Through Music and Dance, Peace Within and Without | ||
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From the beginning of time, sacred movement, song and story have brought people together - at times of seasonal ceremony and celebraton, as part of everyday life and life passages, in daily renewal and meditation. The Dances of Universal Peace are part of this timeless tradition of Sacred Dancing.
The mood of the Dances can evoke feelings of compassion, love, peace, joy and oneness with the Universal Spirit. Whether invoking the compassion of the Buddhist Qwan Yin, celebrating Krishna's playfulness or experiencing the emotion, energy and spirit associated with some other aspect of the Divine, dancers participate in a moving connection between individuals, the circle and the One.
and precious gift to the world. Please join us in the circle! |
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The Dances of Universal Peace were originated in the late 1960's by Samuel L. Lewis (1896-1971), a Sufi Murshid and Rinzai Zen Master. He also studied deeply in the mystical traditions of Hinduism, Judaism and Christianity. In the creation of the Dances, Lewis was deeply influenced by: Hazrat Inayat Khan, who first brought the message of Universal Sufism to the West; and Ruth St. Denis, a feminist pioneer in modern dance. 
Today, the Dances are popular throughout the earth as a multifaith spiritual practice, as a meditation in movement, and as communal body prayer with simple music, lyrics and movements. People of all ages and abilities join hands in a circle; sing sacred phrases and chants from many wordly religions, cultures and traditions - and dance! There are no performers or audience. Each easy to learn dance is taught and demonstrated by the dance leader and is accompanied by live music.
