Trainings

Women’s Ritual Dances: 2-year trainings for women (English : Deutsch)

This training offers an intensive exploration of explore traditional women's ritual dances, within the supportive environment of an ongoing closed group. These dances have survived since ancient times, carrying messages of connection, joy, sustainability and healing that are still relevant - even essential - to our lives today. Often they embody sacred patterns connected to the archetypal image of the Great Mother Goddess, who was revered throughout the same geographical area where the dances have their roots and still survive. The dances can be seen both as a nonverbal language and as a form of spiritual practice; through loving attention to their style, symbolism, and history, we can learn to listen to this language and bring its hidden wisdom once again into the world.

The curriculum includes:

• Traditional Balkan, Rom, Armenian, & Near Eastern women's dances
• Ancient art and antique textiles as they relate to the dances
• Basic teaching skills in the transmission of traditional dance material
• Dances of exile and homecoming; the inner homeland of the dancing body
• Middle Eastern Garden, a creative movement meditation for women
• Relevant teachings of women spiritual guides from diverse traditions

I have been developing this training since 2001 and have offered trainings to numerous groups in Germany, Sweden and the USA. The training is designed equally for teachers and for dancers committed to deepening their skill and understanding of dance. Any woman who has danced with me before may apply for a place.

Training details

New trainings will begin in Spring 2010 in Klagenfurt, Austria and Lebensgarten Steyerberg, Germany (in German). Dates and information can be found on the German trainings page (click here). No English-language group is planned for the near future, but if you are interested in an English-language training in Sweden, the USA, the UK or Italy, or in arranging one in your country, please let me know.
Details on this website or contact Laura at laura@laurashannon.net