Where to start? At Barton Springs I start at the shallow end of the pool where the water is only a few inches deep and I slowly wade in... Some people I know walk down the stairs where it is waist deep to start and some dive in the deep end first thing. I did dive in to start a few times, years ago...
I learned about dance as a practice from Dunya. It was the first time in my life that I remember feeling really safe for a while. Not anxious about anything. I also noticed early on that the practice took me to that meditation place quickly and easily. Instead of working so hard trying to sit still/remember the mantra/hold the image in mind, the state kind of snuck up on me when I wasn’t looking. I would realize that an hour and a half had passed by in what seemed like 10 minutes. And that I had been in that meditative state for a big chunk of time and in a blissful state for part of it as well. My body felt good. Aches went away. I felt calm and content.
For whatever reason, I had no real concept of practice in the sense of daily practice or spiritual practice before I met Dunya. Now I understand that daily movement practice is a deep core need I have. It is my connection to the divine and my safe place to go any time I want to. When I practice dance and other movement forms every day, I am more embodied, more connected to the planet, more myself.
Dunya is in New York City:
Website: http://www.dancemeditation.org
Blog: http://blog.dancemeditation.org
I miss her so much and one of the ways I stay connected with her and the rest of the wonderful Dancemeditation community I is through shared ecstatic dance practice. Living in Austin, it is so easy to go to Body Choir and get this part of the practice in several times a week.
This blog is where I’d like to write about my experiences with dance as practice. In addition I will post info about dance events I plan to attend or wish I could attend and also classes and performances my friends and colleagues are doing.
Thank you for reading my blog!
Love,
Rebecca