Acalento (Lullaby) | Periodic meeting

About

ACALENTO is inspired by the concept of a 'cuddle party' originally created in New York about twenty years ago. ACALENTO can be defined as a practice of affection and cuddling in a safe, sober and non-sexualized environment. Each session lasts approximately 3 hours and is open to all people and identities from the age of 18. In an ACALENTO session, we seek to fine-tune the perception of limits and preferences in contact, while at the same time trusting in the restorative potential of body-to-body proximity. The actions we seek: cuddling, caring, hugging, cuddling, pampering. We begin with a moment to review the rules of interaction; followed by a sequence of exercises that serve as training for closeness and consent; and, finally, the free zone, where interaction is possible in pairs, trios or larger groups, prioritizing the tactile experience and using words only to express what is or is not consented to. In Portugal, the cuddle party circuit is still quite restricted. It is my intention to make this practice more transversal - to create a heterogeneous community that produces and receives its SOOTHING, breaking down language barriers, economic impossibility or others. The session is conducted in Portuguese with translation into English, if necessary. __________ Periodic Meetings, from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm (3h) Last meeting of 2025 on December 20th - click the button on the page to book Responsible contribution 10-15€ Caution | Culture of consent | Non-sexualized interaction | Sober participation Participation requires a prior interview. The proponent will contact you via WhatsApp after sending the registration request. What to bring: clean, comfortable clothes, foam mattress, blanket and pillow. __________ With Constança Carvalho Homem Graduated in Modern Languages and Literatures – Portuguese and English Studies from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of U.Porto, and was the recipient of the Eng. António de Almeida award. She completed her MA in Text and Performance Studies with Distinction at King’s College London and RADA. She has delved into improvised music, performance and film. She’s part of the programming team at Queer Lisboa & Queer Porto International Film Festivals. She’s a member of the networked performance group Utterings and of AND Lab’s research collective. more at: and-lab.org/colaboradores/constancacarvalhohomem