Mar 27, 2024 | We share with you
In the Nuremberg region, eight dancers and instructors met in Erlangen-Spardorf on Saturday, 16 March 2024 – the “Nuremberg regional group” – for the Meditation of Dance – Sacred Dance association weekend to connect thematically with many other dancers in several countries by dancing on the theme of “transitions“. During the discussion about the new organisational form of the professional association – the honeycomb as a structural element – an idea that had long been haunting us matured:
what would it be like to rework the dances from all of Friedel and Saskia’s CDs chronologically, starting with CD 1, to bring the treasures to light and rediscover them?
When preparing workshops, we usually go back to frequently danced pieces – and how much there is in the dances that is slumbering, waiting to be brought to light! Our enthusiasm for this led us to make appointments straight away. From April 2024, we will meet once a month on a Tuesday evening for a treasure hunt.
Anyone who would like to join us is cordially invited. Dates and location can be requested from birgit.krauss(at)posteo.de
Click here for a photo of the treasure hunters
(The honeycomb photo is from Monika Lachner’s bees)
Mar 27, 2024 | We share with you
On 16 March, Barbara Utz invited people to Königswinter-Stieldorf in the small, tent-like wooden Protestant church for the Dance Day Transitions-Übergänge
The 21 participants from the region were presented with a wealth of dances that choreographed the transitions from darkness – night – death – winter to awakening – light – resurrection – spring. Barbara illuminated and deepened the respective aspects of Friedel, Saskia and Nanni’s dances with harmoniously selected texts. This brought the theme of transitions to life on many levels and made it tangible to the senses.
The centre reflected her concept just as much as the prepared poster “Transition”. The dancers were able to write their thoughts, associations and wishes on the spiral – symbolising life as a constantly changing process (see photos). Barbara finished the day with a ritual that picked up on the most important dance ideas once again and brought them together.
Everyone – whether inexperienced in dance or less practised, whether an experienced dancer of many years – felt welcome and at home in the circle from the very first moment of attunement.
At the end, everyone was filled with a big thank you for a great piece of work and a wonderful dance experience. – Ulrike Meister-Lucht
Poster “Transition” click here
Mar 27, 2024 | News, Termine, We share with you
30 August – 1 September 2024
This year’s open workshop of the FV with Friedel Kloke Eibl in cooperation with Matti Goldschmidt will take place in Bad Herrenalb. Under the motto “The Bible in Israeli folk dance”
Folk dance is of outstanding importance in Israel. This weekend will provide a brief overview of the diversity of Israeli folk dance Its most important characteristic is the successful synthesis of elements from the most diverse cultural backgrounds. In addition to dances – all with an essentially easier level of difficulty – from the European sphere of influence, especially Romania (Hora), we will also learn dances with Hasidic and Yemenite, i.e. Arabic elements.
Matti Goldschmidt comes from a family of artists: his father is a conductor and composer, his mother a former actress Born in Austria, he graduated from high school in Munich and soon afterwards began an eleven-year stay in Israel. In addition to studying computer science and the history of Islamic countries, he completed a one-year “Ulpan” (here: training as a dance master for Israeli folk dances) in Jerusalem in 1979 and a one-year didactics course for international folk dances at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1983. Among other things, he is a member of the trade union-affiliated “Association of Dance Masters for Israeli Dances” (Irgun) based in Tel Aviv.
Flyer with all information about the workshop. Click here
register for the workshop
Feb 23, 2024 | We share with you
Training in Meditation des Tanzes (dance meditation) was first offered in Latvia 3 years ago. For me, dance meditation is a modern extension of St. Dominic’s states of prayer. I completed the training in meditation of dance with Friedel Kloke – Eibl, Germany, and was inspired by Sister Monika Gessner OP, where I experienced my first dance retreat: dance meditation and contemplation are my personal prayer paths that help me to fulfill Dominican spirituality – contemplation in action.
