Creating the Circle
I like to create a circle with a center when I do these dances at home in solitary solidarity. I use a flower or stature in the center and at least 8 LED tea lights around it to form a circle I will dance within. I have also used socks and scarves, and outside I've made a crop circle in the grass to guide me. Use you imagination and what you have to hand! for more information on the dances below including pictures and you tube videos click here
I like to create a circle with a center when I do these dances at home in solitary solidarity. I use a flower or stature in the center and at least 8 LED tea lights around it to form a circle I will dance within. I have also used socks and scarves, and outside I've made a crop circle in the grass to guide me. Use you imagination and what you have to hand! for more information on the dances below including pictures and you tube videos click here
Meditations on a Vertical Axis
Music from the Taize Community
choreographed by Colin Harrison
This dance starts our healing ritual, to center and ground us, bringing our whole attention and being to our purpose:
Face the center of your circle, Start with your hands in prayer position at your heart.
then move them upward to the sky. Next take your downward motion as close to the earth as is comfortable for you, some dancers will go down to yogic child’s pose or prone prayer, some will bend from the waist and simply gesture downward. Repeat the upwards and downwards motions, pausing at your heart, at your own pace, using gestures that are meaningful to you
We are tracing the vertical Axis, opening to Heaven and Earth
Music from the Taize Community
choreographed by Colin Harrison
This dance starts our healing ritual, to center and ground us, bringing our whole attention and being to our purpose:
Face the center of your circle, Start with your hands in prayer position at your heart.
then move them upward to the sky. Next take your downward motion as close to the earth as is comfortable for you, some dancers will go down to yogic child’s pose or prone prayer, some will bend from the waist and simply gesture downward. Repeat the upwards and downwards motions, pausing at your heart, at your own pace, using gestures that are meaningful to you
We are tracing the vertical Axis, opening to Heaven and Earth
Hennie’s Giveaway
calls the directions, bringing in all the powers of nature, Air (East) Fire (South) Water (West) and Earth (North) to bring us deeper into focus and healing strength. the music and choreography are anonymous ( at least to me) coming from the earliest days of Circle Dance in Britain.
Directions:
the Dance starts facing the East. During the first phrase of the music ( 8 counts) slowly raise your Right arm above your head, palm open facing east. During the next 8 count phrase raise your left had in the same manner, so that both palms are raised over the head facing East. On the next phrase slowly lower the Right arm, the 4th phrase slowly lower the left arm. Then make a quarter turn to face South and repeat the sequence. Then a quarter Turn to the West, and finally to the North. End by turning to face the center, to direct and ground the energies you have just gathered to aid our ritual healing.
calls the directions, bringing in all the powers of nature, Air (East) Fire (South) Water (West) and Earth (North) to bring us deeper into focus and healing strength. the music and choreography are anonymous ( at least to me) coming from the earliest days of Circle Dance in Britain.
Directions:
the Dance starts facing the East. During the first phrase of the music ( 8 counts) slowly raise your Right arm above your head, palm open facing east. During the next 8 count phrase raise your left had in the same manner, so that both palms are raised over the head facing East. On the next phrase slowly lower the Right arm, the 4th phrase slowly lower the left arm. Then make a quarter turn to face South and repeat the sequence. Then a quarter Turn to the West, and finally to the North. End by turning to face the center, to direct and ground the energies you have just gathered to aid our ritual healing.
The Elm Dance
to a treasured Latvian song sung by Ieva Akuratere, and choreographed by Anastasia Geng.
This dance is the heart of our ritual. Focus on the healing energy engendered by the Music and movements of this powerful Dance, and sending it into your heart and spirit and outward to those in need.
The dance moves to the right. Always begin with the right foot. Start by taking four steps backward (to the right) around the circle . 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.
to a treasured Latvian song sung by Ieva Akuratere, and choreographed by Anastasia Geng.
This dance is the heart of our ritual. Focus on the healing energy engendered by the Music and movements of this powerful Dance, and sending it into your heart and spirit and outward to those in need.
The dance moves to the right. Always begin with the right foot. Start by taking four steps backward (to the right) around the circle . 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.
The Bach Sun Meditation
We end the ritual with this dance to the promise of strength and renewal.
We will dance it to the music Long Time Sun sung by Snatam Kaur from her album Grace
Our own heather Thompson paired this music with this dance. It is also danced to many pieces by Bach and his contemporaries and was choreographed by the Father of Sacred Circle Dance Bernard Wosen
Directions: ( you can access video instructions if you click here)
step backward away from the center right foot then left foot
rock forward onto the right foot then back onto your left foot
rock forward onto right foot then step forward onto left foot
step to the side in the line of the circle with your right foot,
close with the left foot and begin again
at the end of the dance rise your hands over your head to salute the Sun!
We end the ritual with this dance to the promise of strength and renewal.
We will dance it to the music Long Time Sun sung by Snatam Kaur from her album Grace
Our own heather Thompson paired this music with this dance. It is also danced to many pieces by Bach and his contemporaries and was choreographed by the Father of Sacred Circle Dance Bernard Wosen
Directions: ( you can access video instructions if you click here)
step backward away from the center right foot then left foot
rock forward onto the right foot then back onto your left foot
rock forward onto right foot then step forward onto left foot
step to the side in the line of the circle with your right foot,
close with the left foot and begin again
at the end of the dance rise your hands over your head to salute the Sun!
At the end of the ritual spend some time quietly before you head back to your day. Its a good time to sit in Meditation, count your blessings, and/or turn your thoughts to those people and things you love. Blessed be dear ones, all shall be well again. All shall be very very well.
