Halloween is a time for creativity and play. Feel welcome to give an early tryout of your Halloween costume, wear a mask or just come in your usual comfortable cloths. Children are welcome but must be supervised by an adult for the entire duration of the class.
What is the 5Rhythms Practice
The 5Rhythms comprise a simple movement practice designed to release the dancer that lives in every body, no matter what its shape, size, age, limitations and experience. The 5Rhythms dance practice was founded by Gabrielle Roth; an urban shaman. The practice itself is simple, there are no steps to follow. The teaching is deep. And it comes from the dancer's wisdom and embodied insight. In each dance, we explore each of the 5 rhythms, not for its mastery, but for its medicine. We will co-create a space to experience the rhythms of flowing, staccato, chaos, lyrical and stillness (also known as a 5Rhythms Wave).
What to Expect
Expect to have time to settle in, and move on your own, while also being gently guided by music; verbal prompts or invitations. Dancers may be invited to deepen their inner dance, or prompted to dance in partnership – brief or extended – or to move as part of a larger group. Each class is emergent. The rhythms themselves are gateways to literally thousands of different movement landscapes. Like the body, they are alive and designed to catalyze the dancer’s movement expression in the moment. You are different every time you walk into the dance space; so is the group and so is your teacher. Therefore, each class holds completely unique possibilities.
A word about touch, courtesy & consent
By participating in this class you agree to be a partner in co-creating a safe and brave space for our collective dance practice. Since this dance practice is non-verbal, please make eye contact with other dancers before touch. Even if it’s your best friend or partner, on the dance floor we honor sovereignty. Someone may be having a deep experience, some dancers dance with eyes closed or half mast and touch could be disruptive or dis-regulating. On the dance floor, please use your eyes as a means for engagement. After eye contact, if you are not open to touch, please say or signal to your partner that you are not a yes to physical contact (ie; offering a Namaste 🙏🏻 or arms crossed or by walking away).
Dance Space Etiquette
We come together to practice 5Rhythms.
We are drug- and alcohol-free.
We are adults responsible for our own wellbeing.
We are aware of and respect each others’ bodies and boundaries.
We communicate using movement not words.
We make eye contact and gain consent before any physical touch
We dance barefoot, in grippy socks or soft dance shoes.
We avoid synthetic perfumes.
We turn our phones off.
We do not take photos/video or use Shazam.
We participate, we do not spectate.
We start and end our dance journey together.
5Rhythms Welcome Statement
We recognize and welcome all. All races, all religions, all
gender identities, all sexual orientations, all abilities, all
shapes and sizes, all languages, all ages.
Land acknowledgment
The Native American settlement at what is now Northampton
was called Norwottuck, or Nonotuck, meaning: "the midst of
the river." It consisted of a core area where clan meetings
and elders' councils were held. This area included communal
cemeteries and probably sweat lodges used for curing. This
is land belonging to the Nipmuc, Pocumtuc, Nonotuc people.
