What does community that is centered in transformative love and justice look and feel like?
This is the pre-class homework that you're invited to bring answers to in our dance classes in April!
May we be more aware and intentional about how we care for collective wellbeing as we co-evolve together in community.
Guinea style West African Dance Classes:
LIVE ONLINE / by VIDEO ON-DEMAND* / IN-PERSON: masks and proper distancing are required for in-person class - registration required, with a waitlist once full.
*On-demand dance class videos: If you can’t attend at class time a video recording of the class is a great option! Sent within 24hrs after class, recordings remain available on demand for 1 week, until the next class. Register for a series by video, or register to "drop in online" for your date of choice and request the video.
All-Levels Dance Class with Live Drumming Returns in April!
Tuesdays, 6-7:15pm (EDT)
NEW SPACE: Breakwater School Gym
(20 in-person spots)
Next Beginner/Foundations Dance Class Series:
Fridays, 9-10:15am (EDT)
Portland New Church
(6 in-person spots)
Free *Your* Movement, Private Lessons:
Access new movement freedom, gain movement confidence and explore new ways of expressing in the body. Private and individualized embodied-movement lessons are available by appointment with Marita. Full details on website.
Register today to reserve your spot for West African Dance in April-May!! And please take a moment to read below.
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Movement as Medicine & Some Uncomfortable Truths
Classes at Embody the Rhythm offer a space welcoming of all people, where we expand awareness of our interconnection and face what is uncomfortable together so that healing can occur. We dance to free our hearts.
What do I mean when I say, "movement is medicine"?
The way we heal collectively as a species (human) and create positive change, is not by “escaping”, but by facing what is happening together with eyes and hearts open so that we can transform and transmute energy with our collective attention and action ~ movement.
In honor of the First Peoples of the land we stand/dance/drum on, I recognize that we are on violently stolen land. The land that we call “Portland, Maine” under colonization is the home of the Abenaki, Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Mi’kMaq, and Maliseet/Wolastoqiyik people.
Collectively referred to as Wabanaki, the “People of the Dawn”are still here. With a prayer for reparations to be made for the harm that’s been done/continues to our Indigenous human family members, I devote my dance to healing.
In recognition that these traditional dances we are embodying from West Africa, are ancient and healing for the human body and spirit; that they carry power in them by reminding us of our connection to mama earth and to one another, and in the act of moving together in song and rhythm in community. In reverence for these traditions, I devote my dance to healing.
In recognition of the abhorrent truths of slavery; that these traditional dances and rhythms originally arrived on this continent in the bodies and spirits of our Black/Brown human family members who were brought here as slaves. In recognition that white slave owners violently halted and forbid these beautiful traditions from continuance, that this violence disconnected the generations that followed (present day generations, descendants of slaves) from the opportunity to experience the healing power of these movements through their lineage. In recognition of what it means to be generational descendants of this history, and/or living on this land and abiding by laws developed on this history. With a prayer for reparations to be made for the harm that’s been done/continues to our Black and Brown human family members, I devote my dance to healing.
In recognition that how we're treating one another in our human family needs our attention; that anti-Asian violence is on the rise and happening where we live; that Latinx families are still being separated and children are imprisoned on our "dime"; that ICE is trying to set up headquarters right in our neighborhood.
With a prayer that we acknowledge these truths, take collective action and find our resilience through collective movement, I devote my dance to healing. I invite you to, as well.
There are a lot of uncomfortable truths to hold, yet we are stronger together. There is healing to be done and reparations to be made within our own communities. We must devote ourselves to learning true history in order to begin to find our way into and through reparations today, and in order to heal.
If you've read this far and you too are looking to be part of community that commits to keeping our eyes and hearts open; to creating safe space for ALL people, including Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgendered, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, & Asexual/Aromantic/Agender and the entire spectrum of abilities; consistently checking our privilege and striving to de-colonize our minds, I'm with you!
Let's be exemplary supporters of Movement Medicine for Social Change in all aspects of our lives.
Please visit that orange link to learn how you can help create more access and support reparations through mutual aid, as well as through joyful movement!
I'm so excited to SEE YOU ON THE DANCE FLOOR!
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