Dancing Ground Debrief

I took the wonderful opportunity of participating in Dancing Ground over last weekend. Dancing Ground is a not for profit organisation dedicated to promoting community through dance and movement. It is a family-oriented weekend that hosts many different types of workshops for both adults and children alike. You don't have to be a skilled dancer to attend Dancing Ground. You just have to bring a sense of adventure, fun and a positive attitude.

I'd heard about Dancing Ground through Lauren from Sparkling Adventures and it sounded like such fun I thought I'd give it a try. I was both excited at the prospect of participating and nervous about putting myself among a whole group of people I'd never met before. I asked if any of my family wanted to attend with me and thankfully one of my sisters put her hand up so I felt a little more brave.

We arrived at the Gilwell Park Camping Ground on Friday evening and was greeted with a community of colored tents draped with brightly colored bunting..

After registering and receiving our wristbands we drove further into the grounds to find a campsite. Even though the evening was approaching we decided to wait to put up the tent until we had some dinner. And oh what dinner it was! Beautiful, organic vegetarian fare prepared by New Earth Catering. It was delicious! As we were eating we were handed a small, green cord that we were supposed to bring along to the Opening Ceremony. I was hoping we'd be able to get there but we had to erect our tent before it was dark. I met Lauren and two of her lovely daughters - Calista and Delaney. It is so lovely to see someone you've admired for a while in person. I was really taken with the gentle, calm nature of Lauren and the girls. They really are beautiful souls.

Luckily it was still fairly light when we finished and we managed to erect our two-person tent quickly.

(This was taken the next afternoon)

We missed the Opening Ceremony unfortunately, so we never knew what we were supposed to do with the green cords. On reflection, I think Opening Ceremony would have made our introduction to Dancing Ground a lot smoother than it was as it may have fostered a sense of belonging. Instead, we headed up to the dancing space after the 5-Rhythms Workshop had already started and both my sister and I felt a little apprehensive and nervous about joining in. 

Sitting on the outside, looking in; wanting to join in so desperately!

With every fibre of my being I wanted to get over myself and join in. The music was calling me to just set everything aside and just dance with freedom and abandonment...but I felt conspicuous...very aware of my own physicality and difference. But I knew my awareness was with me only. All the other dancers were just entering into the spirit of things, letting their body move naturally to the feel of the music. I just stayed on the other. Miserable with myself.

Would I have joined in if I was on my own? Probably. I felt so self conscious. I also didn't want to leave my sister on the sidelines. Still, there was the promise of the workshops scheduled the next day.

We went to bed but didn't sleep well on the hard ground. Morning arrived and I woke with new determination to participate. I hurried up to the main tent to join in with the Hatha Flow yoga class and was so glad I did. The poses and stretches served to wake me up and promote a sense of calm. I was a little confronted when we had to partner up for a couple of exercises but the guy in front of me just turned around and partnered me without a bat of an eyelid. Again, I felt the sense that it was my own self-consciousness holding me back rather than the reluctance of others not knowing "what to do with me".

As my sister and I were preparing to head in to nearby Gembrook for a sneaky cup of coffee, we walked past the main tent and was attracted by the sound of the West Afro Dance Party Dance workshop with Sackey. It looked like such fun, so we decided we'd join in. I'm so glad we did! You couldn't help but smile the whole way through the 90 minute invigorating workshop. Sackey, the facilitator, brought a whole wealth of cultural experience from Ghana and his passion was evident and infectious. He got our whole bodies moving and the funny thing was that no matter how tired we were getting our bodies just kept wanting to move to the rhythm. We loved every second of it!

After coffee and lunch I participated in the Sound Healing workshop with Dave Holtz. Lauren had spoken about Sound Showers on her blog and so I was keen to investigate this for myself. I found Dave's workshop beautiful and relaxing as the sounds resonated around and through me. I felt myself drifting off a few times which was lovely but for the most part I reflected on my gratefulness for the life I have now and the journey I've taken thus far. 

Contemplating under the trees.

We didn't stay for the rest of the Festival; deciding instead to pack up early and return home. Although I was disappointed I knew I had participated in the workshops I was really interested in and it was the time to exercise unselfishness and compassion. I felt peaceful about leaving. 

I would like to attend Dancing Ground again. I feel as though I have more to learn, more to confront within myself. I learned that I still have a way to travel on this journey towards self acceptance and self love, that I still struggle with being judgmental, that I am still working out who I am and that I struggle with my own physicality rather than actually being judged by others for it. 

I've learned that I am more brave than I realised, fitter than before and that I am still loved wholly by the Creator of the Universe.