Archive for Dance
The Role of Dance as a Workshop Tool
Posted by: | Comments
Sherri McLendon
Duds, all of them. I felt the words running through my head, along with my own frustration. Known as a lively, engaging teacher and facilitator, I couldn’t seem to get the room full of hopeful writers to respond.
Was it because it was Monday? Was it because it was raining? Did they eat breakfast? Or were they completely brain dead? I decided to go with the latter, and awaken the zombies. After all, they needed their brains as well as their bodies if they planned to write anything worth reading.
As a writer, coach and Natural Rhythms Sacred Dance Facilitator, I know what most of the individuals in the room do not. That word and breath are intrinsically connected. That the sacred act of communication and human understanding starts in the body. I take a deep breath, and shift gears. I clear my head, step into presence.
“Okay, everybody stop what you’re doing. Put down your pencils. I’m putting on a piece of music. Pick out one of the instruments, and move around the room acting as though you’re that instrument come to life. Don’t think, just move.” I have one of the participants turn out the lights; there’s enough coming in the window. I set the ground rules: each person must move around the room at least once; no touching or bumping; be willing to risk. I start the track, and then, because there’s a pause of disbelief, I join in, encourage, direct traffic.
Read More→
Dancing with Self-Doubt
Posted by: | Comments
Self-doubt creeps up behind me and throws me to the ground sometimes before I can even turn around. I find that anytime I am stretching my edges, claiming my next step, or solidly going for my dreams, it pays a visit. The funny thing is it takes me awhile to notice since it never comes in the front door. It sulks around back and then pokes it’s head in when I’m not looking.
My self-doubt doesn’t just come around when I preparing to do something big that I’ve never tried (although it’s done that many times) it really likes to saunter up and sit down after I’ve had the courage to step out in a new way. It loves to say, “are you sure you did that right” or “should you have said that”?
I wonder where that voice came from? How long did it stop me from going for my dreams before I learned how to move around it, through it, in spite of it, and then finally to dance with it?
Your Dancing Body Temple
Posted by: | Comments
A temple is a structure reserved for spiritual activities; such as prayer and the worship of a divinity. Often seen as the dwelling place of the Divine, a temple provides sacred containment for reverence, devotion, and connecting one’s soul to Spirit.
The body is often referred to as a holy vessel or a temple. Understanding and aligning with Spirit within your body temple can provide you with a clear and direct inner path to the Divine. Hidden among the layers of skin, muscle, blood, and bone resides the creation glue of the universe.
Comprised of the fundamental forces – Earth, Water, Air, Fire, and Spirit – your body provides you with a portal to the core essence of creation. The rich matter that make up your cells flow in harmony with the universe when you honor the forces of the Divine within and dance in time to the rhythmic pulse of cosmos.
Just as an outer world temple becomes enlivened by the prayers of the people within its walls, the Divine within responds to your devotion, reverence, and activation. By dancing your body as you pray to the sacred musical pulse found in the rhythm of the sun, moon, and stars, as well as, your beating heart; you enliven the forces of creation that live inside your body temple.
Read More→
Dancing Your Body Temple
Posted by: | CommentsA temple is a structure reserved for spiritual activities; such as prayer and the worship of a divinity. Often seen as the dwelling place of the Divine, a temple provides sacred containment for reverence, devotion, and connecting one’s soul to Spirit.
The body is often referred to as a holy vessel or a temple. Understanding and aligning with Spirit within your body temple can provide you with a clear and direct inner path to the Divine. Hidden among the layers of skin, muscle, blood, and bone resides the creational glue of the universe.
Comprised of the fundamental forces – Earth, Water, Air, Fire, and Spirit – your body provides you with a portal to the core essence of creation. The rich matter that make up your cells flow in harmony with the universe when you honor the forces of the Divine within and dance in time to the rhythmic pulse of cosmos.
Celestial Timing Tango
Posted by: | Comments
Working with the rhythmic timings of nature is like listening to the music when you dance. There is a certain musical point when it is most effective to begin the movement or step on to the dance floor – the count of one. The same holds true for the creational dance of your life. Certain points make the best time to take powerful and intentional steps into the flow of creation.
Both the sun and the moon have great points for stepping in. The sun makes points in a solar yearly cycle while the lunar cycle creates a conscious entrance point each month on the new moon. The problem is most of us have forgotten to listen to the celestial music Mother Nature plays so that we can dance in harmony with her rhythms.
If you forgot to listen to the music during the tango you would never be effective or be filled with the feeling of grace. There is something magical that happens when you step in time to the music and coordinate your steps with grace and harmony. When you are in rhythm, an amazing feeling begins to flow inside which uplifts, centers, balances, and energizes you.
