Deep In My Bones embodies feelings of frustration resulting from being African Americans who experience rejection and accusations of misappropriation by some of our Diasporic brothers and sisters when we move our bodies in ways predominantly seen in African and Caribbean cultures. We show that as Black Americans, these movements feel native to our bodies and connect us to our brothers and sisters across the world. This work aims to highlight the connections between movements throughout and across the African Diaspora. It showcases Black American vernacular movements and Black contemporary dance forms while also infusing social and folk dances across the Caribbean, West Africa, and Southern Africa into movements. 

Sacred Circle Dance is a circle dance experience that draws from ancient and traditional folk dances, many from Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Long ago, dancing in circles was common and central to the well being of community, as women came together to honor the cycles of life and the rhythms of the seasons. Moving as one to wonderful music, we dance in the footsteps of the grandmothers, experiencing a sense of something greater than ourselves, a continuum of which we are a sacred part. 

In this workshop, we will dance to honor the magic and beauty of the unfolding Spring, honor our own unfolding, ground ourselves during this busy time of year, and remind ourselves of the importance of Winter’s gift of stillness as life blooms and buzzes all around us and within us. The dances evoke peace, insight, healing, joy and a powerful sense of interconnection with each other and all life.  

The dances taught are relatively simple and the dance sequences repetitive, so we can experience what the dance has to offer. No dance experience is necessary! If you love to dance, come and enjoy this wonderful form of movement meditation!

The workshop will be taught by Lisa Bardack, who has been teaching Sacred Circle Dance since 2008. She has also studied other forms of dance, yoga, NIA, tai chi and qi gong, cultivating a seasoned understanding of body movement as an instrument for joy, healing and wisdom.