Latvians love music and dance. Latvia is known for its song and dance festivals, in which almost everyone in Latvia participates – as a participant, as a volunteer or as a spectator – perhaps that is why the meditation of dance as a form of prayer is attracting interest – both positive and negative. The Church is familiar with the attempts to introduce dance into the liturgy of the Church, which were successful in some regions. The meditation of dance, however, opens up another dimension of prayer – the opening of the heart to God as the center of the body – and meditation-en-croix as a central element helps to recognize and accept the meaning of suffering and death and to have transformative experiences.
Three years ago, 25 participants began the training, which most of them were able to complete at the beginning of October this year with a written paper and a certificate – a time that was first a spiritual and then a very physical experience for each of us in our relationship with God and which presented us with great challenges in the face of world events.
We experienced the time of Corona and the beginning of the war in Ukraine. We worked in small groups, outdoors – in summer and winter – and remotely – via Zoom. We changed the location of the lessons because we were saying goodbye to my home in Latvia – St. Joseph’s Monastery, which had become a symbol of spiritual home for all of us. The team of teachers was completed by Sister Hanna OP (theology), Guna Ezermale (ballet), Andra Fenhane (music), Krišs Edgars Stalidzāns (Gestalt therapy), Father Tadeusz SJ (spiritual guidance) and my heartfelt thanks to all of them for their creative and dedicated cooperation!
In the summer of 2022, the training group was led by Friedel Kloke – Eibl, of the Sacred Dance Training Institute. We had the opportunity to meet Saskia Kloke, Friedel’s daughter, choreographer and tradition keeper. In 2023, the training group was led by Johanna Schilling.
During this time, several course participants have started practicing dance meditation at their workplaces and/or in their communities. Ruta offers dance meditation in Carnikava, Sanita in Daugavpils, Anda M. and Anda D. in the singing school in Madona, Anda D. in the Luther Church, Dita in the day care center and Agate in the kindergarten.
The day the diplomas were awarded was October 1, the feast of St. Teresa of the Child Jesus. It was also a community festival, so we spent part of it celebrating together, dancing, singing, talking, thanking God, each other and our families for the gift of time and our new “little” way to God, to ourselves and to people – the meditation of dance.
Maasa Diaana Ceermane OP
Pictures of the diploma presentation
Feb 23, 2024 | We share with you
“Body language is the most instinctive of all human languages. Even from birth, before we learn to speak, we can dance with our hands and feet. Dance is the art that arises from this “first language”.” Yang Linping
April 29 is World Dance Day!
Whether in China, Venezuela, Sri Lanka or Switzerland – people dance all over the world, especially on April 29, World Dance Day! World Dance Day, also known as International Dance Day, was initiated in 1983. The International Committee of Dance of the International Theater Institute (ITI-UNESCO) proclaimed it and set the date as the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre, who is considered the creator of modern ballet.
The aim of this day is to break down barriers and bring people together with the universal language of dance.
Every year on this day, the message of a well-known dance personality is spread worldwide. The intention of this message is to unite all forms of dance on this day, to celebrate the unifying power of dance, to emphasize its global nature and to transcend all boundaries of politics, cultures and ethnicity. People should be brought together in peace and friendship through a common language – that of dance.
World Dance Day is celebrated with various events, with something for every taste, from classical ballet and passionate tango to daring breakdancing. In addition, there is a new message every year, which is written by a different artist each year and is to be disseminated worldwide on this day.
Ambassador of the International World Dance Day 2023: Yang Linping on International World Dance Day
Feb 23, 2024 | News, We share with you
Will you dance with us?
The annual general meeting of the Meditation of Dance Association will take place on the weekend of March 15-17. All members have now received an invitation.
For years, it has been customary to organize a dance workshop on this weekend.
This year we have a new format: the workshops will take place in several countries and at several locations.
So you can dance along in Germany, England, Ireland, Latvia and Switzerland. You can find out where the workshops will take place in the agenda on our website.
The theme is “Transitions” according to the title of the current Balance.
We wish you all lots of dance inspiration!
On behalf of the board of the professional association and the lecturers of the workshops…..alle are very welcome.
all workshops for the AGM:
