To dance is human, and more than human

When we dance, we participate in wisdom that has permeated all life for eons. Bees, whales, trees, and clouds all dance. Rituals and Ceremonies that center dance exist in many places and are equally absent or hidden in places forever changed by colonization. 

Dance as ritual, dance as ceremony, dance as therapy, dance as engagement with life is a pathway to transformation, healing, and emergent consciousness through state-shifting. 

In this course, our bodies, movement and dance are our medium. We explore the soft edge of science and Spirit through the facilitators Polyvagal-informed Dance/Movement Therapy (“PVIDMT”) framework. 

This framework is a co-creation of client experience and courage, mentorship and deep immersion in Polyvagal Theory, and years of personal exploration in sacred dance and movement.

Drawing from principles and practices of this framework, which equally affirm science and Spirit as influences and informants for human healing, change and potential, we will focus on somatic pathways to State-shifting. We will explore this PVIDMT concept and practice through simple somatic and movement-based structured practices, theory, and a little dancing at the edge. To honour solstice, we will practice letting our dark shine. 

Feedback from worskhops and trainings

"Thank you thank you. I was so filled with richness, and the wealth of resources that you orchestrate from your experiences and profoundly deep work and that you bring out from all. Your session and the movement experiences became the themeatic exploration and foundation for my opening to the rest of the conference. A small group that I moved with discovered a common theme of opening doors, acknowledgement, and support."

"Thank-you for the compassionate and wise way that you walk through the world and for the beautiful work that you do." 

"Thank you so much for your in enlightning class. It was absolutely beautiful!" 

“THANK YOU SO MUCH for the valuable and grounding (literally) information and skills you shared with us. What you have to share is shining a light during this time of uncertainty.” 

“I learned so much from just being in your presence and following your gentle/firm and so so grounded guidance/suggestions/offerings.”

Can't make the workshop? We will record Amber's class and share the video with all ticket holders following the event.

YOUR FACILITATOR

Dr. Amber Elizabeth L. Gray

Dr. Amber Elizabeth L. Gray is a Dance/Movement Therapist, Somatic & Human Rights Psychotherapist; and long-time Sacred dance, yoga and Continuum teacher who works with survivors of war, torture, human rights abuses and historical trauma and oppression, in the US and in active and post conflict zones, refugee camps, and disasters. 

A lifetime of dance and exploration in dance-based community and healing traditions has contributed to her passion for, and belief that, movement as life. Encouraged to study Haitian dance by Katherine Dunham initiated a pathway to her own initiation into Vodou. Equally activist, artist, advocate, author and therapist, her clinical, healing, educational and organizational work endeavors to promote reciprocity and empowerment, and incite meaningful change. 

She brings her Polyvagal, Heart & Spirit-informed Right to Embody somatic human rights framework and Body of Change eco-somatic regenerative retreats to communities of therapists, artists, global citizens and change makers world-wide. Amber originated Polyvagal-informed Somatic & Dance/Movement Therapy through 25 years immersive mentoring and exploration of Polyvagal Theory. 

This work is a survivor-centered, multi-cultural & Spiritual justice framework that reflects many years of grounded theory co-inquiry with her clients to understand how Polyvagal Theory promotes restoration and healing in the body-heart-mind-spirit for survivors of egregious human rights violations. She has been teaching this work globally since 2003 and publishes about it frequently. 

Her book, Polyvagal-informed Somatic Psychotherapies for Trauma: Roots, Rhythm, Reciprocity & Clinical Work is scheduled to be published by Norton in 2024.

www.ambergray.com

REFUNDS POLICY: Please note, we do not arrange refunds or exchanges. When possible we encourage reselling on Ticketswap.

ACCESS:  We do our best to include everyone in our events, regardless of health circumstances. If you have access requirements please email the event organiser directly to discuss. Many facilitators are able to offer reduced ticket prices for those truly unable to afford the ticket price. If this applies to you, do please get in touch with the event organiser.

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