Conscious Dance
CONSCIOUS DANCE
"Nothing is more revealing than movement." ~ Martha Graham
photo credit/clothes- Sonja DenElzen, Zen Nomad
Conscious Dance is a dynamic practice that uses freestyle movement to inspire you to get out of your mind and into your body.
It leads participants on a journey of physical and emotional transformation. Through breath, sweat, and self-expression, participants experience themselves as pure, powerful energy. We dance how we feel inspired to dance- without speaking, without structured steps, and without judgement or comparison.
Conscious Dance is about revealing and discovering our natural, intuitive movement. When we permit ourselves to move freely and authentically, we activate our imaginations and dive more deeply into self-awareness and discovery. This sacred practice is fun, invigorating, playful, interactive, personal, edgy, challenging, restorative and deep.
The music playlist follows an arc: beginning with slower, grounding music, building up to faster dance beats intended to invite release, and then transitioning back to prayerful music. There is no right or wrong way to move. It is best to show up and "be moved."
I have been a dancer my whole life! I started taking ballet classes at 10 years old, continued through high school, obtained a university degree in dance, and then went on to dance professionally in Hamilton, Toronto, and Peterborough. I've designed and taught dance courses for the Ontario Secondary School Board and offered conscious/ecstatic dance events for over 25 years. I have trained with many skilled teachers, including Zoe Ryan-5 Rhythms, Vin Marti- Soul Motion, and Toni Bergins- Journey Dance.
Presently, I lead conscious dance events in Guelph once a month at 42 Quebec Street (a beautiful dance studio).
My next Conscious Dance Event is on Saturday, December 20th, from 7:30-9:00 pm.
My version of the Conscious Dance Flow is as follows:
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GROUNDING
We get out of our minds and drop into our heavy bodies. We connect with the floor as we surrender to gravity. We release and sink into the earth, feeling supported as we drop deep, trust, and ground ourselves. The dance is slow and weighted, the breath is full and exhaled, and the music is rich, ancient and earthy.
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AWAKENING
We delve into our watery, sensual bodies, awakening the spine and enlivening the fluid body. We discover internal space and enjoy the pleasure of sensation. The dance is slow, circular, pleasurable and playful. The music is exotic, instrumental and mysterious.
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IMMERSION
We dance with our bones in a choppy, angular way as we explore the space around us. We carve out floor patterns and explore changes in direction. We move confidently and directly to the steady pulse of the music. Sometimes we might playfully engage with other dancers on the dance floor.
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CHAOTIC
We dive into the fire element and access our power through release, purge, and sweat. We clear our minds of negative self-talk and completely surrender to the upheaval of the wild and percussive music. We ultimately let go of everything that doesn't serve us and permit ourselves to fall apart, be unpredictable, scream and shout, and dance with wild abandonment.
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CELEBRATION
After burning in the fire and doing the hard work, we are lifted into the air element where we are free to celebrate joyfully. We twirl, skip, sway, and play. We let go & let loose, We allow ourselves to see & be seen! The movement is free and playful, and the music is lyrical, soulful and poetic.
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OPEN HEART
We take time to listen to our heart's mystery and express what is held back. We shift deeper into listening, witnessing the heart's whispers, and telling our stories to the dance floor. Through expressive movement and evocative music, we align with our true essence.
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PRAYER
You are the prayer, your body, your movement, your breath. We give our attention to the soul's presence. We become the moving prayer connecting to self, others, and Divine love. We are open to oneness. The music is gentle, slow and minimal.
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BLISS
Now we have finished the journey. This is a time to lie down and rest. Noticing our breath and the weight of our bodies on the floor. Becoming aware of how still and quiet everything is. Let's integrate our experience.
"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music." - Friedrich Nietzsche