Calming Dances for Stressful Times
the Elm Dance is particularly suited to this time:
Set to the haunting strains of a Latvian song by Ieva Akuratere, and choreographed by Anastasia Geng, the Elm Dance took form in Germany in the 1980s.
Set to the haunting strains of a Latvian song by Ieva Akuratere, and choreographed by Anastasia Geng, the Elm Dance took form in Germany in the 1980s.
The dance moves to the right. Always begin with the right foot. Start by taking four steps backward (to the right). then four beats of swaying , sway right sway left, sway right, sway left in place, next four steps facing forward to the right in the line of the circle. Then, after the next four beats of swaying in place, move four steps into the center of the circle, raising your arms high so they can wave like boughs of the Elm tree. Sway for four beats, and then move four steps back from the center, Sway for four beats and begin again.
When swaying in place, imagine that you can feel the energy from the heart of the Earth spiraling up through the floor into your body. When the energy reaches the heart chakra, send it out for the healing and strengthening of us all during this time of Corona. This is an act of intention. Anastasia Geng, who created the dance from the Latvian song, said the purpose of the dance is for building strong intention, which in Bach Flower Remedies is the power of the elm.
Grace/ with added hand gestures for solo dancing
Directions for Grace
1) stand facing the center and slowly sweep your right arm: circling down and around in front of your body as if your arm was the arm of a clock. Take a full and luxurious 8 counts to complete this motion.
2)Then make the same motion counter clockwise with the left arm in 8 counts
3) use 4 counts to Step towards the center. First with the right foot then touch with the left. Then step in with the left and touch with the right. as you move into the center bring your hands into offering position in front of your heart.
4) use 4 counts to step back out of the circle first with your right foot then cross behind with your left foot still moving back out of the circle, then side right, then left in front along the path of the circle. As you move, cross your arms around your chest in a heart hug.
5) use 4 counts to move into the center. stepping right, left, right, left, while raising your arms high.
6) use 4 counts to step back out of the circle. right, left, right, left, lowering your arms and getting ready to start again with the clock motion!
1) stand facing the center and slowly sweep your right arm: circling down and around in front of your body as if your arm was the arm of a clock. Take a full and luxurious 8 counts to complete this motion.
2)Then make the same motion counter clockwise with the left arm in 8 counts
3) use 4 counts to Step towards the center. First with the right foot then touch with the left. Then step in with the left and touch with the right. as you move into the center bring your hands into offering position in front of your heart.
4) use 4 counts to step back out of the circle first with your right foot then cross behind with your left foot still moving back out of the circle, then side right, then left in front along the path of the circle. As you move, cross your arms around your chest in a heart hug.
5) use 4 counts to move into the center. stepping right, left, right, left, while raising your arms high.
6) use 4 counts to step back out of the circle. right, left, right, left, lowering your arms and getting ready to start again with the clock motion!
I don't know as much about this dances choreography or music as I would like. It came to us in Nor Cal from Leslie Laslett. If you know more contact bacdgwen@mcn.org. so I can post it. I only know it soothes my heart and gives me hope in the is dark time. I hope it will do the same for you
