Dancing at Friends for Peace Day - October 1st, 2011

Please join me and many more others at Friends of Peace Day next Saturday at Ottawa City Hall from 11-11:30. I will be doing a free 1/2 hour conscious dance experience. There will be many other great things to check out that day .... dancing, drumming, laughter yoga. All free, all welcome!

Thanks for Dancing at Suround Circle Yoga

My sincere thanks for joining me at Surround Circle this past Friday May 27th. I am loving what is happening with the classes as I bring more and more inspiration from my Soul Motion practice. Here is the poem I shared from Friday:

Love after Love by Derek Walcott

The time will come
When, with elation
You will greet yourself arriving
At your own door, in your own mirror
And each will smile at the other's welcome,

And say, sit here, Eat.
ou will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
To itself, to the stranger who has loved you

All your life, whom you ignored
For another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

The photographs, the desperate notes,
Peel your image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.

Come Dancing this Friday May 27th 2011

Welcoming all to join us this Friday at Surround Circle Yoga Centre. This Friday's class will be deeply inspired by my studies with Vinn Marti and his body of work he calls Soul Motion. Very basic yet profound concepts of gravity and space and how we relate to self and others. Maureen from Surround Circle has invited you to come dressed up to dance! So whatever that means to you ... maybe some colour, maybe some extra adornment, or not. Welcoming you just as you are.

Journey Dance
Friday May 27th
7:00 - 9:00 PM (refreshments to follow class)
Surround Circle Yoga Centre
Cost $20.
Register with Surround Circle Yoga Centre
(613) 730-6649 or eMail maureen.fallis@sympatico.ca

Brand New Offerings for February

I'm trying out two new offerings for February to give people more dance options. The Unconditional Dance is a version of the Barefoot Boogie which many here in Ottawa will remember. It is improvised movement, practiced barefoot, with no conditions! You can use this time to strengthen whatever movement practices you currently have, to let loose, express your creativity, or just simply be. The Mindful Motion practice will be a movement practice with lots of room to breathe and self express. An opportunity to deeply examine our selves and our relationships to our outside world through movement.

Unconditional Dance
Also known as Barefoot Boogie. Short & sweet warmup followed by freedancing. Dj'ing by brian. Sun. Feb. 6th, 201 5:00 - 7:30 pm Arts Court, Studio B, 2 Daly Avenue, $10.

Mindful Motion - Conscious Ecstatic Dance
Offering a sanctuary for participants to practice the art of moving mindfully. With eyes wide open we explore our connections to self, other and community. Improvised movement with gentle inspiring guidance. Discover how the simple act of paying attention can elevate the ordinary to extraordinary. Nothing fancy, nothing forced. This class is an opportunity to delve deeply into movement as a practice. Welcoming all souls, regardless of movement or dance experience, with deep respect for each person that graces us by their simple presence. Honest facilitation by dodie & solid DJ'ing by brian. Sun. Feb. 27th, 201 4:30 - 7:00 pm Arts Court , Studio B, 2 Daly Avenue, $17.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Wishing all beings peace, love, ease & well being. I posted some new dance dates which you can view by clicking  "Upcoming Events" on the menu bar above.  Also look out for a new class which I'm giving the working title of Mindful Movement - The Practice. It will be a longer class, very gentle on instruction to allow for greater freedom for play and creative exploration. Dates for this new class to announced.

The Heart - Friday November 12th 7 - 9 pm

The heart.  At the core of our being. No other body part is referred to more in the english language than the heart. Our emotional and feeling centre. Our centre of wisdom.  Each and every single cell in our body journeys to the heart to learn how to function.  In this very special class we too will journey to our hearts core to discover what wisdom it holds. Welcoming the warm hearted, the joyful hearted, the heavy hearted, the broken hearted. Welcoming all hearts, just as they are.

Music by DJ Brian. The class will be held at the very special Surround Circle Yoga Centre, 15 Aylmer Avenue in Ottawa South. The Yoga Centre is connected to a beautiful church. Entrance and free parking at the back of the building. Host Maureen Fallis will be offering refreshments and snacks after class. Fee is $20, please email maureen.fallis@sympatico.ca or call (613) 730-6649 to register.

