Have you been ice climbing for several seasons and WI3+ now feels like walking up a staircase? It’s time to take it to the next level 😉

The Soft Dance clinic offers a technical and sensory immersion in sustained ice climbing. It emphasizes fluidity, precision, and economy of movement rather than brute force.

Aimed at climbers who are comfortable with WI4, this clinic aims to consolidate what you’ve learned and help you progress to WI5, with more control, finesse, and confidence on steep and challenging terrain.

Learning objectives

Develop fluid, silent, and efficient movements on steep ice.
Improve the quality and reliability of anchors (ice axes and crampons) on vertical terrain.
Better manage effort and stress on sustained pitches.
Strengthen autonomy and confidence in challenging conditions.
Clinic philosophy

Danse Douce invites you to consider ice climbing as a vertical dance: each movement is thoughtful, intentional, and fluid.
The goal is clear: climb harder while expending less energy, with elegance, control, and enjoyment.

• Be able to climb WI3+ to WI4 ice routes.
• Know how to belay.
• Be in good physical condition.

Schedule

7:30 a.m.: Meet at parking lot P1 (Festiglace reception area) – you will be greeted by the volunteer assigned to your clinic, who will guide the group down into the canyon to pick up your equipment from our partners.

8:00 a.m.: Meet your guide at the reception area in the exhibitors’ village (down in the canyon).

Please be on time so that the group can pick up the equipment and get the most out of the clinic.

Equipment

Required (personal or loaned)

• Harness, helmet
• Ice axe(s) and crampons
• ATC and/or Grigri
• Climbing lanyard, 1 to 2 carabiners
• Warm, waterproof clothing (Gore-Tex)
• Several pairs of gloves
• Thermos, snack or dinner
• Down jacket, base layers, hot pad
• Equipment loan – Exhibitors’ village (from 7:30 a.m.)

Mammut: boots, helmets, harnesses

Petzl: ice axes, crampons, helmets, harnesses

CAMP: ice axes, crampons

La Sportiva: boots

Black Diamond: crampons, helmets, harnesses

145^$ per person

IFMGA mountain guide Santiago Padros is Spanish and has been based in the Dolomites (Italy) since 2006.

A two-month trip to Yosemite in 2003 marked a turning point in his life and sparked his desire to explore the world. Since then, he has completed six expeditions in the Himalayas, opening five new routes up to an altitude of 6,950 m, as well as four expeditions in Patagonia, with two first ascents on Cerro Adela (Cerro Torre massif).

He has worked as a guide and trainer in Spain and internationally, developing a comprehensive and cross-disciplinary approach to mountaineering.

Santiago also collaborates with Grivel, TrangoWorld, Aku, Lurbel, and E & H-Dry as an equipment tester and sponsored athlete.