Dancing on the Earth: Women’s Stories of Healing and Dance

222 Pages·2011·13.71 MB·English

by  Johanna Leseho, Sandra McMaster

Dancing
Earth
on the
Women’s Stories of
Healing through Dance
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Dancing
Earth
on the
Women’s Stories of
Healing through Dance
Edited by
Johanna Leseho, Ph.D. &
Sandra McMaster, M.Ed.
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© Johanna Leseho, Sandra McMaster 2011
The right of Johanna Leseho and Sandra McMaster to be
identified as the authors of this work has been asserted by them
in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1998.
Published in 2010 by Findhorn Press, Scotland
ISBN 978-1-84409-545-2
All rights reserved.
The contents of this book may not be reproduced in any form,
except for short extracts for quotation or review,
without the written permission of the publisher.
A CIP record for this title is available from the British Library.
Edited by Shari Mueller
Cover & Interior design by Damian Keenan
Drawings by Sandra McMaster
Printed and bound in the European Union
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 17 16 15 14 13 12 11
Published by
Findhorn Press
117-121 High Street,
Forres IV36 1AB,
Scotland, UK
t [phone]
f [phone]
e [email protected]
www.findhornpress.com
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Contents
Introduction - Dancing on the Earth .............................................................................9
1 God Loves Us When We Dance: Creative Movement
as an Agent for Transformation - Johanna Leseho ................................................11
2 Contact Improvisation as Metaphor for
Relationship to Self and Other - Jolie Pate ...............................................................23
3 Dance, Destiny, and Love - Bonney Meyer ...............................................................34
4 Liturgical Dance as an Avenue to God - Kathryn Mihelick ...........................51
5 Dancing the Goddess Tara: Praise Her, Embody Her,
Discover Your Own Perfection - Prema Dasara ...................................................66
6 Dancing with (Dis) Abilities - Sharon Took-Zozaya ..........................................81
7 Why I Dance, to Heal - Opeyemi Parham .................................................................94
8 Trance Dance as a Portal to One’s
Self Knowledge - Sandra McMaster ...........................................................................105
9 Dancing for Peace - Rhavina Schertenleib ..............................................................112
10 Sun Dancing as Service to Mother Earth
and All of Creation - Barbara Waterfall ...................................................................123
11 Women’s Ritual Dances: An Ancient Source
of Healing in Our Times - Laura Shannon ...........................................................138
12 Kathak, Dance of Healing - Deepti Gupta ............................................................158
13 Healing and Community Building
Through the Art of Hula - Māhealani Uchiyama ...............................................171
14 Dancing Lotuses - Shahrazad Catharina Huisman .........................................182
15 Transcendental Healing Dance - Iris J. Stewart ................................................196
Notes ...............................................................................................................................................206
Bibliography ..............................................................................................................................215
Photo Credits ...........................................................................................................................220
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DeDication
To the dancer in us all.
May you connect to the rhythm
of your own sweet wisdom.
acknowleDgements
his book has been a collaborative effort, from the time of its birthing to publi-
T
cation. We would like first to thank the women who joined us in this project,
offering their stories, time and patience. Acknowledgement for patience also goes to
our editor, Sabine Weekes and her team as we maneuvered through this process for
the first time. We are grateful she and the folks at Findhorn Press helped this book to
find its voice. A special thanks to Di Brandt for her editing support at the conception
of this project and to Laurie Block who was invaluable as we brought it to comple-
tion. And finally we express our heartfelt gratitude to our partners, Laurie Block and
George McMaster, who provided support, encouragement and belief in our abilities
to bring these stories forth.
Blessings, J. L. and S. M.
January, 2011
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I am happy even before I have a reason.
I am full of Light even before the sky
Can greet the sun or the moon.
Dear companions,
We have been in love with the Divine
For so very, very long.
What can we now do but
Forever Dance!
—Hafiz
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introDuction
Dancing on the Earth
HIS BooK IS ABoUT HEALING through connection and reconnec-
T
tion with our bodies. It is about the power of dance. The title, Dancing on the
Earth, speaks to the desire and need to connect with our bodies by finding that which
grounds us and brings us to our center. Contributors to this book come from around
the globe, bringing with them different languages, experiences, training, and world-
views. Each of the authors offers both a different form of dance as well as a different
perspective on movement and its relationship to healing.
The word “healing” is defined in numerous ways. For some it could entail a new
way of viewing a situation, for others an ability to deal with life’s circumstances, and for
still others it would embody a full and unequivocal cure from dis-ease. As therapists,
we see healing as a process or journey towards awareness, growth, and a new way of
being in the world. The purpose of this book is to share the impact of dance on the
lives of women and to offer it also as a tool that therapists can suggest to their clients.
Expressive therapies enhance talk therapy and dance can be a powerful path to healing
for some. We can, whether through dance or some other form of expression, discover a
connection to something larger than ourselves that has the power to carry us forward.
Each of us was called to this book from different paths in which dance has influ-
enced and inspired our lives. In the coming together of these stories is the story of
all women who have felt silenced, depressed, or who have yearned to “be at home” in
their skin, to find happiness and to connect with that which is Spirit. In her chapter,
“Liturgical Dance as an Avenue to God,” Kathryn Mihelick shares the following in-
sight, “The non-verbal, visceral, experiential nature of movement makes it a language
9
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