Update on Harvest Moon Dance Retreat

This is a message from Naomi Poole, organizer of Harvest Moon Retreat. For more information on this event please go to: http://journeydanceottawa.blogspot.com/2010/09/harvest-moon-ecstatic-dance-retreat-oct.html


Dearest Dancers of the Stars,

This month marks the time of the Harvest, In the modern day society we live in it is very easy become very disconnected and disenchanted from the natural rhythm and cycles of the earth.  Societies around the world have always taken time to honor the seasons change. This was often a celebration,a feasting, a ceremony, a sacred dance.... and dance we shall. 

Dance has always been used throughout human history as a powerful medium for transformation. As we allow the mind to quiet and the body begin to really breath.... we begin to tap into our life energy, where the mundane becomes sacred and we begin to attune to our true nature. 

So this weekend Oct 23,  I invite you to prioritize some time to dance into yourself. To discover what happens when you let go even a little deeper. What happens when you sit in circles and allow intimacy to be fostered, what happens when you let your inhibitions go, watch what happens to yourself when you just dance! 

Details
WHAT TO BRING 
A Journal 
Extra Clothes, Warm clothes for a walk in the orchard
A Lunch 
An artifact close to your heart.
(We will have an alter we will be building together. A picture of a loved one, a precious stone, a poem, a feather, a prayer). 
Your own art supplies if art is a medium of yours. (though art supplies will be provided)
An Open Mind and Heart

If you are willing and able to carpool it will support your fellow dancers and is also much more environmentally friendly. Please reply if you need a ride or have space in your vehicle. 

Harvest Moon Ecstatic Dance

Doors Open @ 10:30
Self love, self care. Nametags, seasonal group formations

Greeting and Introduction
Creative Group building Exercise.

1st Dance Journey 
Facilitator Barclay Mcmillan
counsel circle
Lunch
2nd Dance Journey
Facilitator Naomi Athena 
counsel circle
3rd Dance Journey
Facilitator Dodie Sobretodo 
counsel circle
Savasna
Crystal Bowl and Gong Concert
Johanes Welch and Jeremy Sills
Closing Ceremony 

Harvest Moon Ecstatic Dance Retreat 

This Harvest Moon will hold a day retreat with journey dances through the day, ending in a Crystal Bowl and Gong concert led by Jeremy Sills and Johannes Welsh. We will ebb and flow into small circles in between in order to foster a space of safety and community. Tarot Reader with 20 years of training will be offering readings in the lobby, Refreshments and light snacks provided. Art supplies supplied to express through color and texture. A beautiful space in the country, a path for gentle walks and breaths of fresh air. 

This journey will take place at the Dunrobin Sonic Gym on Saturday October 23, from 11am-6pm.
Facilitators - Dodie Sobreto, Naomi Athena, Barclay McMillan,
Music - Jeremy Sills, Johannes Welsch, Devin Johnstone

$60.00 in advance ($70.00 at the door )
Tickets can be bought at serendipity books, or Singing Pebbles or email naomiguzmanpoole@gmail.com
Rides and carpooling available to the sonic gym, contact for details: 613.627.5475
A portion of funds will be donated to "Freeing the Human Spirit" an amazing organization that works to bring yoga and Meditation to Prisoners.

A Transformative Experience Guaranteed!!

Harvest Moon Ecstatic Dance Retreat - Oct. 23rd

Here is some information about an amazing retreat that I will be co-facilitating:

Harvest Moon Ecstatic Dance Retreat 

The last Ecstatic Dance Journey of the year, this 23rd of October we will hold space to release, retreat, recover and recreate. Dance has always been used as a spiritual practice in cultures found around the world. Dance in the past was reserved as a way to move into altered states of consciousness, a way to experience divinity. As dance has become purely recreational, we forget its power and potential to move us into the sacred and into our bodies. It truly has the power to heal and reconnect the disenchanted parts of ourselves with our Soul.

This Harvest Moon will hold Journey dances through the day, ending in a Crystal Bowl and Gong concert led by Jeremy Sills and Johannes Welsh. We will ebb and flow into small circles in between in order to foster a space of safety and community within the group. 

