Weaving Webs of Light
A Sacred Dance Experience…….
Following our first “online” summer Festival “Virtually There” in July 2020 (see video HERE) we are excited to invite you to continue our global journey expanding our light into all the crevices of darkness around the world!
In celebration of the Sacred Dance Guild’s 63rd “birthday” (on February 10th), our doors were opened wide to the global village of sacred dancers! In honor of this occasion we offered this global event for only $63.00 (or $53.00 for SDG members).
This February Mini Festival “Weaving Webs of Light” brought us together to celebrate our village! The graphic (above) is a photograph of a “zoom screen” taken during our summer online “festival” of participants at one of the workshops. The photo was put through a “light” process transforming it, with each beautiful “light” representing one dancer somewhere in the world! That online “festival” went “broad” with over 20 facilitators at 39 “events”! The February event went “deep” – with only 4 “events” (each presented twice to accommodate our global village- so 8 in total) – giving us an opportunity to sink into our personal and collective experience and to expand our light in all directions!
Beginning on Friday, February 19th, 2021 in the Western Hemisphere (so Saturday, February 20th if you are in the Eastern Hemisphere) dancing through to Sunday, February 21st (Monday February 22nd) we danced our individual lights of color and energy co-creating an awesome kaleidoscope of interaction and wonder!
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The schedule is showing in FIVE times zones – Eastern Standard Time (EST), Pacific Standard Time (PST), Hawaii Standard Time (HST), Central European Time (CET) and Hong Kong and Western Australia Time (HKT/AWST).
Please check your time locally to ensure you arrive when the door is open for you! We are limiting this experience to a maximum of 100 participants so register early to ensure your place in the web!
Special Technical Note to Festival Participants in the ZOOM WORLD! We know that most of you are probably ZOOM experienced by now and are familiar with most of the standard features! Just a note that we WILL be using a setting called HIDE NON VIDEO PARTICIPANTS for “The Doors” event on Saturday, Feb. 20th 7:30 pm EST. If you already know how to do that, super! If not, and you can figure that out on your device in advance, great! Not to worry though, if you do arrive and don’t know how to make that magic happen, we’ll get everyone up to speed before the curtains open for “The Doors”!
Program
Events
Registration Fees
Scholarships
Cancellation Policy
Waiver
Sponsors/Donations
Technical/Notes
Contacts
Program
This sacred dance “mini” festival will offer you 2.5 days of inspiration and movement experiences.
The Schedule below is showing in 5 different time zones (based on where we expect the majority of participants to come from):
- Eastern Standard Time
- Pacific Standard Time
- Hawaii Standard Time
- Central European Time
- Hong Kong/Western Australia Time.
For all other time zones DO check the time in your local area HERE (you can use New York City, USA as EST to convert from)!
Live sessions are showing in BLACK and replays (with live hosts) are showing in RED.
EASTERN STANDARD TIME (EST)
Friday, February 19, 2021
- 6:30 – 9:30 pm EST – Gathering & Workshop – David Leung from Hong Kong (Live)
Saturday, February 20, 2021
- 5:00 – 8:00 am EST – Gathering & Class – David Leung from Hong (Recorded)
- 10:00 am – 12:00 pm EST – Gathering & Panel – “Is THIS Sacred Dance?” (Live)
- 1:00 – 4:00 pm EST – Gathering & Class – Daria Halprin from California (Live)
- 7:30 – 8:45 pm EST – Gathering & Concert – The Doors (Live)
- 11:00 pm – 1:00 am EST – Gathering & Panel = “Is THIS Sacred Dance” (Recorded)
Sunday, February 21, 2021
- 3:00 – 6:00 am EST – Gathering & Class – Daria Halprin from California (Recorded)
- 7:00 – 8:15 am EST – Gathering & Concert = The Doors (Recorded)
PACIFIC STANDARD TIME (PST)
Friday, February 19, 2021
- 3:30 – 6:30 pm PST – Gathering & Workshop – David Leung from Hong Kong (Live)
Saturday, February 20, 2021
- 2:00 – 5:00 am PST – Gathering & Class – David Leung from Hong (Recorded)
- 7:00 – 9:00 am PST – Gathering & Panel – “Is THIS Sacred Dance?” (Live)
- 10:00 am – 1:00 pm PST – Gathering & Class – Daria Halprin from California (Live)
- 4:30 – 5:45 pm PST – Gathering & Concert – The Doors (Live)
- 8:00 – 10:00 am PST – Gathering & Panel – “Is THIS Sacred Dance” (Recorded)
Sunday, February 21, 2021
- 12:00 – 3:00 am PST – Gathering & Class – Daria Halprin from California (Recorded)
- 4:00 – 5:15 am PST – Gathering & Concert – The Doors (Recorded)
HAWAII STANDARD TIME (HST)
Friday, February 19, 2021
- 1:30 – 4:30 pm HST – Gathering & Workshop – David Leung from Hong Kong (Live)
- 12:00 – 3:00 am HST – Gathering & Class – David Leung from Hong (Recorded)
Saturday, February 20, 2021
- 5:00 – 7:00 am HST – Gathering & Panel – “Is THIS Sacred Dance?” (Live)
- 8:00 – 11:00 am HST – Gathering & Class – Daria Halprin from California (Live)
- 2:30 – 3:45 pm HST – Gathering & Concert – The Doors (Live)
- 6:00 – 8:00 pm PST – Gathering & Panel – “Is THIS Sacred Dance” (Recorded)
- 10:00 pm – 1:00 am PST – Gathering & Class – Daria Halprin from California (Recorded)
Sunday, February 21, 2021
- 2:00 – 3:15 am PST – Gathering & Concert – The Doors (Recorded)
CENTRAL EUROPEAN TIME (CET)
Saturday, February 20, 2021
- 12:30 – 3:30 am CET – Gathering & Workshop – David Leung from Hong Kong (Live)
- 11:00 am – 2:00 pm CET – Gathering & Class – David Leung from Hong Kong (Recorded)
- 4:00 – 6:00 pm CET – Gathering & Panel – “Is THIS Sacred Dance?” (Live)
- 7:00 – 10:00 pm CET – Gathering & Class – Daria Halprin from California (Live)
Sunday, February 21, 2021
- 1:30 – 2:45 am CET – Gathering & Concert – The Doors (Live)
- 5:00 – 7:00 am CET – Gathering & Panel – “Is THIS Sacred Dance” (Recorded)
- 9:00 am – 12:00 pm CET – Gathering & Class – Daria Halprin from California (Recorded)
- 1:00 – 2:15 pm CET – Gathering & Concert – The Doors (Recorded)
HONG KONG/WEST AUSTRALIA (HKT/AWST)
Saturday, February 20, 2021
- 7:30 – 10:30 am HKT/AWST) – Gathering & Workshop – David Leung from Hong Kong (Live)
- 6:00 – 9:00 pm HKT/AWST – Gathering & Class – David Leung from Hong Kong (Recorded)
- 11:00 pm – 1:00 am HKT/AWST – Gathering & Panel – “Is THIS Sacred Dance?” (Live)
Sunday, February 21, 2021
- 2:00 – 5:00 am HKT/AWST – Gathering & Class – Daria Halprin from California (Live)
- 8:30 – 9:45 am HKT/AWST – Gathering & Concert – The Doors (Live)
- 12:00 – 2:00 pm HKT/AWST – Gathering & Panel – “Is THIS Sacred Dance” (Recorded)
- 4:00 – 7:00 pm HKT/AWST – Gathering & Class – Daria Halprin from California (Recorded)
- 8:00 – 9:15 pm HKT/AWST – Gathering & Concert – The Doors (Recorded)
Please note, all times, classes and activities are subject to change.
Each of the events will be offered “LIVE” once in a time that fits the time zone of the presenters and the expected majority of participants! The events will be recorded and then will be “re-offered” at another time to accommodate, as best we can, those in all of the time zones on our planet!
All events will have a live host with only the actual class/panel/concert session being recorded and re-offered.
WORKSHOP: Light up Ourselves, Light up the World (Intensive)
David Leung (Hong Kong)
Dance brings a sacred light to all aspects of life as we know it. To see, sense, and create the world as we know it in the gentle yet powerful name of dance is nourishing for the body, the mind, and the spirit. David will bring with him his unique offerings from his Chinese culture, while humbly and passionately calling upon our inner dancing wisdom, to facilitate this wonderful and powerful experience of somatic deep dive into release, healing and growth.
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David Leung embodies dance in all aspects of his life, following a dream which started when he took his first dance class at the age of 19. For almost three decades as a performer, educator, choreographer and director, he has been diving deeper and deeper into the roots of human movement research and sharing the dance with many from all walks of life, at various levels of physical abilities, locally in his hometown of Hong Kong, China, as well as internationally. His knowledge and experience in various somatic movement practices including yoga, qigong, taiji, Gyrotonic(R), Pilates, Movement Intelligence by Ruthy Alon, among others have supported his growth as a creator, practitioner and an educator. He lectures for the School of Dance at his alma mater, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, as well as the Medical Humanities program at the School of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong. He embraces the power of dance to heal and educate, for the betterment of us all.
LIVE: Friday, February 19, 2021 – 6:30 – 9:30 pm EST (Please check your local times)
RECORDED: Saturday, February 20, 2021 – 5:00 – 8:00 am EST (Please check your local times)
PANEL: “Is THIS Sacred Dance?”
This moderated panel will ask questions of FIVE dancers representing different backgrounds and experiences focusing on the areas of:
- Social Justice – Leah Mann –
Leah Melani Okamoto Mann has utilized dance and embodied practices for social justice/social healing and transformation for over 30 yrs. She Co- Founded Moving in the Spirit (Atlanta, GA) and Lelavision (Vashon Island, WA), where she is also its Co-Director, combining original kinetic musical sculpture, live music and dance, simultaneously, to create radically accessibl rEvolutionary art that elicits delight. Leah focuses on somatic integration/art integration in STEM education. Her equity and anti-racism art acts to re-member the communal body, amplifying the value of its diversity in our collective genius.
- Differing Abilities – Susan Beayni –
As a Sacred Dance Guild member, my love of dance nourishes my spirituality. Our 38-year-old daughter, Rebecca, loves to dance from her wheelchair supported by friends/professional dancers. My goal is to build the community’s capacity to welcome people with disabilities with all the gifts and talents that they bring. Two films about Rebecca, “Revel in the Light” and “Dance in the Shadow”, aired in 80 countries and at the United Nations; they can be seen on Rebecca’s website www.rebeccabeayni.com
- Environment/Aboriginal – Dianne Eno –
Dianne Eno is an international artist, environmental educator, performer, scholar and artistic director of Dianne Eno/Environmental DanceWorks, known for annual performances on the summit of Mt. Monadnock, the world’s second-most climbed mountain. Designing and implementing numerous programs for children /adults, her accomplishments include integrating dance, Native American Sign Language and natural environments; artist-in-residence at Acadia National Park; founder/director of the Satori Center for Nature and Forest Therapy; certified forest-bathing guide and Usui Reiki Master; a PhD in Environmental/Dance studies.
- Community/Sacred Circle – Laura Shannon –
Laura Shannon is considered one of the ‘grandmothers’ of the worldwide Sacred/Circle Dance movement, and has been researching and teaching traditional women’s ritual dances in twenty countries for over thirty years. Originally trained in Dance Movement Therapy and Intercultural Studies, Laura has been on the faculty of the Findhorn Foundation Sacred Dance Department since 1998, is Founding Director of the Athena Institute for Women’s Dance and Culture, and has published many articles and blogs about women’s sacred dance.
- Ancestral Dreaming, Memory, and Continuity –
Alaya A Dannu – Alaya A. Dannu, MA is a woman of mixed heritage, born in Texas, raised in NYC. She is an author, a creative artist, sacred dancer, and priestess of her maternal ancestral tradition. Alaya endeavors to illuminate the nature and importance of ancestral dreaming, its ability to enhance the academic and scholarly inquiry, and bring awareness to a matrilineal tradition that has not been explored or discussed within the fields of dream research and women’s spirituality.
Each participant will offer their thoughts on how dance as an expression of the sacred is represented in their focus. The dance floor will then be “open” and a moderator will pose questions to participants and put forward thoughts or questions posed by the “audience” in a format that respects our foundational principals of inclusivity, diversity, equity and access.
LIVE: Saturday, February 20, 2021 – 10:00 am – 12:00 pm EST (Please check your local times)
RECORDED: Saturday, February 20, 2020 – 11:00 pm – 1:00 am EST (Please check your local times)
WORKSHOP: The Body Moves: A Life/Art Dance (Intensive)
Daria Halprin (California)
“To dance with life and not against it, to move responsively instead of reactively, this is a way to make spirit visible in the world.”
This workshop will be a creative exploration on returning home to the body and to the heart of what matters in your life through movement and art making. There is a potent connection to be made between our physical, emotional and imaginative experiences. As we make this connection, movement can serve as a metaphor and a narrative that reveals, expresses and transforms. Encountering old stories, we discover artful ways to re-story ourselves, bringing new vision to the life themes that matter to us. Participants will be introduced to the Life/Art Process, centered in the Halprin work developed at Tamalpa Institute. { www.tamalpa.org } Daria will present a powerpoint on the studio work of Tamalpa Institute. followed by an experiential journey into body awareness, creative movement exploration, drawing and poetic narrative.
Please have handy drawing material, a journal and a good space to move in!
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Daria Halprin, dancer, poet, teacher, and author, is among the leading pioneers in the field of movement/dance and expressive arts education and therapy. Her work bridges the fields of somatic psychology, movement/dance therapy, expressive arts therapy, community based arts and health education, organizational consultancy, leadership development, social change and performance. Bringing a life-long practice in the arts to her work , published writings include : Coming Alive { 1989} ; The Expressive Body in Life, Art and Therapy {2003} ; contributing author Expressive Arts Therapy: Principles and Practices {1999}, Poesis: Essays On the Future of the Field; Dance,Somatics and Spirituality, {2014] Body Enacted, Entranced and Ensouled. In 1978 Daria is the co-founding Director of the Tamalpa Institute www.tamalpa.org where she directs training programs in movement/dance and expressive arts education, consultancy and therapy. She has served on faculty at EGS, CIIS, JFK, Alanus University, UC Berkeley, as guest and keynote presenter at numerous conferences, in educational, health and art centers throughout the world.
LIVE: Saturday, February 20, 2021 – 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm EST (Please check your local times)
RECORDED: Sunday, February 22, 2020 – 3:00 am – 6:00 am EST (Please check your local times)
CONCERT – The Doors
We are thrilled to be offering an on line version and “preview” of “The Doors”. The concept for The Doors is drawn from the William Blake quote “If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, Infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro’ 
narrow chinks of his cavern.” In the first section we experience the archetypes as they exist in our lives: chaotic, unexpected, reacting to one another. They return to their Doors and the other participants in the Mini Festival will choose the order in which we “cleanse the doors of perception” as each Door sends out its dancers to examine the infinite nature of Love, Fear, Birth and Death. In the final section, we arrive at the point of centered balance with all the Doors combining in an Aum chant where ALL will be invited to chant together in our own spaces but woven together through our collective experience.
Music by Reggie Workman, last year elected NEA Jazz Master and awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship together with choreographer Maya Millenovic Workman, created the music for Part I. Beijing-born A Bu, winner of the Motreaux Jazz Solo Piano Competition in 2015, created and directed the four pieces for the individual Doors. Martin Starson (MusicMindMagic) has graciously allowed us to use a portion of his beautiful Aum chant recording on YouTube for the final section.
The piece is the creation of Marilyn Green, the Artistic Director of the Trinity Dance Choir out of Trinity Church in New York City. Following the summer Festival the Dance Choir flung open it’s doors to dancers from all over to join their “on line” group who will be dancing in this online performance. The original performance of “The Doors” was done live in New York City in October 2013 with sacred dancers from over 27 cities in North America! For Photos from the 2013 performance CHECK HERE.
The performance at “Weaving Webs of Light” will be an interactive experience for all participants – think of it as being invited to a final technical “OPEN rehearsal” in a black box theatre where we are all part of the production! We are experimenting with offering a live performance on Zoom so everyone will be engaged in some form or another!
NOTE: The final screening of “The Doors” will take place on March 21 , 2021 at 8:00 pm EST screened by Trinity Church. A link will be provided (and on the SDG website) at that time.
LIVE: Saturday, February 20, 2021 – 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm EST (Please check your local times)
RECORDED: Sunday, February 21, 2020 – 7:00 am – 8:00 am EST (Please check your local times)
Registration Fees
The full package includes all online events.
