A 4-day learning intensive retreat with Justin Riley
for fusion dance instructors and organizers
registration is open here
Fusion Dance Teacher & Organizer Training Retreat
A Live-In Immersion at The Barn – Nevada City, California
Welcome to a four-day, five-night, live-in-residence training retreat at Justin’s home studio, The Barn, nestled in the forests of Nevada City, California. This immersive program is built for dance teachers, Fusion instructors, event organizers, and community builders who want to deepen their craft, sharpen their leadership, and nourish their creative life.
To learn more about the main facilitator and host, Justin Riley, go to www.JustinDance.com. Justin has over 25 years of dance teaching experience and has run the largest and most influential fusion dance events in the world.
Over four spacious days, participants will share:
This retreat is designed to feel like a blend of an Unbound Fusion Festival, professional development with content-packed workshops, and an embodied creative residency — a space where teachers and organizers can collaborate, dream, refine their skills, and leave with both new tools, new peer relationships, and renewed inspiration.
What You’ll Learn
Over the course of the retreat, Justin will guide sessions on a wide range of topics essential to becoming a confident, deliberate, effective, and inspiring dance instructor and community organizer.
Teaching & Pedagogy
Music, DJing & Class Atmosphere
Community Organizing & Event Production
Sustainability & Professional Life
Who This Retreat Is For
This retreat is ideal for:
A Live-In Immersion at The Barn – Nevada City, California
Welcome to a four-day, five-night, live-in-residence training retreat at Justin’s home studio, The Barn, nestled in the forests of Nevada City, California. This immersive program is built for dance teachers, Fusion instructors, event organizers, and community builders who want to deepen their craft, sharpen their leadership, and nourish their creative life.
To learn more about the main facilitator and host, Justin Riley, go to www.JustinDance.com. Justin has over 25 years of dance teaching experience and has run the largest and most influential fusion dance events in the world.
Over four spacious days, participants will share:
- Daily workshops focusing on teaching methodology, community-building, and the art of Fusion
- Group meals cooked and enjoyed together
- Breakout sessions for peer reflection, brainstorming, and skill exchange
- Afternoons at the Yuba River, one of the most stunning swimming and nature spots in Northern California
- Evening practice sessions and dance parties at The Barn and in nearby Nevada City.
This retreat is designed to feel like a blend of an Unbound Fusion Festival, professional development with content-packed workshops, and an embodied creative residency — a space where teachers and organizers can collaborate, dream, refine their skills, and leave with both new tools, new peer relationships, and renewed inspiration.
What You’ll Learn
Over the course of the retreat, Justin will guide sessions on a wide range of topics essential to becoming a confident, deliberate, effective, and inspiring dance instructor and community organizer.
Teaching & Pedagogy
- How to approach thinking about and teaching Fusion Dance with clarity, structure, and nuance.
- How to be deliberate about what you teach, and not just "teach how you were taught."
- Bring lenses onto your own coursework to make it more inclusive and accessible to all learning types and levels.
- Developing a signature teaching approach that reflects your values and character.
- How to make your classes unique and the one that "everyone is talking about."
- How to build a great teaching partnership.
Music, DJing & Class Atmosphere
- How to select, mix, and structure music to shape classes and events.
- Curating a vibe that supports student learning, community bonding, and a class or party "to remember."
Community Organizing & Event Production
- How to build, grow, or revitalize a Fusion dance scene
- Creating sustainable events — pricing, structure, logistics, and matching your lifestyle and desires.
- Designing classes and socials that attract and retain dancers.
- Marketing that reflects your values and reaches your people.
- Managing conflict, community dynamics, and organizer burnout.
Sustainability & Professional Life
- How to make a living in the Fusion world.
- Boundaries, communication, and self-care for dance leaders.
Who This Retreat Is For
This retreat is ideal for:
- Dance instructors (Fusion or adjacent forms)
- Current or aspiring dance instructors
- Scene organizers and event producers
- Anyone who wants to build greater skill, confidence, and clarity in their dance community work.