This journey will take place at the Dunrobin Sonic Gym on Saturday October 23, from 11am-6pm. Refreshments and light snacks provided, as well as paints and art supplies for people to express themselves through color and texture, a path for walks out in the woods and the garden orchard.

Facilitators - Dodie Sobretodo, Naomi Athena, Barclay McMillan,
Music - Jeremy Sills, Johannes Welsch, Devin Johnstone

$60.00 in advance ($70.00 at the door )
Tickets can be bought at Serendipity Books or Singing Pebble or email naomiguzmanpoole@gmail.com

Rides and carpooling available to the sonic gym, contact for details: (613) 627-5475

A portion of funds will be donated to "Freeing the Human Spirit" an amazing organization that works to bring Dance and Meditation to Prisoners. 

With Gratitude for Attending Roots & Wings August 22nd 2010

Thanks to everyone who came out to Rama Lotus on Sunday for the class titled "Roots & Wings." A warm welcome to the many dancers who joined us for the first time. As I see it, we are all teachers and all have so much to learn from one another, so I thank you all for the imprint you've left on me. A special thanks to my yin yoga teacher Nathalie who in part inspired me in the theme for this class. Showing me that in letting go, we can open up new opportunities for greater growth.

Roots & Wings - August 22nd

This Sunday's class, I'm titling "Roots & Wings." A babies first explorations of movement are rooted along the earth. With this foundation, they are able to find the strength and courage to reach out into the open air. In this class we'll be exploring different ways of rooting as a foundation for letting go and finding our wings. Not unlike the breathe there are always parts of us that are reaching and always parts of us that look inwards. So I invite you to join us as we sink into the embrace of the foundations that hold us dear and then find our wings and climb to new heights within ourselves. As always I welcome you to forward this message on to anyone you think may be interested.

Thanks to those who joined us June 12th at Prana Shanti

Many thanks to everyone who came out to this past Saturday's class at Prana Shanti. This class was focussed on body part awareness, exploring various body parts and allowing them to inform and inspire our dance. Believing in the wisdom of the body to heal and teach us, we allowed space for our body parts to express their own truth. Can our feet teach us to be more grounded? Can our hips teach us to go with the flow of life? What do we hear when we listen to the dreams of our hearts? Or to the fire in our bellies? So thanks once again to everyone who came and a shout out to Maria and Raymond who joined us for the first time.

Thanks for Dancing at Suround Circle Yoga

Thanks to everyone who came out to Journey Dance with us this past weekend at beautiful Surround Circle Yoga Centre. The centre is located in the upstairs of a beautiful United Church with large stain glass windows and has the warmest feel. We did intense work with the hands bringing a new appreciation for the value of them in our lives. The many functions they perform, the way they are both so perceptive and expressive, the stories they hold of.... love, joy, sorrow, pain, sadness perhaps even regret. It was a stunningly beautiful class where we really went deep into exploration, finding new connections with our bodies and our hands. My thanks to Maureen from Surround Circle and to everyone who came out. To the regulars who bring a sense of grounding and continuity to the class and to the newcomers who never cease to amaze me in how they jump right in to such advanced work. God, I love what I do.

Reminder - Class this Sunday April 11th

Just a reminder that there will be a Journey Dance class this Sunday at the Routhier Centre in Lowertown from 5:00 - 6:30 pm. I am truly excited about Sunday's class. I have been deeply moved by the dance teachings I have been exposed to in my recent travels and have incorporated some of what resonated with me, into my own teaching practice. I feel this has added a new depth and adventure to my classes leaving generous opportunities for you as dancers to explore your own truth while in community with others. At times concepts will be explored for longer periods leaving for a seamless flow and a greater depth of experience.

This Sunday's class is inspired by Shamanic and other Ancient traditions. In these traditions wisdom, strength, and power is sought in the directions that surround us. These directions can represent seasons, animals, sentiments, colours, stages in the life cycle. In our fast paced lives we often move as if with blinders forward and fast! Let's take this time to explore every direction that surrounds us. What wisdom is held behind us? What strength & allies lie beside us? What magic lies above us? What support lies beneath us? Indeed each directions holds something special and unique for each of us and know that whatever direction you move, you are always moving forward. So this class and indeed each class really is an exploration of what happens when we ask the question, HOW DO I WANT TO MOVE IN THIS LIFE?

