Halprin's Planetary Dance

[Guest guest]

Dear Members of NYCCAT,

I am very excited to tell you that nycExpressive Arts Studio has been

accepted by the Figment Arts Festival to perform Halprin's

incredible community dance, The Planetary Dance. The festival will take

place on June 28 and 29 (Sat. & Sun) on Governor's Island. I was able

to experience 's deeply moving work last Fall at the annual

expressive arts Harvest Symposium in California and many of us from NY

had dreams to bring this powerful work to our communities. This dance

is essentially a meditation, a prayer, a dance of purpose and

dedication -- it is for everyone in the community, and it will be run

throughout the world on June 29 -- including 's annual gathering in

California. It also involves a large number of people. I am hoping to

engage 100+ in the event.

In order to organize a large group, I will need some volunteers who can

help to teach the dance and set an example for new comers to follow.  I

would like to invite you to be a part of this work and join me in

learning the dance and helping to facilitate it at the Figment

Festival. If you can attend only one day, that's great. Whatever you

can give is welcome and appreciated. Remember, you DO NOT have to be a

trained dancer... if you can walk, run, or crawl, you can do this.

Also, we need a group of MUSICIANS -- drummers, singers, strings, horns

-- anyone who wants to contribute improvised sound to this moving

mandala of people dancing for healing.  We would love to have you join

us.

Here is the time commitment:

Sunday, June 22- rehearsal at the studio in Red Hook -- 1-5pm

Saturday and/or Sunday, June 28 & 29 -- Figment Festival on Governor's

Island -- 12:00pm-4pm

I would like to have 20 volunteers to help. I guarantee it will be a

rich experience.

If you cannot commit to the rehearsal but would like to be a part of

the dance, please come on the 28th or 29th and run with us. Tell your

friends -- bring your neighbors. All are welcome.

Below is a fuller description of the dance to help you better

understand. Feel free to contact me with any questions. I'd love to

talk with you.

All the best,

Rebekah

Rebekah Windmiller, MA, LCAT, REAT

Director, nycExpressive Arts Studio

www.nycexpressivearts.com

_______________________________________

The Planetary Dance is an annual ritual of healing and renewal of

community joined by people on six continents. It was originally created

by dance pioneer, Halprin, and is now in its 28th year. This large

scale work gives people of all ages and abilities the opportunity to

join together to " dance for a purpose " just as dancers in traditional

cultures have danced for a bountiful harvest, a successful hunt, or a

happy  marriage. In the Figment Festival, we will perform the heart of

the Planetary Dance, The Earth Run, a simple walking and running circle

dance that everyone can do. Just before stepping into the circle, each

dancer dedicates his or her dance to a personal, social or political

issue that they would like to renew their commitment toward taking

action. The entire dance is held by the sustaining beat of the drum

located in the center of the circle.  The dance's organizers will

devote their run to a vision of Governor's Island that is ecologically

sound and creatively resourceful for all New Yorkers.