Christian Meditation in Cumbria hosted a day of Dances of Universal Peace in April led by Christina Gulzar Lausevic.
The Dances of Universal Peace is a form of body prayer, originally created to facilitate connection and celebrate unity, drawing on all the spiritual traditions of humankind, focusing on movement, chant and singing together.
Through this harmonious movement we can consciously express connection with each other and with the divine as the spirit within the dance moves through us.
It was a completely new way of holding presence for most of us and we were well guided by Christina and her two assistants. Simon helped to demonstrate the movements (very simple) and Frank played guitar and sometimes a soft drum (very harmonious) along with Christina’s own guitar.
She used dance, song and music inspired by the Christian, Jewish and Christian Aramaic traditions. Before each ‘dance’ (they were really just very gentle moving, flowing meditations) she explained what the words meant and how to deepen into the experience.
The day included two sessions of reflection and silence, and we had time to share lunch and breaks in the wonderful setting of Ambleside Parish Centre. Everyone was nourished and uplifted by the day, and we went home chilled, peaceful and relaxed and looking forward to the next time!
Christina is based in Newcastle upon Tyne and leads regular days in both Newcastle upon Tyne and Sheffield, as well as travelling throughout the UK to facilitate Dances and Retreats over weekends or days. She is also a mentor and trainer to new dance leaders. Christina can be contacted on christina@vitalways.co.uk. Details of upcoming
events can also be found on her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DUPChristinaGulzar.
Diana Raven