MARCH 2010 - Class Schedule

I'll be a busy bee over the next couple of months doing trainings in new dance forms which I plan to incorporate into my classes. As a result I'll only be teaching one class in March.

Routhier Community Centre, Lowertown
Sunday March 14, 2010, 5:00 - 6:30 pm
$15, $10 for first timers & students *

RESERVATION REQUIRED at getfunky@journeydanceottawa.com

I also send out a monthly newsletter which includes the schedule. If you would like to be added to the list please email me. 

* please speak to me if cost is prohibitive

FEBRUARY 2010 - Class Schedule

For February I have continued to offer my 2 Sunday classes at Routhier Centre in Lowertown. Because of the growing interest in Journey Dance I've added a Thursday night class at the Sandy Hill Community Centre. I'm also doing a special one time promotional event at the Lululemon in Westboro which I welcome everyone to attend!

Reservation preferred at GetFunky@JourneyDanceOttawa.com or just drop in.

I also send an E-Mail notice of the schedule. If you'd like to be added to this list please e-mail me.

ROUTHIER CENTRE - In Lowertown

SUNDAY February 7th & 28th from 4:30-6:00 pm

172 Guigues St.

2nd Floor, Studio

fee by donation

SANDY HILL COMMUNITY CENTRE

THURSDAY February 11 @ 7:35

250 Somerset Street East

Main Hall

fee by donation

SPECIAL EVENT AT LULULEMON WESTBORO

SUNDAY February 21st @ 9:00 am

340 Richmond Road

No fee for this class!!

2010 is a Year in My Life For........

We kicked off this year with a special class focussed on New Beginnings. A friend once told me that when she looks into a babies eyes she thinks about all the promise & potential they hold. Somehow as we get older we begin to see our lives as more rigid, as if we've chosen this path and that's the way it's going to be (dammit).

With every new breathe I am reminded that at any point in our lives we have this amazing ability to begin again. At any point we can examine what is and isn't working in our lives. We can let go, we can deviate our path, we can choose another path altogether. Our potential is limitless & unending at any moment in our lives.

During the course of the January 10th class we did a little writing exercise. These were done anonymously, shuffled up and read out in random order by the class. It was beautiful. A bee has been whispering in my ear, saying that this year will be a golden one. That is one smart bee.

2010 is a Year in My Life For........

celebration, a new beginning, following through, so many things * optimism * It's time to make changes for the better. No more fear! * LOVE * celebrating life everyday, love what I love and embrace that which enriches that celebration * MORE PASSION! * ...Bringing new life in this world * choice * ...purging of what's not needed anymore and REBIRTH! * Brilliance Surrounds us always * Risks * simplify, reducing * DANCING * myself me me me me me me, No Bull * Renewal & Transformation * self-discovery * new beginnings, rejuvenation, Finding my POWER, love, family connections, being a woman * honouring the true essence of who I am and not to be afraid to live boldly! * joy * manifest passion in my work - inspiring & illuminating others

January 2010 - Class Schedule

Sunday January 10th & 24th

4:30 - 6:00 pm

RSVP REQUIRED: GetFunky@JourneyDanceOttawa.com 

Fee: By Donation

Routhier Community Centre

(2nd floor Page Room)

172 Guigues St., Ottawa

Everyone is Welcome! No Previous Dance Experience Required!!

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Journey Dance In The New Year

Happy New Year to you my dancing tribe!!!! A little bee has been whispering in my ear for some time. It tells me that this year will be a Golden one. One of blossoming, new life, and promise. The bee tells us all that miracles big and small can happen.

At the dawn of this New Year our Journey Dance will be a chance to reflect and celebrate the blessings of this last year. We will dance our beautiful 2010 dance. What seeds do you want to plant for this coming year? What magical messages are being whispered in your ear? Bring these precious seeds, and magical whispers with you to class where we will nurture and watch them grow and blossom on the dance floor into a rich and lush garden!!!!!!!

With an open heart and feet that won't stop dancing,

Dodie