Arts and Culture
Featured Events
HeARTbeat Collective Mission
We are united by the common cause of creating and supporting diverse and inclusive gatherings, workshops, and events that inspire and educate people through the healing and expressive arts, with a focus on healthy and sustainable relations to the earth and one another.
The HBC has a 4 year lease with the MRC and runs art and cultural events. The HeARTbeat Collective, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Arts & Cultural organization.
Winter Solstice Collaboration
Winter Solstice Collaboration Saturday, Dec. 21st
at the Montague Retreat Center
177 Ripley Rd., Montague
Noon to Midnight
Classes, dances, live music, yoga, vending fire circle ceremony at dusk, drumming, ecstatic dance, live painting
Solstice Collaborators to include:
HeARTbeat Collective-core organizers and host organization
Western Mass Herbal Symposium: workshop by Laura Torraco
Wolftree Programs-Fire Lighting, Fire by Friction
Resonance Yoga- Afternoon Vinyasa
Earthen Elixirs: throughout the day into the night
Fire Walk by Glow Firewalking
Rose Khalsa: Ojibwe Pipe Prayer Offering
Marie Echo: Fire lighting, Orphic Hymn to Nyx
Father Otter, Jason Cohen, Nico D’amico & Glenn Smith: Opening live ecstatic dance
DJ Passionflower-Ecstatic Dance-Late night
Martin Bridge-Live Painting
Kaitlyn Cronin - Live Painting
River Valley Drum & Dance
Thursday October 17
7:00 - 10:00pm | Doors 6:30pm
Welcome to a new ecstatic dance in the River Valley - bring the joy of a summer fire circle inside as we sink into deep Autumn.
Join us as we gather our energy and spirit to dance, drum, and hold space to create a container
of warmth and light.
This is an intentional drum and dance experience with a focus on deep listening and not overplaying.
A Collaboration with the HeARTbeat Collective & Liminal Roots Productions
Cost: Sliding scale with suggested donations starting at $10, cash is encouraged, Venmo/Paypal QR code available
Please bring your own water bottles, drums, shakers and noise makers - all percussive instruments are welcome!
We strive to create space for movement from rhythm.
If there are questions about how you can best help to facilitate this environment
please seek the hosts of this event - Deb Chesser & Jason Cohen
Be consensual, respect the space and all in it.
This event is open to all ages and families.
Carpooling is encouraged!
Yaima w/ James Bird
Thursday October 17
7:00 - 10:00pm | Doors 6:30pm
Immerse yourself in a special performance by YAIMA at the stunning Montague Retreat Center in Montague, MA.
Join us for a journey of empowerment and connection on October 17th as we embark on an experience that will awaken your senses and uplift your spirit.
with the magical James Bird opening.
Presented by Heartbeat Collective, Montague Retreat Center & Sacred Breath Alchemy.
SWID: Sacred World Interdependence Day Gathering
SWID is back. July 5th-7th, 2024
We were all born to live creatively.
Ceremony, Live Music, Ecstatic Dance, Song Circles, Herbalism, Flow Arts, Belly Dancing, Yoga, Story Telling, Fire Circle, Live Painting, Vendors, Cacao Ceremony in the Hemlock Grove, West African Dance Class, Permaculture Action & a screening of Lovejoy's Nuclear War. Classes all weekend.
Check out https://events.humanitix.com/sacred-world for details and to register
MRC Summer Yoga Residency - with Maddie Fega
Maddie grew up in Amherst and has been living in Brooklyn since 2015. Immediately upon stepping foot onto the property of the Montague Retreat Center she felt a deep desire to connect with it. The result was a collaboration with Jason to establish a summer yoga teaching residency that would bring community members to the property to practice yoga. She is delighted to have the opportunity to guide valley folks through yoga classes all summer and contribute to the establishment of a kula (yoga community) amid the trees!
Maddie has been drawn to teaching her whole life. As a high school history teacher in the New York City public schools, teaching is an integral part of how she interacts with the world. Maddie’s yoga journey began while living in France and studying with Pascale Petit. Upon returning to New York she met Julie Dohrman, and after five years of practicing with her, completed her ShaktiYoga 200-hour teacher training. Physical movement, from her lifelong love of long-distance running to push-up contests with her partner and dancing with friends, is central to Maddie’s sense of balance and connectedness. To Maddie, yoga is the most profound way to align and unite mind and body, self and others. Through her teaching practice, she invites all to deepen their curiosity of the human body, open themselves to subtle and invigorating forms of strength, and ground their lives on and off the mat in the wisdom of breath. She brings authenticity of spirit and intelligent sequencing to her classes, and always leaves space for humor.
Daily classes are $20 and can be booked online through humanitix or paid in cash or venmo upon arrival.
Western Mass Herbal Symposium
Join us at first-ever Western Massachusetts Herbal Symposium and celebrate the healing and connection that is offered to us when we are in reciprocity with the land, plants, fungi, and community that sustains us.
MELT at the MRC w/ MaMuse
MELT at the MRC Returns for our 2nd year, 4th Saturdays of the Month
Heart centered inclusive community exploration and celebration, in a barefoot sacred setting. April 27th we are thrilled to welcome MaMuse from the west coast.
w/ DJ Journey Weaver
Opening Yoga with Chandra Cantor w/ live musical accompaniment by Jason Cohen
live painting by Kaitlyn Cronin, welcoming back Earthen Elixirs
Doors: 6pm
Yoga: 6:30pm
Opening Circle: 8pm
MaMuse: 8:30
Journey Weaver: 10pm
For Tickets Visit: https://events.humanitix.com/melt-at-the-mrc-w-mamuse
MaMuse:(“Ma” as in Mamma; “Muse” as in the one who inspires)Harmonic, Uplifting, Folk-Soul-Revival; A Musical Tune-Up for the Heart Wholeheartedly fed by the folk and gospel traditions, MaMuse (Sarah Nutting and Karisha Longaker) create uplifting music to inspire the world into thriving. Interweaving brilliant and haunting harmony with lyrics born of honed emotional intelligence, MaMuse invokes a musical presence that inspires the opening of the heart. Playing a family of varied acoustic instruments including upright bass, guitar, mandolins, ukulele, and flutes, these two powerful women embody a love for all life. The synergy that is created through this musical connection is palpable and truly moving to witness.With 13 delicious years of co-creation and 7 albums under their belts, MaMuse keep their hearts tuned to the creation of music for the health of ALL BEINGS. DJ Journey Weaver (aka. Sarah Monette) takes dancers on a journey of self discovery through creative expression and connection. She mixes a variety of musical genres for ecstatic dance, world bass festivals, guided movement gatherings, and late night EDM. Through training in conscious movement and authentic relating, Journey brings her love of interpersonal connection and self discovery into the musical alchemy that invites dropping into presence and seeing where the rhythms take you. Founder of Ecstatic Dance Boston, Sweat Beats Northampton, and co-founder of I-Opener Dance and Flow ED... she continues to DJ and facilitate locally and internationally, thoroughly enjoying the ride.Chandra Cantor brings an ease and grace to the practice of Vinyasa Yoga, encouraging students of all levels to feel comfortable in their personal practice while gently playing with the edge of possibility and growth. www.steppingintobalance.comMELT: Live Music, Yoga, Cacao Ceremonies, Workshops, Ecstatic Dance, Sound Healing, Live Painting, & Elixirs,