Biodanza – The Poetry of Human
Encounter & Embrace of Community

By Aliyah

A Biodanza "vivencia" – the name for the 2-hour experience – is coined from the Spanish root vivir which means "to live." Biodanza is intended first to create a safe, loving, nurturing environment so that the physical and emotional armor that we have collected throughout our lives may slowly melt or peel away in layers. This begins to occur as soon as we are ready for our own authentic movement/dance to emerge from inside of us. There is no push, no pull – just the gentle space of allowing and accepting who we are and where we are on our own individual journey.

My first Biodanza evening was facilitated through a series of dances: some solo dances, some with groups, and some with partners. The facilitator for the evening was Belisa Amaro, one of the pioneers of the Biodanza movement here in the United States and who lives in San Francisco. She was skillful, nurturing, intuitive, warm, and kind-hearted.

The magic of the night was evident at the end of the 2-hour vivencia. The group of 80 people had been woven together into a nest of openhearted community. This is the typical effect of Biodanza – the Poetry of Human Encounter. Throughout the vivencia, I continued periodically to have goose bumps. This is my personal radar for "pay attention... your angels are telling you that what you are experiencing is in line with your soul purpose."

Now, a year later, the classes continue to be a sublime and powerful opportunity to explore my inner being. In addition the teacher training – (yes, I did listen to my angelic guidance and am currently in the teacher-training program) – is another lens I use to discover and investigate the inner workings of the magic of Biodanza and to deepen my journey of personal discovery.

Betsy Strome, Robin Nasatir and Toni Silver of the Ruth Botchan Dance Company in "The Second Half of Joy", which they will perform in New York City in January 2010, and in Berkeley in the spring of 2010. Ruth Botchan, longtime OPEN EXCHANGE lister, teaches Modern Dance at Berkeley Moving Arts. See Dance & Movement.

Joti Singh teaches Bhangra and Bollywood dance at the YWCA Berkeley, longtime OPEN EXCHANGE lister featured under Dance.

Photo by Sean Burgess.

Ernie Mansfield with grandson Nalu Compehos at the piano!!!!! Find this longtime OPEN EXCHANGE lister (Ernie, not Nalu) in the Music category.