Showing up and allowing ourselves to be fully seen is an invaluable tool for catalyzing foundational change in yourself, your community, and systemically. Over the course of eight days and seven nights, The Summer Submersion is an on your feet exploration of B4 The Other’s Pedagogy of Play. Focusing on B4’s six Buoys and Anchors of Play system: Great Effort, Conscious Vulnerability, Bold Choice, Grounded Acceptance, Grateful Surrender, and Easeful Buoyancy. We do not see them as “pillars” because they are not immovable. We do see these six Buoys and their Anchor counterparts, as points on a horizon in the vast ocean of the unknown. They offer us a foundational level of ease in every situation which establishes the invisible structure felt within B4 The Other’s facilitation.
Being some of the pioneers of facilitating Play work, we are certain that the level of effort, risk and communication one puts into their lives is in direct correlation with what one gets out of their experience. B4’s pedagogy of play empowers the individual to live in abundance within the community by giving self-validation a seat at the table. We reinforce what is most authentic for each individual player in order to make meaningful contributions to our Summer Submersion community. We will be engaged in preparing community meals together, camping, outside summer activities, reflective campfire chats, and physical play exploration in the studio. Opening the channels for one’s restorative personal Play revolution and our communal destination of a new horizon.
In our experience, many training and belief systems are based on tearing one down to build one back up. The last 60 years of methods have shown this idea to be one of the main reasons for suppressing creativity among adults. At the end of the day these methods hinge on another’s validation of your individual process.
The truth is that play seems to be one of the most advanced methods nature has invented to allow a complex brain to create itself. - Dr Stuart Brown MD
B4 The Other Creations strives to build stronger communities by holding space for a universal experience through the Pedagogy of Play. Changing the language to change the story by deep diving into the core values of effort, choice, buoyancy, generosity, and vulnerability. Paving a path of Vibrational Activism in our everyday world.
Location
TBD
B4 The Other is dedicated to living a life of service and fully embodying B4 The Other’s mission in our everyday lives. That’s why we are committed to making our work accessible for all game changers. As such, B4 offers a sliding scale on educational and professional development opportunities (see suggested amounts below). Please choose a one time rate that is an authentic investment for you.
- $675 if you are financially flourishing
- $600 if you are financially comfortable
- $525 if you are financially stretching
If you are able to self-select the financially flourishing rate, please know your investment allows us to help accommodate those who may be financially stretching by offering a lower rate.
Payment plans are made available for those who request this form of support. For inquiry, please email [email protected]
At the time of registration, a $100 nonrefundable deposit is required. This $100 deposit is taken from your self selected authentic investment rate.
The opposite of play is not work—the opposite of play is depression. - Dr Stuart Brown MD
- Day of Arrival (TBA)
- 2pm - 4pm Arrival for Players
- 5pm - 6pm Opening Circle
- 6pm - 8pm Dinner *Provided by B4*
- 8pm - 9:30pm Campfire Shenanigans
- Daily Schedule
- 8am - 9am Breakfast
- 9am - 12pm(noon) Playtime
- 12pm(noon) - 1:30pm Lunch
- 1:30pm - 5pm - Playtime
- 5pm - 7pm - Dinner
- 7:30pm - 9:30pm - Reflective Playtime
*Please note, small breaks during Playtimes are not listed here but will be given.
- Day of Departure (TBA):
- 8am - 9am Breakfast
- 9am - 11:30am Closing Circle
- 11:30am - 1pm Clean up
- 1pm - 2pm Lunch
- 2pm Departure
- Thirty hours of facilitated play exploration
- Seven days of spaciousness to apply B4 The Other’s Pedagogy of Play in real time
- A foundational understanding and embodiment of B4’s Buoys and Anchors of Play
- Guided communal campfire reflection
- An intimate community to play alongside of
- Communal meal planning and shared prep (before and during the Winter Blast)
- Dinner on opening night
*Please note, this event is not catered as part of the play exploration is to investigate Great Effort.
- A journal + utensils to write with
- Layered clothing you feel comfortable moving and sweating in
- Supportive shoes for physical Play exploration
- Towel and all needed toiletries
- Sheets and bedding
- All players are required to bring groceries for the length of the session (seven days). A B4 staff member will be made available for possible grocery store run if and when necessary. *
- Tent and camping gear
- Bug spray and sun protection
- An open mind and heart
* Communal meal planning will be offered to the community through an email chain 1 week before the event.
- To be seen and heard amongst community
- To investigate where resistance comes up and boldly radiate your joy as it shows up
- To wholeheartedly welcome all peoples a seat at the table
- To physically embody play. This can encompass somatic movement, childhood games, written reflection, interactive games, oral sharing, etc. This means we will be getting ridiculously sweaty at times!
- To actively help keep our community mentally and physically safe
- To contribute to leaving your room and the Earthdance facilities clean
- Please commit to being fully present at The Summer Submersion to maximize your individual experience.
- Please commit to staying for the duration of The Summer Submersion to uphold the integrity of the Community exploration.
- To honor conscious vulnerability, this is a dry retreat. We kindly request your sobriety in and throughout The Summer Submersion.
- All players are to procure a negative PCR covid test prior to arrival.
