The circle is an ancient and universal symbol of wholeness and unity. Dancing in a circle is one of the most ancient ways in which people celebrate community and togetherness.
Many of the dances we do were brought to Britain as 'Sacred Dance' by Bernhard Woisen, a German ballet teacher. He travelled widely in Greece, Serbia and Croatia, where the old round dances were (and still are) kept alive, and was struck by thier sacred quality and symbolism. In 1976 he took several of these dances, and some of his own, to the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland, where they were adopted to enhance a sense of community. This way of dancing, now known by most as 'circle dance', has spread and is well established in Britain and abroad. Regular groups and special events happen all year round.
The dance repertoire has also greatly increased. As Circle dance can take on a wide variety of forms and mood, reflecting the creativity of the groups and the interests of teachers. The aim is always to create a sense of well-being and communion, inviting a sense of wholeness or sacredness into our lives through the dance.
In this age of seperation, as families and neighbourhood structures fall apart, it is reassuring to move together, beyond words, following gentle rhythms and stretching the consciousness to a more global sense of humanity. Anyone of any age can dance, you don't need a partner.
well as drawing on the rich traditional dances of the Balkans, Greece, Israel, Russia, France and Celtic Britain, there are modern choreographies to all kinds of music from around the world - including contemporary music.
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