From the beginning of time music, drumming, movement, song and prayer have brought communities together at times of celebration, and as part of everyday life. The Dances are a profound, cross cultural way to touch the spiritual essence within ourselves and others. They are joyful, uplifting and unifying.
ALL ARE WELCOME! Beginners and experienced dancers join the circle together with simple movements and the singing of sacred chants and songs from the many faith traditions of Earth. No experience is necessary - just an open heart and mind. Comfortable clothing and footwear are recommended.
By entering into an experience of the sacredness and depth of various traditions, their true nature can be revealed, thus dissolving barriers and prejudices, and allowing their essential unity to be revealed. The many faith traditions represented in the dances include Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Bahai, Native American, Celtic, Native Middle Eastern and Goddess traditions. New dances are continually created as we work to uncover our shared cultural roots and emerging paradigms.
The Dances were first created by Samuel Lewis, an American mystic recognized as a teacher within the Jewish, Christian, Zen and Sufi traditions. (1896-1971) They were inspired in part by his teachers, Sufi Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan and American modern and sacred dance pioneer Ruth St. Denis. Since their inception, the Dances have been used as a tool in many spiritual communities, citizen diplomacy, therapeutic and educational settings.
Through the efforts of Peaceworks, the International Network for the Dances of Universal Peace, the dances have an increasingly global community, and continue to expand in both outreach and depth.
For further information on the Dances, visit:
PEACEWORKS International Network for
the Dances of Universal Peace
@www.DancesOfUniversalPeace.org
6310 NE 74th Street, Suite 209E, Seattle, WA 98115-8168
Telephone: 206-522-4353
E-mail: INoffice@dancesofuniversalpeace.org
“The Dances of Universal Peace put into our hearts and bodies the awe of living, the love of the universe, the experience of community, the delight at the breath we all share, the coming together of cosmos, psyche and deep ecumenism that the human race yearns for today. They provide empowerment to heal and to celebrate, to pray in a curved and cosmological manner, to include body at the center of worship once again.” — Matthew Fox |
