Trainings
Women’s Ritual Dances: A 2-year training 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
- Transcultural singing and creative ritual to honour the divine feminine
I have been developing this training since 2001 and have offered trainings to six groups so far. 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.
Trainings for women are currently in progress in Germany, Sweden & the USA. New trainings will begin in 2010. Look for information on this website in 2009.