Two Days of Play
@ Ser Vivo
Two days of movement, singing, and play!
October10-11, 2026
Two days of joyous play, deep listening, creative discovery, and collective music-making.
Saturday - Explore and Express
A perfect intro for anyone new to the practice.
Sunday -Improvise Songs
A delectable dive for those wanting to go further.
At The Embodied Voice, we explore how body and voice intertwine through somatic practice, improvisation, and co-creation. Expect laughter, liberation, and connection as we open space for authentic expression — no songs to learn, just pure spontaneous music made together.
Day 1 (Saturday) will offer a free-wheeling introduction to the moving and sounding body. Drawing upon somatic practices, guided movement explorations, contact improv, circle singing and more, we will awaken and explore the many colours and expressions of the voice. A perfect intro for anyone new to the practice.
Day 2 (Sunday) will offer a chance to nerd out on how to collectively create songs in the moment - without a conductor or composer! Learn forms, tricks, and techniques for refining melody, rhythm, harmony and more. Sing in small groups and receive personalised coaching. A delectable dive for those wanting to go further.
Hosted in the serene hills of Ser Vivo, Arrábida, enjoy a weekend escape with time to rest, share food, and walk in nature between sessions. Come for one day, or both, with the option to stay over Saturday night. Bring your own lunches, or enjoy fully catered meals including Saturday lunch & dinner, Sunday breakfast & lunch.
Get in touch with your vibrant, vital self - breathe deeply, move freely - vibrate, hum, and bellow - be moved by the magic of collective music making.
SATURDAY:
10:00–13:00 – Morning Session
Laying the groundwork:
- Opening a space of play and discovery
- Somatic and vocal exploration to free the voice and release judgments
- Authentic movement and contact improvisation
- Sounding into singing
Lunch + Nature Break (13:00–15:00)
Savour a meal from Ser Vivo’s kitchen or bring your own lunch, and enjoy a restorative walk in nature.
15:00–18:00 – Afternoon Session
Beginning to create scenes, shapes, and songs:
- Rhythm, timing, dynamics of sound
- Deep listening and vocal soundscapes
- Forms for movement songs and physical exploration
- Circle singing
19:00 - Dinner (for the Weekenders)
- Followed by social hang out, singing by the fire, and rest time
What is Saturday about?
Saturday is designed for anyone who wants to nourish their voice and body connection from an intuitive, playful, and holistic perspective. We will be moving and sounding with attention and curiosity towards sensation and process, investigating the wide range of expression that unfolds. Sometimes it will feel like a collective sound bath, sometimes like a busy village square, sometimes like a landscape, sometimes like a groovy song.
What is Circle Singing?
Circle singing is a form of vocal improvisation pioneered by Bobby McFerrin, where a leader creates parts in real time and gives them to singers in the circle. Each layer builds into a living, breathing piece of music. This is a great tool for quickly bringing people together into collective singing, all made up on the spot and responsive to the group.
What is Sunday about?
Sunday is designed for those people who want to get more nerdy and into the weeds about improvising songs together. We’ll be putting on our composer hats to focus on the world of music-making, exploring melody, inventing rhythm and percussion parts, finding harmonies, making up lyrics on the spot and more. We’ll sing in smaller groups with lots of space to develop your own creative voice.
What is Co-Improv?
Collaborative vocal improvisation is the art of creating music together using only our voices and bodies — without a conductor or leader. Groups may use established forms or games to guide their music-making, or create freely from scratch. The results can range from rich soundscapes to rhythm- and harmony-based pieces that feel like complete songs.
SUNDAY:
8:30 - Breakfast (for the weekenders)
10:00–13:00 – Morning Session
Introducing Collaborative Vocal Improv:
- Learn the foundations of making music together: exploring rhythm, harmony, and melody
- Explore the basics of collective song-making through forms and games
- Small group practice, play, and sharing
Lunch + Nature Break (13:00–15:00)
Savour a meal from Ser Vivo’s kitchen or bring your own lunch, and enjoy a restorative walk in nature.
15:00–18:00 – Afternoon Session
Coaching and Refining:
- Small group coaching from Kate on specific learning tasks
- Group play
- Closing sing and reflections
Why Improvise?
