Feedback from Movement as Medicine Summer Institute 2020, Dancing Earth News
Feedback from Movement as Medicine Summer Institute 2020
September 8, 2020
Movement as Medicine
Summer Institute in the Cyberworld
July 26-30, 2020
We are pleased celebrate our first amazingly courageous and intuitive Cohort of online Summer Institute participants; each depicted here in a devised form emerging from connection to qualities of empowerment.
Below we share feedback from participants.
photo by Karla Flores at Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, NM
DE: What does dance mean to you at this moment?
It means rebellion. To be a fully embodied person free to express. It is a ceremony in itself. Sacred… Selena C.
Dance is my homecoming. It is my sanity in this time of big change and unraveling. It is my portal to ancestor and spirit. Dance is me and I am dance… Amber E. G.
DE: What surprised/challenged you?
I was surprised by how free the institute was for us to interpret, and embody our own rituals, practices and expression. I was challenged by my internal judgment. Thankfully the group inspired me to embrace my own movement and Rulan’s guidance made me feel like I could be accepting of myself and how I feel called to move and follow my heart… Franceska O.
How healing and empowering these strong humans are on this group! And personally, for me using personification on the wind (land dance) And discovering that the wind is so much more then just “the wind”… Gabriela SF
DE: What brought you joy?
Hearing peoples stories!… Deirdre M.
Dancing with the land with that beautiful playlist! Deep connections as a big group, smaller groups and with one other person. The opportunity to connect in meal time. Embodiment of earth patterns… Sarah H.
The childlike play of some of it; the places I could forget self-consciousness and be in relationship with forces around me… Amy W.
DE: In what ways do you feel healthier?
Deeper breath, inspired, grounded, connected-- I don’t feel as alone as i felt. i feel seen. i feel heard… Marta V.
I feel more present in my body than I have in months. I have really struggled with taking care of my body during COVID – particularly this summer, so just the act of intentionally listening to my body has been so grounding. I feel a clarity of mind, an awake-ness, that I’ve never felt before… Emma D.
I feel healthier in every way. I learned how to be patient with my body and follow it's lead rather than force movements that I think I should be able to make… Yonaly C.
DE: How did you grow during this experience?
I grew in that I allowed myself to explore my own body and tell my own story in a new medium… Franceska O.
With deep sweetness, I grew in getting in touch with my body, being less afraid of "dance" or "performance". I am very shy w/ my body (for lots of reasons:/) and I felt like I had space to take my time, go at my own speed, while being in space with great dance practitioners… Katherin C.
DE: How can your growth for this experience impact others at this time of global re awakening?
When I nourish myself and healing myself, I nourish my work and my capacity to bring it forward in a way that's good. And my work is all about indigenizing and bringing forth ancestral knowledge… Laura P.
The more centered and grounded in my connections and integrity I am, the more I can hold space for others to tap into their own truth and self-knowledge. I can be a tether through deep time… Lyra H.
DE: Anything else to add that you learned from or appreciated?
Feeling the movement of celestial bodies, earth bodies, within my own, as opposed to just know they're moving, could feel them moving more so than in past… Belgica R.
The written assignments were very helpful in creating movement and in embodying the emotions behind the words… Char G. B.
I really appreciated that I was able to attend this workshop due the payment options. To the Dancing Earth MAM team, I want to say meggai ma’åse’ for sharing your passion, determination, experience, knowledge and wisdom through the dance offering of MAM… Maria A.
Deep appreciation for the multidimensionality of the course! i always love and am inspired by Rulan and dancing earth at large… Antonella F.
Movement as Medicine
Summer Institute in the Cyberworld
July 26-30, 2020
This session was intended for people who love movement, culture, and nature and are not full-time rigorous movement practitioners. Cultural protocols, cultural exchange, land dance training, restorative practices and a community engagement session to activate reciprocity.
People of all backgrounds, ages, and without extensive dance training were invited to a three (3) day series (held every other day) to renew body, mind, spirit, emotions, individual and collective imagination through the healing power of movement. Sessions included multi-disciplinary expressions such as land dance, somatic healing practices, cultural exchange, re-story-ing of movement, with independent study exercises for their day off.
Together they experienced and recommitted to the multi-dimensional benefits of a daily movement practice, movement for making community, movement for Movement Building (for specific social change initiatives), and for re-connection for life forms beyond human.
What They Brought
Each day for their dinner, a meal that had a story.
A quote, or several words for strength and inspiration (such as Compassion, Strength, etc.).
At least one ‘Icon' - such as image of artwork (bowl, weaving, beadwork, pattern, art piece, memento, photo, petroglyph, constellation, number, key, rock, writing etc ) that was meaningful / strengthening / inspiring to them, may have represented where they come from - whether that meant where, who, or a group they identified with as having shaped, and/or aspired them for the future.
Water bottle, notebook, bandanna, towel, comfortable clothes, blanket or yoga mat to lie down on.
A device with Zoom downloaded.
Earphones (If they had them/ for occasional use).
Portable speaker (optional).
Enough space to be able to lie down, and enough space to take 3 steps in every direction.