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Spain September 2007

A delightful typical Andalucian residence in its own grounds with beautiful gardens and luscious orchards. A stunningly beautiful, unspoilt environment: mountains, rivers, ancient hills villages and the fabled city of Granada.
firewater

Took place Wednesday 5th September - Wednesday 12th September
Cortijo Romero

Ireland July 2007

Biodanza Chrysalis Ireland

Chrysalis is a residential holistic centre set in beautiful West Wicklow countryside. There's a spirit at & around Chrysalis, which we have no words for: an energy that sends out a beam of positive intention into a sometimes confusing world……..Chrysalis offers you:
* Quality time out in Ireland, one hour from Dublin
* Recharge batteries in tranquil, rural setting
* Get together with like-minded people
* Delicious, nutritious vegetarian food
* Dublin events & international workshop leaders
* Lovingly converted 18th century rectory with mature gardens

Biodanza …….Meditation in dance

BiodanzaSistemaRolandoToro (Biodanza) is a pure dance form from South America in which healthy bodies, minds & aesthetic satisfaction for all may be achieved. The main aim of this system is to educate you to understand your body, movement & lives better & to help you develop positive ways of relating to yourself, others & our world…. in essence, you’re invited to dance to achieve health & wellbeing in all areas of your life. In practising Biodanza regularly you’re supported to feel relaxed & full of vitality & beauty. Really good health is synonymous with happiness & together they reflect aliveness & release the power of expression you hold deep with you. Come and join us for an introduction weekend & dance to warm Latin rhythms, World Music & sweet melodies. Generate vitality, self esteem, freedom, friendship & peace! All welcome, no experience needed.
Marita Sanguinetti (UK), Biodanza Sistema Rolando Toro UK, experienced dance teacher & performer.

Skyros 2005

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Two 2005 Summer BiodanzaSistemaRolandoToro Course's took place at the Skyros Centre- Atsitsa, a beautifull Greek Island in the middle of the Aegean sea. The photo above is of the second group of participants & staff who came from all over the world to be part this remarkable event. We danced in one of the most unspolit and natural settings in the world, our dance studio was situated in a tropical fruit garden that led to a neverending scented pine forest.

Studio View

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Events

One evening the participants of the Skyros Centre joined us at Atsitsa as our guests. We enjoyed a dinner of freshly caught fish prepared by our fantastic chef Taki. That night over 160 people danced to the Blue Danube under the stars and then we all followed drummers down to a surprise fire dance with the moonlit sea as a natural back drop.
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Daren and Kevin two of the permanent staff led a day trip to a remote island; they really spoilt us with delicious food and wine. They were both very laid back and attentive and managed the hard work with ease. We had loads of fun that day… and we danced Aqua BiodanzaSistemaRolandoToro
Thanks Kev and D XXXXX

Aqua Biodanza

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and thanks to Gemma, I learnt to do this…
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Dance of Orpheus

Other Dances
The 'Dance of Orpheus'
This class was one of the themes given in Atsitas, Skyros this August.

In this class we turn to the sacred myths and archetype to help us explore and make conscious our own unconscious, mysterious, fragile and often elusive stories. The animals, ancient gods, the elements, shamanic and Celtic warriors are all BiodanzaSistemaRolandoToro dance exercises of specific archetypes, that bring to life the stories that need to be told, extraordinary stories that unfold before us that cannot be told in ordinary direct ways. It is at this point that the dancer gains insight in to what it is that they need to create the works and life that they desire.

Oh this is the animal that never was.
They hadn't seen one; but just the same, they loved
its graceful movements, and the way it stood
looking at them calmly, with clear eyes.

