Dance leading journey
The dances are a spiritual practice in motion. They are more than simply singing and moving together—they offer a way to connect with our innermost being, transforming our beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours, bringing healing, and restoring peace and balance to our lives. To hold a circle of dances is to create a safe container where this transformation can unfold. Leading the dances with authenticity takes us on a journey through both shadow and bliss. The combination of embodied prayer, sacred singing, and heart-centred awareness eventually guides us towards wholeness, though the path is rarely simple. As we recognise the parts of ourselves that resist flexibility and alignment with the Divine will, it takes sustained effort and commitment to surrender the ego and allow deeper growth to occur.
The Foundation of the Journey: Becoming the Dance
To lead is first to be led. If the Dances and Walks have engaged your whole heart, I invite you to immerse yourself fully in them. Before we can pass this light to others, we must cultivate its flame within ourselves. This requires dancing often, learning from many experienced leaders, and allowing the transmission to find a true home in your heart.
The path of dance leadership is essentially one of service—a form of “self-transformation in public.” It requires a significant and sustained commitment to move beyond personal development and become a clear channel for the benefit of others. When you feel a deep, pull toward this path, the next step is to find a mentor. Beyond your own growth, the path is essentially one of offering yourself for the benefit of others.
“Forget yourself, get into the spirit of song, rise and fall on the waves of ecstasy, and express your pure being. Then you escape all differences, all divisions, all duality, all pain, all sorrow.” Murshid SAM
Finding a Mentor
Throughout human history, the transmission of the sacred has always occurred through these direct, person-to-person relationships—a heart-to-heart connection that transcends organisations and institutions.
Finding a mentor can feel confusing, yet I have found that when we are fortunate enough to feel a genuine heart connection with a dance leader, it offers a meaningful place to begin. In this spirit, I humbly offer my support to aspiring dance leaders who wish to embark on this journey with me. I serve as a senior mentor of the Dances of Universal Peace, and as a member of the DUP International Guidance Council and Ethics Council.
The Mirror of Transformation
This process of unfoldment forms the foundation of the sacred relationship between dance mentor and mentee—a lifelong journey. A mentor serves as a mirror, reflecting the unseen or shadowed parts of the mentee, illuminating them with clarity, and supporting the mentee to move through challenges with grace and compassion.
By walking through the fire of transformation with vulnerability and humility, the dance leader expands their capacity to hold space for the transformative processes of others. The benefits then ripple outward, like the widening circles formed by a stone cast into a still lake.
“No dance is a Spiritual Dance because it is called that; it does not mean a certain form or technique, nor a ritual… What must remain is the sacred phrase; this, the sacred phrase, and not the form, is the foundation of development along this line.” Murshid SAM
Summary of the Path
- Immersion: Deepen your own practice first; become a skilled and devoted dancer.
- Cultivation: Prioritise your inner life so that your leading becomes an overflow of your own experience.
- Relationship: Honour the lineage through a personal relationship with a mentor.
- Service: Transition from seeking your own healing to holding a sacred space for the benefit of others.
Deepening the Path
In support of your personal practice, here are some recordings and resources to help you stay connected to the spirit of the dances in between the live events. Whether you are looking for melodies to carry you through your day or seeking a deeper heart-attunement through one-on-one guidance, these offerings are here for you:
- More About the Dances — Deepen your understanding of this sacred tradition, exploring the lineage and the spirit of the movement.
- Regular Classes — Join our ongoing circles for Meditation in Ormskirk, Online Sacred Sound, and in-depth study of The Inner Life. These sessions are designed to support your daily practice and provide a consistent space for remembrance and connection.
- Original Dances and Zikrs — Enter a library of sacred movement and sound; find dance descriptions and recordings of Zikrs to support your devotional practice.
- Spiritual Guidance — Heart-centered spiritual friendship for those seeking to deepen their inner life and navigate their spiritual path with clarity and grace.