which focuses on the evolution of dance forms and allows her to merge her hip hop background with her love for and extensive training in Latin social dances. She is driven to use dance for social change by breaking down cultural barriers and uniting dancers from different backgrounds which she has done extensively with “Los Fundadores” or The Founders of Cuban salsa in Cuba. For two years, Cory traveled to Cuba to help document and share the stories of Los Fundadores bringing with her travelers to experience the culture and community of dance in Cuba. She is the creator of the Dance Citizens Project, a global virtual dance community.

Cory’s involvement in the entertainment industry began at a young age with an appearance in Britney Spears’s MTV diary and even got the opportunity to perform twice for Britney herself along with Steven and Liv Tyler. Since then, Cory has been featured in Viva Magazine, and has trained with artists such as Wade Robson, Anson Mount, Holly Farmer, Brian Frieldman, and Rennie Harris.

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