It had not been. But for them, it appeared
in all its purity. They left space enough.
And in the space hollowed out by their love
it stood up all at once and didn't need
existence. They nourished it, not with grain,
but with the mere possibility of being.
And finally this gave it so much power
that from its forehead a horn grew. One horn.
It drew near to a virgin, white, gleaming -
and was, inside the mirror and in her
R. M. Rilke

Tiger Dance

We also danced the tiger dance.
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The tiger is silent; as it moves through the forest it leaves no trace, its body is relaxed and at the same time it is poised with a tention and awareness that enables it to sense its surroundings with all of its body. The tiger strength comes from its self awareness, it understands that it has a form that allows it a wide range of movement, from its silent motionless stance it can dart into movement at great speed using the power and tention of its legs in perfect tone with the flexibility of its back. It knows that its skin makes it invisible therefore this gives it a confidence that frees it to be at ease with what life presents. It belongs beautifully to its body and nature.
The tiger misses nothing as it sees everything all at once. It is not an aggressive being it has been incorrectly branded in this way by man. In our failure to see how we project our own aggression onto nature we fear the tiger and are therefore are intolerant and resistant to the wisdom and poetry of the wild.

Conclusion

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Plato stated through Socrates that “ therapy” refers to the gods; a therapist, Socrates continues, is someone who tends to and cares for the practical elements in religious worship. Therefore a therapist is a sacristan to the gods, observing and tending to their welbeing. Observance means to watch out for, but also to keep and honour, to care. Plato also used the phrase 'wheaten epimeleisthai'; which means 'care of oneself'. Again here 'care' is used as meaning honouring the gods. If therapy is as Plato defined it so long ago honouring the gods and caring for oneself, than dance is therapy for as we dance we honour the divine and take care of our selves.
In our culture all to often we tend to our health after we become sick and relationships are attended to when they are in trouble. To experience dance as a therapy that does not wait for sickness and breakdown in community, and as the inspiration to recover and care for life.

To recover the harmonious and healthy aspect of our lives today, creative activities of mind and body as expression must be developed for all. Dance is not just intended for an aesthetically inclined few it is for everyone.

BiodanzaSistemaRolandoToro is an introduction to the aspects and enduring qualities of dance, which are within the reach of everyone. It shows that dance is available to all if they choose it to be and that it is an activity in which wellbeing, health and aesthetic satisfaction for all may be found.

I would like to thank all the participants of Atsitsa for their enthusiasm, courage and sense of humour.

My deep appreciation to all the teachers' depth of heart, swift imagination and hard work. Including…… Virginia, Ari, Tina, Isaac, Todd, Andrew, Liz & Chris. Dina, Simon, Sevanti, Scilla and Liz.

And I send the light of my love to Dina, water companion, 'with out you there would be no Skyros Centre.'

All my love Marita

Skyros 2006

Biodanza in Greece

Atsitsa is set in a stunningly beautiful pine-forested bay on the west coast of the island, nine miles from Skyros village. Its stone villa, just a few meters from the sea, was built at the beginning of the last century. Behind it there are gardens, which arouse the senses with the fragrance and colors of honeysuckle and bougainvillea. Atsitsa is secluded and people live simply in a natural environment.

The Atsitsa community, from 30 to 80 participants at a time, is friendly and bursting with life. As well as BiodanzaSistemaRolandoToro classes the days are full with courses, an active social life and a lively bar. Along with the high energy there is always space for quiet refection and inner exploration.

Daily Life at Atsitsa
Typical timetable:
7.00 - 8.00 Early morning courses
8.30 - 10.30 Breakfast, community affairs
11.15 - 13.15 Morning courses
14.00 Lunch
15.00 - 17.00 Siesta time
17.00 - 19.00 Late afternoon courses
20.00 Dinner
21.30 Nightlife

The courses range from windsurfing and sailing to BiodanzaSistemaRolandoToro, yoga, massage, painting and music and are suitable for everyone. Participants can choose up to three courses a week from the fifteen or so on offer. They are usually held outdoors on the stone terraces between the pine forest and the sea. The experience, 'the sheer, crazy, overwhelming joy of letting go and feeling alive' - as a Time Out reporter put it, serves as a reminder of what life can be.

On free days participants can choose from organized events, which may include forest walks, a boat trip or an island coach tour.


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