| Dances of Universal Peace uses dance as a means | | | | compassion - as exemplified by the Buddha Qwan |
| of reconciliation and fostering peace. Dance can | | | | Yin,or the extrovert energy of Krishna is expressed in |
| express all human emotions and lead to transcendental | | | | the dance. Individuals experience a dynamic relationship |
| states. The Dances of Universal Peace are Sacred | | | | between the group, the individuals within the group and |
| Dances which do not require any musical or dance | | | | themselves. |
| experience. The sessions are about taking part and | | | | Penny Xerri gives an account of "Sharing the Dances |
| are not a performance. There are no special | | | | with Special Needs Students." .She writes "One of the |
| costumes. Comfortable clothes are the only | | | | delights of working with Special Needs students is the |
| requirement. The setting for the dances should have a | | | | immediacy of their response; if excited, they may jump |
| peaceful, sacred feeling. | | | | up and down; if tired sit down; if pleased with |
| A session begins by everyone joining hands and | | | | themselves they often want to acknowledge that with |
| forming a circle with the Dance Leader and musicians | | | | a round of applause.Perhaps there is a lesson in Zen |
| in the middle. The Leader then teaches the words, | | | | here. Another pleasure for me is their willingness to |
| music and movements. The background history | | | | experiment, both with sound and movement, no matter |
| associated with that particular dance is explained. | | | | how profound their disabilities. (One of our students |
| There are more than 400 Dances of Universal Peace | | | | has virtually no sight, another has speech that is |
| drawn from many faiths and traditions. They focus on | | | | virtually unintelligible and the majority may exhibit |
| themes such as Peace in all its contexts, healing of the | | | | obsessive behaviour patterns, such as repetitive |
| Earth, it's peoples, its flora and fauna and in the deeper | | | | speech and movements, if in any way upset.) |
| mysteries.This inclusion of the beliefs of many peoples | | | | Responding to the students' needs and difficulties in the |
| and religions creates an opening of the heart and a | | | | dances requires that the "able-bodied" offer a variety |
| feeling of the brotherhood and sisterhood of all | | | | of support and improvised adaptations. I am fortunate |
| peoples. Performing the dances help the participants to | | | | in being supported not only by an accompanist, Ian |
| understand and appreciate both the similarities and | | | | Salmond, but also by Bill Thompson, a volunteer tutor. |
| differences of various religions and cultures. | | | | Both of these provide a strong male presence and |
| On the occasions when the dance lyrics include | | | | constructive feedback. Additionally, the college in which |
| sacred phrases in languages not spoken by the | | | | I work provides "carers" for the students. These |
| participants the pronunciation of the words is very | | | | carers provide not only student support but exhibit |
| carefully taught. The majority of dances are only four | | | | considerable enthusiasm and commitment to the |
| lines long and are repeated over and over again. The | | | | dances. |
| combination of these factors is that the participants | | | | This level of support makes it feasible to bring the |
| learn the songs quickly and easily. Within ten minutes | | | | essence of the dances, whilst being very pragmatic |
| everyone is singing, dancing and sharing the wonderful | | | | with adaptations. These range from simplifying steps, |
| power of the dances. | | | | such as substituting a straightforward walk for |
| The Dances of Universal Peace were collated in the | | | | sidesteps, to including short periods of sitting whilst |
| late 1960's by Samuel L. Lewis (1896-1971) a Sufi | | | | vocally rehearsing the familiar dances, or learning new |
| teacher and Zen Master. He studied in great depth the | | | | ones, as our students tend to tire more quickly than |
| mystical traditions of Hinduism, Judaism, and Christianity. | | | | their able-bodied counterparts. On a physical level, we |
| Hazrat Inayat Khan and Ruth St. Denis were major | | | | sometimes support the hands of students, whilst |
| influences on his thinking. In the 70's Lewis began to | | | | adopting gestures or making turns, always being |
| create the dances as a way of promoting "Peace | | | | mindful not to "invade". Challenges we are still working |
| through the Arts".The dances celebrate Hinduism, | | | | with include keeping the momentum of the dance |
| Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism, Judaism, Christianity, | | | | (there is a tendency for the students to come to a halt |
| Islam as well as the Aramaic, Native American, Native | | | | after each "round") and to hold the silence on |
| Middle Eastern, Celtic, Native African, and Goddess | | | | completion of each dance beyond a few moments." |
| traditions. | | | | In 25 years the Dances of Peace have spread |
| The dances are categorized under headings such as | | | | throughout the world. New dance circles are springing |
| "Dervish Dances." Dervish Cycle and Allah Snake | | | | up. They help spread feelings of reverence, creativity |
| Dance are examples from this group.There are also | | | | and a connection to the Earth. The dances are shared |
| "Mantric Dances" such as Hare Rama Hare Krishna | | | | in such places as schools, therapy situations, prisons, |
| Dance and Ram Sita Circle Dance, and "Angelic" | | | | hospices, rehabilitation centers and by people with |
| dances such as Moon Dances and "Tis the Gift to be | | | | physical and mental disabilities. Dance in general is |
| Simple" which is a well known Shaker tune. | | | | finding a place in the process of Peace and |
| The dances encompass many moods - love, joy and | | | | Reconciliation in areas of armed conflict. |