- Full package – SDG Members & Affiliates: $53.00 USD
- Full package – Non-members: $63.00 USD
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED! See you in the web!!
The Sacred Dance Guild is committed to offering programs and opportunities to all. In these unprecedented times we know many are struggling so we will also be providing a limited number of partial and full scholarships for those who must dance with us but are financially challenged. For information on scholarships contact Betsy at betsea2000@gmail.com.
A $10 cancellation fee will be charged for refunds up to Feb. 10th. After Feb. 10th you can transfer your registration to someone else by advising the registrar at pres@sacreddanceguild.org
A Festival Waiver is included on the Registration Page. Please read the information provided and select your response. This will be considered your electronic signature.
It is important to note that our online process DOES provide participants to turn OFF their video and to change the name displayed. All sessions will be recorded for SDG archives, publicity, and promotion.
Sharing what we have is how we can all dance together in peace and unity around the world. The Sacred Dance Guild is committed to opening our doors to all who want to dance from their sacred hearts! Your gift provides those who would not otherwise be able to join us an opportunity to dance on into the village. Deep bows to you for sharing your gifts.
This option is available on the Registration form. If you are unable to join us at the Mini Festival but wish to be a sponsor – click HERE to make your donation and we’ll do the rest!
Technical Notes – For On Line Zoomers!
The 2021 Mini Festival will be using ZOOM as our platform for all events.
Participant’s Guide to Improving Your Zoom Experience
Everyone wants a high-quality video and audio connection to the Zoom session where you can see and hear everyone and they can see and hear you. However, we all experience temporary (or ongoing) connection issues or bandwidth problems that can affect our ability to participate in a Zoom event.
Here are some suggestions that can help to provide the best experience!
- Disconnect other devices on your local network that may be using up bandwidth. Even “uploads” can cause “download” problems. In particular, streaming services (like Netflix) or online gaming via platforms like XBox Live can have a dramatic impact on Zoom quality, so if you’re sharing an internet connection with others, maybe ask them to “pause” while you’re participating in your event!
- Use “Speaker View” instead of “Gallery View”. This is a general suggestion as having only one video stream on screen at a time reduces the bandwidth needed. Most of the Festival sessions will use “Spotlight” so the presenter will be in the center of the screen so that will override the view you have selected. In some classes we will want you to use Gallery View so you can see others in the “group”! Don’t worry though – every session will have “tech” people there with you so who should be able to provide advice at the moment!
- Turn off your video. Turning off your video during the workshop dips in Internet bandwidth and can help improve your audio. Sometimes; however, the presenter likes to see those in the session so might ask people to turn their videos ON. In sessions with a large number of participants turning the video “off” can improve the sound for everyone!
- Quit other applications on your computer that may be using significant processing power. Having lots of open browser tabs can also cause problems.
- Use a wired connection to your home router if possible. WiFi signal quality can vary inside your house. Don’t worry if you don’t have this option – it’s just a “nice to have” for those who know what this even means!!
- Check your internet speed with net. Speeds of 600kbps (0.6mbps) are required for Zoom (both download and upload). Speeds of 1.2mbps are required for high quality video. If your speeds are below these values, consider using a smartphone (#4, above) or, if possible, connect to another network. Your internet providermay have options for increasing your bandwidth as well.
- Use headphones if you have them and are comfortable doing so. Your audio issue may not be related to bandwidth at all. Headphones reduce echo and feedback issues. Those with microphones can reduce background noise.
For general inquiries:
admin@sacreddanceguild.org
1-877-422-8678 (toll-free in North America)
+1-410-647-5002 (outside of North America, answered by Next Wave Group)
Click the names below to email:
Mini Festival Coordinator: Jessica Abejar (themovingprayer@gmail.com)
Registrar: Wendy Morrell (pres@sacreddanceguild.org)
Participant Support: Jennifer Payne (pres@sacreddanceguild.org) Rosalind Reid (rosreid7@gmail.com)
Panel Coordinators: Marylee Hardenbergh (vp2@sacreddanceguild.org) Elaine Sister (pr@sacreddanceguild.org)
Scholarship Coordinator: Betsy O’Neill (betsea2000@gmail.com)
Concert Coordinator: Marilyn Green (res2@sacreddanceguild.org)
Tech Contacts: Jessica Abejar (themovingprayer@gmail.com)