| Soul Movement |
Soul movement
dance
Testimonials
What people are saying about Soul Movement
What a blessed, magical healing space I got to share last night.
Thank you for your warmth and taking me out of my comfort zone and making it all feel natural!
Philippa White
In the words of the immortal Gram Parsons “I can’t dance, I guess I’m just one of the unfortunate few” I always believed I was one of those people that just couldn’t dance. Nothing would get me on the floor which is why I couldn’t believe what I was saying when I said yes to a friend to coming along and trying Soul Movement ecstatic dance on Wednesday night in Emerald.
Soul Movement dance is the creation of ecstatic dance facilitator and artist Amy Jung who also holds a Diploma in Arts Therapy.
When I arrived at the old Mechanics Hall in Emerald I was full of nerves and more than a little unsure if I would dance at all. My initial anxiety was greatly reduced by the warm and friendly welcome from Amy and the ambience in the room. In the corner there was a salt lamp, incense, sculptures and candles and a mysterious looking beautifully painted suitcase and a drum, and in another corner a large painted didgeridoo. Gentle tribal sounding music was softly playing as we entered.
Amy started by helping us become grounded and present in the space and we began with gently warming up our bodies form feet to head, focusing on one body part at a time but moving in whatever way we chose.
As we began to get into the dance I started to realise, with Amy’s help, that ecstatic dance is not about any form of structured dance. It’s all about letting my spirit move in any way it wants and shedding the preconception of what dance is. It is not about how I look or how I think I am supposed to move, it’s just about letting go so my spirit can be free in pure expression.
The music began with slow and rhythmic tribal tracks, allowing us to start to explore the space and begin to open up to the process. As the evening went on the pace quickened, my dancing became more and more free and less self-conscious until I was writhing and stomping around the room in a true state of ecstatic bliss, helped all the way by Amy’s knowing and well timed facilitation. By this stage all fear of ‘dancing’ had gone. I didn’t really feel like I was dancing at all in the traditional sense but rather just letting my spirit move in any way it wanted to the rhythmic beat. At one point Amy invited us to look inside the Magic Suitcase. Inside was a collection of instruments including drums, shakers, maracas, and clap-sticks. Amy invited us to choose an instrument if we wished and to play it in any way we choose. During this part the music started to slow, each track slower than the last. We had the opportunity to slowly come back to earth and contemplate and solidify the experience. At the end Amy had us lie on the floor (if we chose) and go through a grounding process, cushions were provided. At this point I felt like I had been through a birthing, my spirit had awakened and nothing would never be completely the same again. I had given myself permission to completely let go, to disregard all preconceptions and expectations about myself and my spirit.
As I walked out into the world I carried this experience with me. The way I see myself and the way I see the world had changed. I know this would slowly ebb away as I dealt with the world and the day to day reality of life. But I also knew that Soul Movement is on every week. I can re-immerse myself in pure spirit.
I am changed for this experience and I will definitely be back!
By Simon Kane
Soul Movement dance is the creation of ecstatic dance facilitator and artist Amy Jung who also holds a Diploma in Arts Therapy.
When I arrived at the old Mechanics Hall in Emerald I was full of nerves and more than a little unsure if I would dance at all. My initial anxiety was greatly reduced by the warm and friendly welcome from Amy and the ambience in the room. In the corner there was a salt lamp, incense, sculptures and candles and a mysterious looking beautifully painted suitcase and a drum, and in another corner a large painted didgeridoo. Gentle tribal sounding music was softly playing as we entered.
Amy started by helping us become grounded and present in the space and we began with gently warming up our bodies form feet to head, focusing on one body part at a time but moving in whatever way we chose.
As we began to get into the dance I started to realise, with Amy’s help, that ecstatic dance is not about any form of structured dance. It’s all about letting my spirit move in any way it wants and shedding the preconception of what dance is. It is not about how I look or how I think I am supposed to move, it’s just about letting go so my spirit can be free in pure expression.
The music began with slow and rhythmic tribal tracks, allowing us to start to explore the space and begin to open up to the process. As the evening went on the pace quickened, my dancing became more and more free and less self-conscious until I was writhing and stomping around the room in a true state of ecstatic bliss, helped all the way by Amy’s knowing and well timed facilitation. By this stage all fear of ‘dancing’ had gone. I didn’t really feel like I was dancing at all in the traditional sense but rather just letting my spirit move in any way it wanted to the rhythmic beat. At one point Amy invited us to look inside the Magic Suitcase. Inside was a collection of instruments including drums, shakers, maracas, and clap-sticks. Amy invited us to choose an instrument if we wished and to play it in any way we choose. During this part the music started to slow, each track slower than the last. We had the opportunity to slowly come back to earth and contemplate and solidify the experience. At the end Amy had us lie on the floor (if we chose) and go through a grounding process, cushions were provided. At this point I felt like I had been through a birthing, my spirit had awakened and nothing would never be completely the same again. I had given myself permission to completely let go, to disregard all preconceptions and expectations about myself and my spirit.
As I walked out into the world I carried this experience with me. The way I see myself and the way I see the world had changed. I know this would slowly ebb away as I dealt with the world and the day to day reality of life. But I also knew that Soul Movement is on every week. I can re-immerse myself in pure spirit.
I am changed for this experience and I will definitely be back!
By Simon Kane
Photo used under Creative Commons from simpleinsomnia
