Inviting Racial Diversity on the Dance Floor

“Diversity is being invited to the party... Inclusion is being asked to dance.” ~ Vernā Myers This an invitation to explore the challenging concepts around creating and maintaining welcoming spaces and events for all in the Western Mass and beyond. An opportunity to discuss our current beliefs, discover the unseen, present our desires, and develop ideas around improving the diversity on our dance floors. This workshop will be geared mainly towards racial inclusivity but the concepts discussed may be applicable with many underrepresented populations. We welcome Valerie Chafograck, Soul Motion facilitator and community leader from Berkley, CA to bring her vast knowledge and experience around these complex issues to speak with us. She will be assisted by Hilary Lake, Moving in Grace facilitator and advocate for this valuable work through hosting regular "Grace Between Race" offerings in the Pioneer Valley. We invite the attendance and engagement of the dance leaders in our region.... those who produce events, gatherings, jams, and classes .. along with community members, allies, and anyone wishing to learn or become involved in the process of growing diversity on our dance floors is most welcome. ▬ LOGISTICS ▬ Friday Evening, May 17th (7pm-9:30pm) at the School for Creative Dance & Thought (SCDT) 25 Main Street, Northampton (4th Floor) Accessibility: the SCDT studio & restrooms are handicapped accessible via elevator, hearing impaired assistance possible... please contact [email protected] for further info Energy Donation: $15-25 Attendees are welcome to arrive starting at 7, please plan to arrive on time, discussion will start shortly after and end promptly at 9:30pm. Post-gathering support, action steps, and subsequent discussions to be presented at the workshop. ▬ PRESENTED BY ▬ Valerie Chafograck is the founder of Dance Sanctuary™, a conscious dance community. As a certified Soul Motion™ teacher, Valerie has successfully developed a thriving practice from scratch, and has taught thousands of students. She leads classes and workshops in the U.S. and at gatherings around the world. She is a presenter at events such as Wisdom 2.0, Body Intelligence Summit and Peace In The Park, as well as esteemed venues such as Rancho La Puerta, Esalen and Harbin Hot Springs. Valerie grew up in France and is a multicultural, passionate lover of dance and stillness. She has dedicated her life to assist individuals and communities in discovering the liberating and healing power of dance and is known to lead with an open heart. Her teaching offerings are safe spaces for everyone to unfold as free, spirited beings grounded in their bodies. She lives in Northern California. Her path as a teacher and practitioner of conscious movement started in 1992. Inspired by many brilliant teachers she studied with and different practices such as Soul Motion™, Halprin life/art process, Pilates, 5 Rhythms, Nichiren Buddhism and Conscious Living meditation; her teaching continuously evolves, being supported by all these contributions. This long commitment and intensive course of study in body awareness have fulfilled Valerie’s needs for inner peace, deepest levels of love and divine dialog. Learn more about her work at www.dancesanctuary.com Hilary Lake is a local expressive arts community minister. She graduated from Harvard Divinity School with an MDiv in Buddhist Ministry and has been singing, playing the violin and dancing many forms throughout her life. She has also been sharing her Buddhist inspired improvisational movement and sounding practice, Moving in Grace, locally and internationally, played in a local improv music group called the Spirit Play Collective, and offers InBody Spiritual Guidance and Somatic Bodywork. She has also helped to organize a local ceremonial dance and improvisational music gathering called Mandala Dance for over five years. Her current project Grace Between Races aims hold space for diverse individuals & communities to come together to express, create and heal across differences. Learn more about her practices at www.movingingrace.com Ecstatic Northeast is an organization dedicated to providing opportunities to engage in connection.... connection to the many layers of one’s self, connection to love and community, connection to the vision and eventual manifestation of who we want to be. Through the creation, management, consulting, promotion, facilitation, and co-creation of workshops/retreats/meetups and ~ dances~ we can find new ways of inviting our fullest expression within ourselves and collective camaraderie with everyone in our lives. Ecstatic Northeast is founded by Sarah Monette who also leads ARC - Authentic Relating Connection which aims to create deeper connections within ourselves and community through the recognition of shared vulnerabilities and values. ▬ STAY CONNECTED ▬ Page - Ecstatic Northeast Group - Ecstatic Northeast Community - Dance • Connection • Discovery • Expression Meetup - https://www.meetup.com/EcstaticNortheastCommunity/ Affiliations: ARC - Authentic Relating Connection DJ Journey Weaver Nexus - Amherst Ecstatic Dance GLOW - Ecstatic Dance Northampton Dancing Beyond - Outside Journeys Ecstatic Dance Boston Ecstatic Dance Boston Community Authentic Relating Connection Northeast Looking forward to diving into this valuable discussion with you!! 🎶🌀✨