“If you put the psyche in motion it will heal itself” Gabrielle Roth, the founder of 5Rhythms
What is Earth Beats?
Earth Beats is a conscious dance in Stroud. It is a meditative, mindful, embodied, and ecstatic dance inspired by Open Floor International and Gabrielle Roth’s 5Rhythms. It's also inspired by ecstatic dance, Joanna Macy’s the Work That Reconnects (WTR), Tantra the Celtic Wheel of the Year and other earth-based spirituality. Earth Beats is also a laboratory and a place for experimenting, so it's not possible to get it wrong. And everyone is welcome.
Earth Beats is a dance space where we are free to can be ourselves regardless of how we are feeling. It is one of the few places that allows us to express our natural response to the challenging times we are living in instead of suppressing it as we normally do. It's not a place for wearing the "I'm fine" mask, it's a place to be real, genuine, authentic and heartfelt. Earth Beats teaches us resources for living in a mad world, for example remembering to breathe, grounding, centring, moving rather than freezing, and being mindful. With practice Earth Beats can help us feel more joyful, access our personal power and reach our the full potential and our magnificence.
Over the years Earth Beats has become a warm and inclusive community where everyone is welcome. It is a supportive community space in this time of unprecedented personal and global change, challenge and opportunity.
Open Floor and Joanna Macy's WTR work remind me that we are all one and inextricably interlinked. Earth Beats is a dance to reconnect to ourselves – our hearts and souls; to connect to each other; the planet, the more than human world, and the ancestors and future generations. It also deepens our sense of belonging on the land, and gives us a sense of place within our local communities, in the web of life and on the earth.
For those on the spiritual path: Earth Beats is a continually evolving prayer for planetary healing. It was born from the desire to create a space where we might experience ourselves as part of the earth and the greater mystery. Times when we can experience the reality of who we are are rare for many of us. When humanity collectively knows this experience of oneness we will stop damaging the earth and learn to live in harmony.
What’s it like?
Earth Beats may feel like a night club because of the low lighting and the music is ecstatic trance dance, tribal beats, funky grooves and world music. But it is a drug and alcohol-free zone and a guided space so you may notice a sense of safety, permission and liberation. There is space to dance without guidance and opportunities for meeting other dancers.
Earth Beats will probably include a journey through the Open Floor movement cycle of Open Attention, Enter, Explore and Settle. It may incorporate the five elements (Earth, Fire, Water, Air, and Spirit) and over the course of a year echo the cyclical journey around the Celtic wheel of the year and include seasonal celebrations, small rituals and elements of the Work That Reconnects and Tantra.
Wear clothes that will allow free movement for example leggings, yoga pants or track suit bottoms. Wearing layers will help you to regulate your temperature. (Please see the New To This page).
What is it and who is it for?
Earth Beats is for everyone. It is an inclusive community space for others to get involved and share creative skills and talents to make this truly a shared offering and a dynamic, community offering. Some classes will involve local musicians. I always need crew to help me set up the dance. If you want to get more involved please let me know.
The benefit of the dance is dedicated to the Earth and all creatures and beings that live with her, in her and on her lands, rivers, lakes and oceans.
Timing
From 7.15pm-9.15pm and variable see below
All Dances in Stroud Fortnightly on Fridays in Landsdown Hall
16 Nov – Landsdown Hall 7.15pm- 9.15pm - Conscious Relating
This evening will be a journey into one of the key elements of life - Relating and Relationship.
We will be exploring relating consciously through various partner and solo exercises in conscious dancing. We will be exploring how we can stay authentic and present to ourselves when we are in relationship with another, or noticing if we habitually leave ourselves and focus only on the other, or don't fully connect with the other because of fear of being seen, fear of intimacy, vulnerability etc, or if we tend to dissociate or dance on our own to cope, and other relationship dynamics in a light hearted way. Beginners and experienced meditators and dancers welcome.
In this class we will be exploring the territory in solitude and partnership and groups. Some solitude will allow us check in with ourselves. The focus will be on relating without touch in this session.
Autumn/Winter term until end of 2018
Solitude to Connection - A Series of 4 Classes 2 November to Dec 14
16 Nov – Landsdown Hall 7.15pm- 9.15pm Relating with a Partner
30 Nov – Landsdown Hall 7.00pm- 9.15pm Intimacy with self and other e.g. eye gazing, boundaries and optional conscious connection.
14 Dec – Landsdown Hall 7.00pm- 10pm Conscious connection and contact improvisation including boundaries & physical contact.
The touch exercises are structured, demonstrated and facilitated. These classes start on time and there will be some instruction at the beginning. These four classes are a series and are a gradual journey from solitude into conscious connection including optional touch. They are recommended to take as a set of 4 but you can drop in to the first 3. They are all full clothed as usual and there is no sexual content. Prebooking is required for the last class. You will always be at choice and there will be instruction on boundaries. Note the latter 2 classes start at 7pm not 7.15pm and the last class is 3 hours long. Co-facilitated with John Leigh Dent of Heart Body and Touch.
The concession price is for unemployed and retired people and students. If you receive housing benefit and/o tax credits please pay the low-income price. If you can afford to pay the full price, please do to support those who can't pay more and to cover the running costs.
This series includes elements of Open Floor conscious dance, Buddhist meditation, and Tantra and is a prelude to a more tantric dance/workshops starting in the new year.
Cost: £12 on the door, £10 for those on low income, £8 concessions, free for crew.
Cost for the remaining 3 classes £33, £27, £21.
Or £1 if paid in advance.
Please speak to me in advance if money is an issue. I am always looking for new crew to add to the current rota. Please drop me an email or give me a call.
These classes are drop-in. Pre-booking is not required except for the class on 14 December.
Call Clíona on 07960 235 442 or email cliona@earthbeats.co.uk for information and bookings. Or join: www.facebook.com/groups/536431699704061 for updates or to contact other Earth Beats dancers.
Dates for 2019
1 Feb Landsdown Hall
15 Feb Landsdown
1 march venue tbc
15 march Landsdown
29 march Landsdown
12 Apr Landsdown
26 Apr Landsdown
10 may Landsdown
24 may Landsdown
Past Dances:
Series: Solitude to Connection: St Lukes Therapy Centre, 53 Caincross Road, Stroud, GL5 4EX, 2 November 2018
Peace Festival, Landsdowne Hall, Stroud, 24 September 2017
Seed Festival, Hawkwood College, 9 August 2017, www.seedfestival.co.uk
Schumacher College, Devon short course Immersion 9 May 2017
The Exercise Club, Bristol BS8 2XS (regular fortnightly dances September 2016-)
Staverton Village Hall, Devon (regular monthly dances) - October 2012 - July 2016
Buddhafield Festival, Culmhead - July 2013 & 2015
Bristol University, Bristol - Autumn 2015
Quest Festival, Newton Abbot, Devon - July 2014
Hem's Acre Camp, Littlehempston, Devon - July 2014
Barefoot Dance, Exeter, Devon - Summer 2013 & 2016,
Marina Saldanhada Dance Studio, Buckfastleigh, Devon - Winter 2013
Kevvics Dance Studio, Totnes, Devon - Autumn 2013