- All players are to be vaccinated unless given special permission by facilitators due to medical exemptions.
- Players are willing to be part of the created community at The Summer Submersion in a way that is most authentic for them.
Christopher J Beaulieu (Co-Founder) is known as “The Game Changer” and “The Playmaker” across the globe. He is an educator and artist with over 25 years of experience facilitating Community Building and Play Exploration rural retreats, educational residencies, and now online workshops. Being one of the pioneers of facilitating Play work, he is certain that the level of effort, risk and communication we put into our lives is in direct correlation with what we get out of them.
Training: Shakespeare & Company, Dell Arte International, Society of American Fight Directors, Pilobolus, and Creatively Independent.
Malia’Kekia Nicolini (Co-Founder) has been called a “Vibrational Activist” from how she holds space while facilitating. She is an internationally touring actress and teaching artist who has dedicated the last five years of her life to Play Exploration. Malia’Kekia’s belief in being at our most compelling when we are at our least composed, underpins her teachings within B4 The Other. She holds an InnerMBA from Mindful NYU having studied conscious leadership and mindful sustainability in business practices.
Training: Mindful NYU (InnerMBA), New World School of the Arts (BFA), Yale University (Science of Wellbeing), Power of Vulnerability (CE Credits), Mahi Yoga Centre (RYT 200HR), TedXBroadway Young Professionals, American Theater Wing’s SpringboardNYC, Attending the teachings of His Holiness The Dalai Lama at his home temple in Dharamshala, India (2018).
It actually takes a lot of guts to play with the B4 The Other Creations team and I recommend every artist do so if they get the chance. Every time I have worked with them, they had a discernment that honed in on what was able to elevate me on my journey and push me to my next milestone—one I didn’t even know I needed a breakthrough for. The hardest part was not allowing the filter of my own bias to deflect the neutral observations and instruction they offered. But the idea of play, learning while I did it, breaking out of my own barriers, and developing a sense of fruitful ensembleship that I can take into other projects was invaluable! I look forward to the next time I get a chance to spend hours with Christopher and Malia’Kekia. It is well worth the energy, effort, and investment!
“As a child, play was an expression, an experience, exercise, growth and social. As an adult I lost most of the knowledge of play and substituted in the rules and expectations of others. I didn’t realize this until my first Play Retreat in 2016. I didn’t realize it fully then, but I knew I was being opened to an experience that would change my relationships to work and those around me. With B4theOther I have reinforced my lessons from 2016 and gained new tools for maintaining and growing play in my life.
I have entered both Play Retreat experiences with a preconceived notion of what I was going to experience. I was wrong both times. This was and will continue to be necessary work to bolster my creativity in my work of theatre and in my personal relationships. Don’t let what you think you know keep you from what you need to know.
“If your inner child has gone missing/into hiding, POP has the power to help rediscover and nurture them! I was admittedly very hesitant to take the POP course due to its virtual nature and feeling “Zoom burnout.” After some gentle persuasion, I decided to dive in and I am so glad that I did! The connections and explorations that were achieved during the last many weeks went far beyond my expectations and I am left wanting even more! The work that Malia’Kekia and Christopher are doing is so essential to our daily lives, especially as “adulting” people who so easily forget how. They are an incredible duo, leading with clear direction and loving guidance, all while making sure that everyone is seen, heard, and valued. I recommend this course to anyone who is willing to break down their grown-up walls and fully dive in to experience a truly life-enhancing world of PLAY!”
“This experience was a light in my life. It came exactly when I needed it to. Yes, it’s about ‘play’ but that word has come to mean so many different things to me now. POP helped me open up doors I didn’t know were closed. Some weeks were effortlessly joyous and others were a massive challenge. Through it all, Malia’Kekia and Christopher lead with such present grace and love. Apart from that the community you gain is beyond what I thought possible, I wish it could have lasted even longer. SO WORTH IT! I also was able to see that the more work we do, the more work there is to be done. Love. Love. Love.”
“I signed up for B4’s Play Retreat, The Winter Blast, with healthy skepticism and resistance that all but disappeared after our first meeting at the retreat. The environment of support, community, and play B4 the Other has created is a place where real growth and healing can occur, if you are open to it. Their brilliant buoys and anchors system offers a non judgmental way to examine the habits we have in our lives, and gifts us the opportunity to make new choices. The medium of play Christopher and Malia’Kekia use made me laugh, cry, reflect, and grow in ways I thought were kept within the leather confines of a therapist’s couch. I would heartily recommend B4 the Other to anyone who is looking to play, and even more so to those who aren’t.”
“B4’s in person retreat (The Winter Blast) is a total game changer. If you are a person seeking deeper connection, a higher level of joy and a desire to touch places in your heart that are aching for deep nourishment, B4’s Play Retreats (The Winter Blast) is it. My experience at the Blast brought me closer to myself in ways I had been longing for but didn’t know were possible until I broke through the invisible wall I had put up. Malia’Kekia and Christopher hold a space that is both loving, fierce, playful and full of permission and steeped in the power of being in community. I am beyond blessed to have been on this retreat and look forward to the ways it will continue to inspire play in my everyday life.”