New to the Forum...Circle dance

[Dancing_D]

hello everybody.. i'm new to this forum and just wanted to see if any of you have ever tried Sacred Circle Dance? It started out in Findhorn, Scotland and friends of ours brought it to Tennessee in the late 80's. It is being danced many places around the world but i haven't found anything here about it so i thought i'd ask. My wife and i have been teaching and dancing here for the last 21-22 years and love it.. When i was younger i tried square dance. line dance, ballroom dance, shadow(wall) dancing haha, tap, and interpretive dance. there are so many wonderful types out there to try.. anyway..just an intro and curious about your experiences. thanks..david

[Spitfire]

Welcome D, I'm not familiar with Sacred Circle Dance. Can you describe it?

[sambanada]

This sounds interesting. More info please ????

[Dancing_D]

we posted this on craigslist and it really condenses the whole idea into a quick easy synopsis:
Simple folk dancing done in a circle.

We dance on the 1st and 3rd Friday evenings of every month, 7:30 to 9:30 pm, Global Education Center, 4822 Charlotte Ave., Nashville, Tn. 37209

We move in a circle to wonderful music from Greece, Israel, Scotland, Bulgaria, Russia, Romania, France, the Americas (Shaker, Zydeco, Mexican, Hopi, etc.), and elsewhere. We trace dance steps sometimes new, sometimes centuries old. There is some similarity in form with international folk dance, but there is a certain attitude of attention, awareness, and respect that evolved from this form’s origins at the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland.

The dances are mostly simple, or moderately easy, and each one is taught just before we do it. You won’t need a partner because everyone in the circle is your partner. And you won’t need any special skill, because these dances have always been done by everyone, old and young, to honor the earth and its rhythms. Dancing in a circle is one of the oldest ways in which people celebrate community and togetherness. In an evening, we typically do 12 to 15 dances. Newcomers are always welcome.

There is no fixed fee. We pay for the space we rent by donations(usually 4$-6$/person)..the teachers are not paid ...all the $ goes to the space and for music, cd's etc.. for circle dance.

Your body and heart will delight in a growing feeling of connection and oneness: with yourself, with others, with the earth, perhaps with something greater.

[Larinda McRaven]

is this an ad?

[fascination]

hopefully OP will come back and reassure us otherwise by continuing to contribute more on this and on other threads as well

[Angel HI]

Welcome to the DF, DD. I have had soem experience with Sacred Circle Dances, although it was a wee bit...just slightly different than your description. Interested in seeing more. This is an area not discussed on the DF.

[Dancing_D]

hey larinda.. since spitfire and sambanada were asking about what circle dance is, i thought it would be easiest to copy and paste what i send out to our local craigslist for other folks to see what we do here in nashville. so yes it was an ad but no im not trying to sell circle dance here.. just discuss it.. hope that is a bit clearer.. also hello to all of the moderators :) thanks for letting me be a part of your forum.. i am sorry to be slow in responding.. i don't get on the computer everyday but will attempt at being more vigil here... .. heather(my wife) and i went out to calif. for a circle dance camp at the end of june this year. we were fortunate to attend camp in the sequoia national forest.. tremendous trees and the dances were very centering, peaceful, invigorating and a very good challenge at 7300 feet .whew! haha so where did you experience circle dance, angel? D

[Angel HI]

so where did you experience circle dance, angel? D

Several places around the globe, actually, but I beleive my introduction to be Sedona, AZ., USA.

[Easy]

Hey DD, and welcome to Df. I've never tried/heard of that dance, but when the lights come back on, I'd hope I wasn't the one in the middle ;) j/k

Hope you enjoy your stay hear and can tolerate stupid funners like me :)

[sambanada]

I wonder if we have somehting like this in NJ or enar.

[_malakawa_]

hi, DD and welcome.

I have experience in Circle dancing.

in my country that is very popular on a weddings.

[Dancing_D]

thanks for the welcome.. ive still got to find my way around the forum.. hard for me to remember exactly the threads i replied to, to other folks.. haha i guess its the adventure..peace..

[Maryontheweb]

Hi Dancing D,

Could you give some examples of the type(variety) of music you play for dances.

Thanks

[Dancing_D]

hey mary,
first and foremost(although i should have stated this in my intro) Sacred Circle Dance has been interpreted many ways by many peoples and I am but a single person and whenever i answer questions and talk about SCD here on this forum please understand i do not pretend to be an authority but a participant in a wonderful dance experience. :) also for an exceptional description of "what sacred circle dance is about" I would recommend reading a book called: Circle Dancing-Celebrating the Sacred in Dance by June Watts..
ok now as far of types of music-many styles of music from countries in and around Europe including Greece, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, the Balkans..etc.. some very lively that fill you with such energy you can't help but move your body, and others that are deep and meditative or even some that are mournful.. my understanding of the music is that it along with the dances were integral parts of the functioning communities that they were drawn from.. don't know if that was what you were looking for or not.. i will keep checking back so let me know..peace,
David

[sambanada]

It seems its quite mystical in nature...almost spiritual. I like it. Come to think of it, we do see some form in many countries.

[_malakawa_]

It seems its quite mystical in nature...almost spiritual. I like it. Come to think of it, we do see some form in many countries.

circle dancing is part of my culture.

check on you tube - "folklor". ;)

[Dancing_D]

hey Malakawa.. i checked out the you ube keyword for folklor. beautiful!!!! so did i understand correctly its serbian? very very nice.. we do a few dances from serbia i believe but can't think of the names off the top of my head.. anyway thanks again.. david

[_malakawa_]

hey Malakawa.. i checked out the you ube keyword for folklor. beautiful!!!! so did i understand correctly its serbian? very very nice.. we do a few dances from serbia i believe but can't think of the names off the top of my head.. anyway thanks again.. david

it is not only serbian. folklor as a dance (circle dance) is part of all that area (balkan countries).

this is for example for my country, Croatia.

http://www.bangkokcompanies.com/Dance/croatia_dance_schools.htm.