I’ve written these notes (to self) and shared them in the hope that they will be helpful to your dance exploration. There is a rich opportunity in dance to feel everything (which is possibly why we are here, living this human experience). Each wave of music I’ve put together is curated to take us on a journey – ‘facilitation’ simply being making it easier for you to do your own process. We are the only ones who can do our own work. The basic practice of Dance Awake (as laid out by Dr Brian Bergman – founder) has 2 main guidelines:
- Awake and Aware – Stay Present
- Keep Moving
Each journey (in the form of the musical wave) will have a map (note: the map is not the territory and ultimately it is our own inner terrain that we’re traversing). In Dance Awake we often (though not exclusively) refer to the map of the 5 elements (earth, water, fire, air, ‘ether’) and within these there is space to explore many facets of our being. Sometimes it is the music that we don’t like, the places we resist going to, that offer us the most bounty — when we allow ourselves to do the dance of “I don’t like this”. To dance with what is happening and find an equanimity in it.
Each wave and accompanying facilitation will have a theme. These themes are generally something I’m exploring at the time, and are a guide for how I put the music together and write the facilitation text. Sometimes these may resonate, sometimes not — the themes are never something you need to stick to. Move with whatever is moving inside of you. The biggest impediment to conscious dance is thinking your dance should be, look or feel any particular which way or form. Here is the space to become more aware of what is, and dance that.
With Love,
Jolene
P.S. The full Dance Awake guidelines, which are particular useful when dancing in groups where a safe container is preferable, are as follows:
- Awake and Aware – Stay Present
- Keep Moving
- Non-verbal
- Respect Others
- Eyes closed or Open.