Chakradance is described as a dance practice for the soul. It is about reconnecting back to our true essence or true self. Chakradance workshops are a journey inwards. We use spontaneous dance, specific music, guided imagery and mandala art to journey through the chakra system. It is available for ALL abilities, ages 18+
These ChakradanceTM weekly classes are held once a week as a 9 week cycle. We will be dancing OUTDOORS 🌳🍃🌳🍃🌳
WHEN:
Saturday Mornings 15 May to 10 July
8:00-9:30am
Time is give between each class for deeper reflection, integration and journaling and/or drawing. Dancing more than one cycle allows for a deeper journey inwards and further personal growth.
INVESTMENT: £175*
* 20% will be donated to support the Community Interest Company - Healing Hearts and Minds with Horses, which offers a unique range of HEART Equine-Assisted programmes dedicated to vulnerable children, youth and adults who feel scared, stressed or insecure to help them feel safe, strong and supported. https://www.healingheartsandmindswithhorsescic.org/
INCLUDED IN FEE:
Each class starts with a guided meditation, followed by a warm-up. Then a spontaneous dance for one of the chakras to specific music. The class finishes with mandala art. Each participant will receive a sketch book in which to record your mandala art along with a pack of drawing tools [e.g. pastels, crayons, felt tips].
Register by email:
nancy@dancewithequus.com
PLEASE BRING:
a yoga mat, blanket and pillow, if you would like to sit on and/or lay on it during the mandala art or any other time during the class.
Chairs will be available for those needing to sit. These will be sanitised before use.
PLEASE WEAR:
comfortable clothing that will allow you to move freely, perhaps layers to remove if you get hot or to put on if you get cold. For the feet, I suggest yoga socks (i.e. anti-slip socks), if dancing on yoga mat or very thin and flexible sole shoes again to allow you to feel the ground and move freely.
WEEK 1 ~ Intro Class
In this first/introductory class, we dance through all seven chakras, starting with a mediation and ending with a mandala art activity.
WEEK 2 ~ Base Chakra
The first dance, the dance of the base chakra, draws inspiration from tribal dancing, as found in the indigenous cultures of Africa, Australia and North America. These dances are linked to our roots, survival and grounding. In Chakradance we envisage dancing around an ancient campfire, bringing our own tribal dance to life. We also draw inspiration from the natural movements found in the animal kingdom.
WEEK 3 ~ Sacral Chakra
The dance of the sacral chakra often relates to the feminine dances found in the Middle East, South America and Hawaii. Dances from these regions celebrate many of the qualities associated with the sacral, including emotions and sexuality. This sacral dance can be slow and sensual, or flirtatious and erotic, with fluid movements of the hips and belly.
WEEK 4 ~ Solar Plexus Chakra
To dance the solar plexus chakra is to call on the warrior dances of the Maori, ancient Morocco, Spain, Mexico, Brazil. These warrior dances were masculine, powerful, athletic and virile, as they rhythmically mimicked the art of the fight. In Chakradance, fast dynamic movements ignite the fire in our belly, fuelling our dance with energy and strength. Reining all this fiery energy in, movements then become strong, purposeful and clearly defined as our inner warrior emerges triumphant, brave and strong.
WEEK 5 ~ Heart Chakras
To dance the heart chakra is to move with lightness, joy and compassion, as reflected in dances from ancient Spain, Egypt and China. Many of these dances used exaggerated arm movements to gently whirl into deep states of joyful harmony. Other dances of China symbolized balance, where mimetic movements expressed the union of heaven and earth. We’ve draw inspiration from these dances, and move the arms to feel uplifted, light and free. Inspired by the whirling of the ancient ones, we dance a soaring journey of love, compassion and joy.
WEEK 6 ~ Throat Chakra
The movements of the throat chakra have been inspired by many ancient dances. So many cultures all over the planet interweave the voice and dance to increase the awareness of spirit. The Greek word horus refers to both dance and song, and is the origin of the word chorus. In Ancient Egypt, performers often danced while reciting poetry, while in Hawaii, chant and dance are blended to communicate the story. In Tibetan culture, mystical rituals performed by monks interweave chanting and sound (gyaling horns, cymbals and bells), with delicate movements of the body. In Chakradance, we weave sound and movement in a ‘mantra-dance’ which intensifies our self- expression and creativity.
WEEK 7 ~ Third Eye Chakra
At the third eye chakra, we can lift up into ecstatic and altered states of consciousness through trance-dance. The practice of trance-dance is hugely popular throughout the world, and has its heritage in many of the ancient cultures of Southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas. Often dancers are inspired by imagining they are a North American Indian, who has danced for days, in order to go deeply into trance. The movements tend to be simple, repetitive, and even monotonous. The dance of the third eye is the dance of the intuitive mind. Each dancer drifts into his or her own visual universe of images, colours, and insights, achieving a deeply meditative state.
WEEK 8 ~ Crown Chakra
The dance of the crown chakra is a devotional dance, one in a long line of dances that embrace the religious and the spiritual. In ancient Shamanic practice, from the Celts to the indigenous peoples of the Americas and Asia, dance was used to commune with the spirits. In Ancient Egypt certain ritual dances were crucial to the successful outcome of religious rites. In Chakradance we open the gateway to the soul through this meditative sacred dance. This is a dancing prayer; our soul’s turn to dance.
WEEK 9 ~ Integration Class
This is the dance of wholeness. We will dance through all seven chakras in this integration dance. This is the dance of balance and integration and will be unique to each participant. It is about bringing into view a unified picture of your whole system.