Pricing
Low Income Ticket $375
Mid-Income Ticket $475
General Admission Ticket $575
Food and Camping for 5 nights and 4 days: $125
**Can't Afford A Low-Income Ticket? Submit a scholarship form during registration.**
Mid-Income Ticket $475
General Admission Ticket $575
Food and Camping for 5 nights and 4 days: $125
**Can't Afford A Low-Income Ticket? Submit a scholarship form during registration.**
housing, meals, Daily rhythm
Housing: Tent, RV, or car camping at our main workshop venue, The Barn, is included with registration. Showers, kitchen, and electrical hookups are available. For those desiring non-camping options, there are local Airbnbs and local dancer housing as well in nearby Nevada City.
Meals: We will cook and eat together from Wednesday dinner until Monday breakfast. All meals will be gluten-free with vegan options. During online registration, you will have a chance to list any dietary restrictions you have, and we will do our best to accommodate everyone's dietary needs.
Daily General Rhythm:
9:30 am: breakfast
10:30 am - 1 pm: morning workshops
1 pm: lunch
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm: Yuba River time.
3:30 pm - 6:30 pm: Afternoon workshop sessions
7 pm: dinner
8 pm dancing in town or at the barn
Meals: We will cook and eat together from Wednesday dinner until Monday breakfast. All meals will be gluten-free with vegan options. During online registration, you will have a chance to list any dietary restrictions you have, and we will do our best to accommodate everyone's dietary needs.
Daily General Rhythm:
9:30 am: breakfast
10:30 am - 1 pm: morning workshops
1 pm: lunch
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm: Yuba River time.
3:30 pm - 6:30 pm: Afternoon workshop sessions
7 pm: dinner
8 pm dancing in town or at the barn
about Justin riley
Justin is an internationally celebrated dance instructor, event producer, community organizer, and cultural instigator with over two decades of experience teaching, organizing, and event production across the globe. Having taught and studied dance in more than 30 countries, he brings a deeply nuanced, cross-disciplinary approach to both his pedagogy and his community leadership. His teaching is known for blending technical precision with imaginative exploration, creating classes that feel at once grounded, expansive, and profoundly human and fun.
Justin’s roots in Blues and Fusion dance stretch back to 2004, placing him among the earliest architects of the global Fusion community. His work helped shape the foundation of the scene as it exists today, and he remains one of its most influential instructors and organizers. His classes center on Blues-based partnership, rich musicality, and a commitment to personal expression as a core dance value. Through his signature teaching style, Justin offers dancers a sophisticated understanding of body mechanics, connection, and theory.
Beyond teaching, Justin is the founder and lead organizer of Recess Productions and Unbound Fusion, two of the most innovative event organizations in the Fusion world. His work in event production, community organizing, and cultural stewardship has helped nurture thriving dance scenes throughout North America and Europe. He has placed in respected competitions such as Blues Shout, Mile High Blues, and Emerald City Blues, yet his primary dedication lies in cultivating dance as a living, evolving cultural practice.
In recent years, Justin has become a mentor to teachers, organizers, and scene builders, sharing not only technical skills but also the philosophical and ethical frameworks needed to lead healthy, vibrant dance communities. His commitment is to help dancers—whether students, teachers, or organizers—develop the artistry, clarity, and courage to shape the future of Fusion and Blues partner dance.
Justin’s roots in Blues and Fusion dance stretch back to 2004, placing him among the earliest architects of the global Fusion community. His work helped shape the foundation of the scene as it exists today, and he remains one of its most influential instructors and organizers. His classes center on Blues-based partnership, rich musicality, and a commitment to personal expression as a core dance value. Through his signature teaching style, Justin offers dancers a sophisticated understanding of body mechanics, connection, and theory.
Beyond teaching, Justin is the founder and lead organizer of Recess Productions and Unbound Fusion, two of the most innovative event organizations in the Fusion world. His work in event production, community organizing, and cultural stewardship has helped nurture thriving dance scenes throughout North America and Europe. He has placed in respected competitions such as Blues Shout, Mile High Blues, and Emerald City Blues, yet his primary dedication lies in cultivating dance as a living, evolving cultural practice.
In recent years, Justin has become a mentor to teachers, organizers, and scene builders, sharing not only technical skills but also the philosophical and ethical frameworks needed to lead healthy, vibrant dance communities. His commitment is to help dancers—whether students, teachers, or organizers—develop the artistry, clarity, and courage to shape the future of Fusion and Blues partner dance.