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Two years ago I discovered the Meditation Centre in Dent, and felt compelled to offer a Meditative day of dance there. I made the booking for Holy Week 2013 but late snow put paid to that. Now a year on, in bright sunshine, the dream became a reality and it did not disappoint me. Here are some kind words from those who came.. and lower a sonnet.. and even some photos this time of the dance to the Taize Chant, “Stay here, keep watch with me” Thank you for bringing us all together in that Special place You put together such a moving selection yesterday, with appropriately emotive but varied music, and your references to the scripture storyline and symbolism are never overworked. The poems are come and gone tantalizingly fast but so well chosen. Thank you. I needed that space yesterday. Thank you for everything you have done yesterday. It was lovely and beautiful experience, journeying through Holy week with Him. Thank you for a very special and powerful day. I came away from the day feeling changed in some way with lots to contemplate. This is the sonnet that Malcolm Guite posted the day that we danced. I used it, twinned with the dance “Heart like a Fire”. The Anointing at Bethany Come close with Mary, Martha , Lazarus So close the candles stir with their soft breath And kindle heart and soul to flame within us Lit by these mysteries of life and death. For beauty now begins the final movement In quietness and intimate encounter The alabaster jar of precious ointment Is broken open for the world’s true lover, The whole room richly fills to feast the senses With all the yearning such a fragrance brings, The heart is mourning but the spirit dances, Here at the very centre of all things, Here at the meeting place of love and loss We all foresee, and see beyond the cross. malcolmguite.wordpress.com
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A First!
The invitation went out to our three classes to join a Christmas dance party and shared Supper on 12th December in Brigsteer. The response was great , the hall full, the supper fabulous, but best of all we had a Band! Helen brought together David Hall, Katie Turner, and the two Sallys -Maxwell and Hardaker.it was their first gig together and they gave us a splendid evening. after, this kindly email was sent to us.. Hello Miggy and Helen, What a lovely evening you arranged for all of us. Thank you both so much. Such events don’t just happen without a great deal of “paddling beneath the water” and prior organisation. So thank you for all the preparation, thought and planning which must have taken place. I don’t imagine that I will be the only person who felt it was a very special occasion –and even if, as in my case I knew no-one else from the group before joining in the autumn, everyone is so kind and friendly that it is a real pleasure to be part of such an occasion. I am so very grateful to Serendipity for leading such a special day of dance in Brigsteer. The band has three members. Mandy de Winter who lead the day and taught us the dances before picking up her instruments, Judy King my first dance teacher who is also a flautist and singer and loves to drum, and Chris who adds his deeper voice and plays the accordian. New dancers were made welcome and others travelled a goodly distance to be with us as they knew it would be a good day. The Serendipidous supper was fab! Best of all the Band loved playing for us so much that they are keen to visit us again– but they do, not unsurprisingly, have very busy diaries! My plan was to offer this event in two places. In Dent in the beautiful Meditation Centre there, and also at Tabor House in Preston. Come Saturday 23rd March, snow was falling in Dentdale, and dancers from the Brough area and from the northern Ireby were confined behind severe snow drifts. I have postponed the day to 2014! Tabor House On Monday 25th Tabor was in sunshine, but those coming from the Dales had a tough journey. We learnt about 10 dances during the first stage if the day, and then brought those dances together with some fine sonnets on the events of holy Week and the Stations of the Cross. The Sonnets are written by Malcolm Guite for his book Sounding the Seasons, but he makes them freely available. My “special” dance for this year is a choreography from Nanni Kloke, to Maria, from a Cd “Via Crucis” from the Theorbist Christina Pluhar with L’Arpeggiata a baroque music ensemble and also with Barbara Fortuna – a group of four Corsican men. Well worth a download from iTunes. Also on-line is a film of the group with the Theodore and Cornetto being played. see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11POTypBh2I. I combined this dance with this sonnet, from Malcolm, for the fourth Station of the Cross where Jesus meets his Mother. This darker path into the heart of pain
Was also hers whose love enfolded him In flesh and wove him in her womb. Again The sword is piercing. She, who cradled him And gentled and protected her young son Must stand and watch the cruelty that mars Her maiden making. Waves of pain that stun And sicken pass across his face and hers As their eyes meet. Now she enfolds the world He loves in prayer; the mothers of the disappeared Who know her pain, all bodies bowed and curled In desperation on this road of tears, All the grief-stricken in their last despair, Are folded in the mantle of her prayer. |
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