Dance for All, Inspired by Sacred Circle Dance

Maureen began dancing with a Sacred Circle dance group which she is still actively involved with.  Since this has greatly influenced her style of teaching and her spirit, it seems fitting to acknowledge the history of this genre of dance. 

Circles are an ancient and universal symbol of wholeness and unity. Dancing in a circle is one of the oldest ways in which people celebrate community and togetherness. Circles appear in cultures throughout the world as a form for dance, celebration, meditation, ritual, a tool for groups, and a path of awareness for the individual. There are birth and death dances, dances for grief, joy, fertility, anger, and the turning of the seasons.

German dance master Bernard Wosien traveled widely in the 1950's and 1960's collecting from various cultures dances done in circles. He found a home for these dances at the Findhorn Community in Scotland. Soon Wosien and others began choreographing more dances. Circle Dance came to the West Coast in the mid 1980's. Sometimes it is referred to as Sacred Circle Dance because of the feeling of wholeness that it evokes.

Many dances done are similar to those done in international folk groups. It is the atmosphere that is different. It can be more contemplative. There is little or no talking during the dances, and generally the energy is held at the end of the music.  

The dance repertoire draws on the rich traditional dances of the Balkans, Greece, Israel, Russia and Celtic Britain as well as the Americas and Africa. There are modern choreographies to both old and new music.  

No prior dance experience is needed; no partners are required. The aim is to create a sense of well being and communion. People feel so good after they circle dance. It seems to resolve some of the stress and disconnectedness in the world.

Because of the feeling of community that is evoked, Maureen now also calls the dance "Dance for All".   In addition to dancing in a circle, she also will lead the dances in line, spiral and crescent formations.  

A Typical Session

An evening of dancing can be described as a dance class, but it is much more than attending class. Yes, all the dances are taught ahead of time and sometimes a short description about the dance or music is given.

On the other hand, there is more leeway given as far as how much one wishes to dance.  During longer sessions dancers sometimes sit out, relax and quietly visit; coming to the dance can feel like old home week at times.  Maureen makes it a point to create a dance space that is accommodating, comfortable, providing warmth, fellowship and connection. One of Maureen's goals is to make dancers feel welcomed.   No two sessions are exactly the same.   Some groups may have a focus on being more meditative, others are more playful and some groups are a mixture of both.  There are many dances to choose from and often she is able to do requests from other dancers, which is encouraged.  

Decorating the Space

Part of making the space comfortable is created by decorating it.  A collector of textiles, Maureen will bring some from her collection and drape these in various places in the space.  "This gives us the feeling of place and containment while we dance."  At some dance locations we dance around what is known as a center.  Centers are used in Circle Dance and Sacred Circle Dance groups; this is one of the things that makes these groups unique.  Similar to a mandala, it is like a small work of art that dancers can look at while they move. The centers can be quite meditative and many times there are themes connected to them. Holidays, birthdays, the seasons and other special occasions are inspirational when making the centers. Dancers are always welcomed to put flowers, a picture, jewelry or special item in the center at any point during the dance.  This can be an opportunity for dancers to partake in expressive arts.  Some great examples of centers can be viewed on the photos page.    

About the Music

We dance mostly to world music, but from time to time other genres are represented. Music with the sounds of nature, classical, and sometimes popular music is possible. Maureen's choreographies have included music from local musicians in her community. There are also special dances done to favorite well-loved seasonal music.

To learn more about Dance for All, Maureen can be reached at maureenatkins@sbcglobal.net or by calling 510-317-9219.