{~ Synergy ~} Ecstatic Dance w DJ Zaphod Class: Bellydance Isolations & Fluidity Thurs, Dec 12

~ Theme: Glowing Huddle ~ ~Thursday, Dec 12th~ 6:15pm - Door opens 6:30pm - Class: Bellydance Isolations and Fluidity w/ Bonnie Hodul (visiting from NY) 7:45pm - Opening Singing Circle 8pm - Ecstatic Dance Wave - w/ Zaphod ** Arrive before 9pm to participate in dance ** 9:30pm(ish) - Closing Circle There is also Gong Fu tea service in the front room, as part of Soft Medicine's weekly Synes-TEA-sia offering; from 7-10pm, asking $5/person. Location: the upstairs Loft at Soft Medicine: 186 N Main Street, Sebastopol ~ Reciprocity ~ $25-20, cash or venmo at door Accessibility Discount available for marginalized peoples, such as BIPOC and LGTBQIA+ folx, and those experiencing financial hardship. And, no one turned away for lack of funds. Synergy is included within the AYS/SM Class Pass Membership - no additional charge to attend for members and class pass holders. We also need people to offer 45 minutes of help (setup, door or cleanup, in trade to attend the event. Sign up here - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0449A5AF29A2F94-53448933-dec12synergy ~ Class: Bellydance Isolations & Fluidity ~ Bellydance is a varied and multi-layered collection of dance forms from the MENAHT* regions, which ask us to get in touch with the full range of movements our bodies have to offer. From the contrast between sharp hits versus fluid movements, to isolating and articulating one body part at a time versus layering movements in multiple areas of our bodies, to a deep exploration of rhythms and connection to complex and captivating music, Bellydance strengthens articulation, mind-body connection, clarity of movement, and musicality. *Teacher / Cultural Note: Bonnie has primarily studied the Raqs Sharqi (Egyptian) and Fusion styles of Bellydance, which she will be drawing from in this class. “Bellydance” is an umbrella term for a variety of dance forms coming from the MENAHT - Middle Eastern, North African, Hellenic (Greece) & Turkish - regions of the world. Another acronym often used to describe these regions is SWANA – meaning South West Asian & North African. For more information about the cultural histor(ies) of Bellydance, please visit www.sharqidance.com/blog/bellydance- history-baggage as a starting point! ~About the class facilitator ~ Bonnie (they/she) is a multi-faceted creator who enjoys exploring how various ideas and mediums are fused, and believes that collaborative and playful environments are where the most magical and important ideas are synthesized. They have been dancing their entire life, including solo forms such as Ballet, Hip Hop, and Jazz, as well as partnered forms such as Rockabilly, Lindy Hop, and Fusion. Bellydance was the form that first felt completely like home in their body, and through their exploration of solo dance, they have come to deeply understand the ways in which solo movement is an integral part of connecting to / discovering oneself, which in turn leads to deeper connection with others. They have been an organizer for their local fusion scene in Rochester, NY since 2019, and their commitment and desire to provide an open, welcoming, and joyful space for their community has led them into a deeper dive of both teaching and DJing, where they explore the edges and overlaps of both dance and music styles to better facilitate how each of our unique bodies enjoy moving. ~ About the DJ, Zaphod ~ Buckminster finds home in life's soundtrack: what sounds can enhance what's right here, waiting to emerge? From mixed CDs in high school, to radio shows in college, to finding E-dance in Santa Cruz 7 years ago, he delights in diversity and loves to experiment. You've been warned! Together with the dancers, he spontaneously curates an ecstatic wave unique to that moment's dancefloor. The boundaries of genre give way to a multi-faceted soundscape of African and South American rhythm, world electronica, grimy glitchy bass, and heart-ful melodies aplenty! May we allow the music, familiar and fresh, to dissolve the monkey mind and give the body its own voice. Ecstatic Dance guidelines: -no conversation on the dance floor (yes everywhere else) -no shoes on the dance floor (yes barefoot and socks) -no phone use or photography (yes presence) -no intoxication (yes dance medicine) -consent is listening for a "yes" and respecting a "no"; before and while dancing with others