Discover your authentic voice
Practice being present in the moment
Release perfectionism and all the “shoulds”
Experience the joy of discovery
Recognize that every voice is valuable and contributes to the whole
Learn musical essentials — harmony, rhythm, texture — in an intuitive way
Reconnect with your inherent creativity
Embrace the unknown and grow more comfortable within it
Join a supportive community where everyone is making it up together!
Is this for me?
This work is accessible to anyone with a voice and body! You don’t have to know any music theory or be able to read music - you just need an open mind and a willing heart.
While improvisation might feel terrifying, it can be a radically healthy practice. In this container of improvised music making, you can practice taking risks, making “mistakes”, and expanding your comfort zone, without fear of negative consequences.
Both experienced singers and complete beginners will find ways to challenge themselves, learn, and enjoy. Because the music is created collectively, you can choose how deeply you dive in — at your own pace and comfort level.
About Kate Smith & The Embodied Voice
Kate Smith is a vocal acrobat, composer, and facilitator known for her seamless blend of musical precision, free improvisation and physical exploration. As the creator of The Embodied Voice©, a research, performance and teaching practice, Kate’s many-faceted creative endeavors address themes of presence, the body-mind relationship, and human rewilding, through the expressive shaping of voice, movement and improvisation.
The Embodied Voice is a practice for living more joyfully in mind and body by bringing together voice, movement, and improvisation. Balancing science and technique with play and creativity, The Embodied Voice helps us tap into a voice and body that is free, expressive, vital, and present. The practice draws on many influences including yoga, Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais Method®, Body-Mind Centering®, mindfulness, contact improv, dance, and theatre.
Meals
Ser Vivo will be creating loveingly crafted meals for us over the weekend. They are committed to using mostly organic and locally sourced ingredients that are nourishing us while honoring the well-being of the earth.
Lunch will consist of a vegan/vegetarian plate with a protein, salad, and grain/potato, followed by a dessert. Dinner will be a bit lighter and come with soup and a side. Breakfast will include oat porridge with nutritious toppings and fresh fruit, tea and coffee.
You can choose whether you’d like to join us for meals, or whether you’d like to bring your own food.
Non-residential Day Participants
If you are coming just for the workshop day and not staying overnight, then you may choose to join us for a lovingly prepared lunch from Ser Vivo for €15 (select at checkout), or bring your own food.
Weekender Participants
If you are joining for both days and/or are staying overnight, you can choose to have your whole weekend catered by the incredible Ser Vivo kitchen team. The meal plan will include Saturday lunch + dessert, Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast, and Sunday lunch + dessert for €50 (select at checkout).
Accommodation
If you are coming for both days, you have the option to spend Saturday night at Ser Vivo.
There are various accommodations available, including15 bunk beds in 2 dorm rooms with communal showers. They are humble, but you can count on clean spaces, fresh sheets, and warm showers. There is one private room, and two private caravans available to rent, each with a double bed and a small kitchen.
Dorm €25
Private room/caravan
1 pax €35
2 pax €55
Own tent/van €20
If you would like to stay additional nights before or after, please inquire directly with Ser Vivo by emailing info@servivo.earth
Details & Booking
Dates & Timings:
Saturday October 10th
9:30 arrivals
10 - 18h workshop
19h dinner
Sunday October 11th
8:30 breakfast
9:30 arrivals
10 - 18h workshop
Investment
Workshop Fee
1 day ticket (either Saturday or Sunday)
€95 General / €75 Low-income
Whole weekend ticket (Saturday and Sunday):
€190 General / €150 Low-income
Please choose your ticket tier according to your means. The low-income ticket is a subsidised option intended for artists or those on a local Portuguese income. If you have the means to pay the General ticket price - for instance if you have a full-time paid job, or are travelling from abroad - please do so. Help us keep to these offerings accessible.
Meals
Lunch + dessert (either Saturday and/or Sunday)……….. €15
Weekend meal plan - Saturday lunch + dessert, Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast, and Sunday lunch + dessert ………..€50
Accommodation
Dorm €25
Private room/caravan
1 pax €35
2 pax €55
Own tent/van €20
Location
Estrada do Vale dos Barris, 2950-055 Palmela