Millennia
ago, priestesses and women danced upon hilltops and in groves celebrating
life's mystery, power and beauty. These women saw themselves as made in
the image of the Creatrix, The Great Mother Goddess. Her
full, ripe, childbearing icons were representational of Her power. The
tradition of The Goddess was life affirming, focusing on fertility, birth,
renewal and regeneration. The dance of The Goddess mimicked the birthing
experience and aided the process of labor and delivery. This dance, the
forerunner of what is known today as "belly dancing", is a uniquely
feminine way of consciously activating soulful body energies. The full
activation and integration of these subtle yet powerful energies is empowering,
transformative, healing and energizing. Thus the power of The Goddess
can be reclaimed and an artful fusion of Body, Mind and Spirit achieved.
In this workshop, women enter a sacred space to experience the dance of movement, music and energy flowing through their bodies. This workshop is for dancers and non-dancers, and women of all ages, shapes and sizes.
The basic vocabulary of the dance is based on moments associated with the moon and the four elements: circles, crescents, lemniscates, spirals, waves, pulses and shimmies.Sacred gestures and mudras are used in conjunction with cosmic energy patterns, breathing exercises, creative ritual, movement meditation and chakra activation. The Age of the Goddess will be described, along with the history of how She and women were subsequently disempowered and how Her influence is reemerging today.
Format and Requirements: This program is designed for women as a half, full day or weekend workshop. A large empty room is required and a sound system for tapes and CD's. Students should wear comfortable loose clothing and be barefooted. Long skirts, scarves, jewelry and adornments are encouraged. Veils will be provided.
About the Instructor: Zohar is a Middle Eastern dancer, teacher, choreographer and event producer. She has performed internationally for over 20 years and is listed in Who’s Who in Entertainment. She teaches and lectures on the history and art of Belly Dancing, Birth Dancing and Goddess Dancing. Her workshops and sacred dance concerts are presented at museums, new age centers and spiritual retreats. She has produced shows for Warner Brothers and Disney and has performed at Radio City Music Hall and The New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. She has hosted her own cable television show.
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