DANCE MEDITATION

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Dance Meditation is a conscious and symbolic way of dancing that allows us to connect with the wisdom that is found within the body and drives it into action.

Many ancient cultures used to call it ‘The Spiritual Dance’ since they believed that through these practices the Spirit within is awakened which allows the Soul to express itself freely.

In our times, we use these techniques in order to create a deep connection with our emotions which are hidden behind the “appropriate social behavior” and release them in a creative and meaningful way. We also use these techniques in order to observe and experience our true intentions through a naturally therapeutic and at the same time exciting way which can lead to ecstatic experiences.

Dance in Various Cultures & Religions

Hindus believe that the entire universe is the manifestation of the Supreme Dancer Nataraja. Nataraja performs the Ananda Tandava, the movements through which the universe is created, maintained, and dissolved. There are twenty-three celestial Apsaras whose dancing pleases the gods and who express the ‘Supreme Truths’ via their movements.

In temples throughout India, and particularly in East and South India, meditative dancing used to be a part of a sacred ritual. Devadasi’s (girls dedicated to worship) worship the divine through a complex system of gestures (mudras) and mimes. This sacred ritual evolved to become the South Indian Classical Dance which is still practiced today.

Modern Christianity uses a form of spiritual dance meditation aiming to bring people closer to God. Even though some verses of the bible say that it is a sin to dance, it was the beginning in the latter half of the 20th Century when dancing has been a popular form of worship in churches. Judaism also involves a spiritual dance meditation called “The Messianic Dance” or “Davidic dance” (in reference to King David, who is said to have danced before the Ark of the Covenant).

Dance meditation techniques are traditional in Buddhism which includes three main types: Nabichum (the butterfly dance), Para Ch’um (the cymbal dance) and T’aju (eight-fold path dance).

In Japan one popular type of dancing exercise is Katsugen Undo through which we give up conscious control of the body and allow ourselves to heal.

In China, similar dancing exercises are Zifagong, Re-do and Zi Ran Qigong.

Iran and Turkey use similar unconscious movement and spiritual dancing meditation exercises such as the Mevlevi Dervish which is a spontaneous type of movement and involves giving up control of the body (like Katsugen Undo).

Sufi mysticism includes the spinning in a circle which is practiced in order to connect with the spirit within and find bliss.

 

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