Spotlight Dancer/Troupe
Andrea

Circle Dance

What draws me to belly dancing is the connection to spirit. For me, it is a sacred dance, and therefore, a healing dance. It can heal the schism between our earthy, sensual nature and the part of us that is drawn to union with the divine.   

This can be experienced by the individual practitioner of the dance, and as a group, especially when we use the tribal style format, with it's emphasis on co-operation, sharing and non-verbal communication.  

I was always dancing. From age four, I studied ballet and tap, and as a teenager, my greatest thrill was going to sock hops [am I dating myself here?] or just dancing with my sisters or friends. In high school, I choreographed, directed and performed an ensemble show of contemporary pieces. By then I had given up my young girl's dream of becoming a prima ballerina, and traded it in for a flower child's vision of a hand-built house in the mountains, with family and gardens. I am fortunate to have achieved that goal, with lots of blood, sweat and tears, which has been deeply satisfying and life consuming for many years.  

Along the way, I studied herbology and became a certified Kinesionics practitioner, and then a massage therapist. My interest in health led me to several years of study in the internal martial arts, where I found great resources of regenerative energy.  

I studied with Vicki Noble, creator of the Motherpeace Tarot, which led to many [and ongoing] years of meeting with a wonderful women's group, diving deep into the mysteries of moon circles and ritual.  

But it was the pottery class which led me to belly dancing, as I followed a lifelong inclination to make and play dumbeks. I devoured all the music, and then videos that came my way, practicing the moves in my living room when no one else was home. The movements seemed very familiar, and easy for my body to do. I felt an awakening, a mysterious resonance with the music and mood of the dance. Maybe ancient memories...A stirring of exotic fantasies, yes, but also a sense of empowerment, a new image of beauty, grace, and strength---within  me!  

The abstract image of the goddess became more real, as I saw her reflected back in the mirror, and in the faces of the women I danced with. 

When we dance together, we are expressing a strong yet sensual, powerful yet vulnerable aspect of ourselves.  

Sometimes glimpses of ancient women's dances come through, and the Divine Feminine graces us with her presence. We access the Source, which nourishes the soul, and provides a way for us to express Spirit together, no matter what our background or beliefs. We dance our joys and sorrows, healing our corner of the world. We are restored to our places on the circle of life.

In 2006, I came back to teaching after a sabbatical, to the beautiful new Cedar Studio here at Candlewood. Built as part of the vision of this place as a gathering center for the  larger community, we also host yoga classes, workshops and retreats in this 2000 sq. ft. space. Check out the website for more info on our vegetarian Bed and Breakfast and retreat center: www.candlewoodretreat.com

Contact Andrea:  
email: andrea@candlewoodretreat.com

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