Moving with Grief: A Dance, Movement and Writing Workshop

I started thinking about creating this workshop a few years ago with my experience of seeing my mom go through Alzheimers, and all of the ways we were losing parts of her along that journey. I found I was drawn to ecstatic dance and poetry to help me process this. I wanted to participate in a workshop specifically for people who were experiencing profound loss, but I didn’t see one like that anywhere. So here it is.

This 3 hour workshop includes:

~Coming together in a circle to meet each other.

~Exploring how grief feels in our bodies through creative, sometimes playful, movement prompts. Letting our bodies guide us through short ecstatic dance sequences.

~Engaging with themes of loss, change and grief through writing and movement exercises. Supporting each other through witnessing and listening in small groups.

~Taking time to mark the loss(es) we grieve with a short intentional ritual.

No dance or writing experience necessary. While some of the exercises will offer suggestions of ways to move, you are welcome to move your body as much or as little as feels comfortable and in whichever ways that feel right for you.

All welcome, wherever you are on your grief journey.

No dance or writing experience necessary.

When: Thursday April 17th 6pm - 9pm

Please register by April 15th

Maximum 14 participants

Cost: Sliding Scale $25 - $50

Please contact me if the cost is prohibitive. The lower end cost covers basic expenses including the rental of the beautiful Outdoor Centre at Little Cataraqui Conservation Area. Through the windows we will be surrounded by nature for the evening. Weather permitting we will spend part of this workshop outside.

Where: Outdoor Centre at Little Cataraqui Conservation Area

1641 Perth Rd. A ten minute drive from downtown.

Please contact me with carpool requests.

What to Bring: Bring something that represents what you have lost…

There will be a short break. Please bring your own water bottle and snacks.

Please bring a pen and notebook for your writing.

Wear comfortable clothes for moving in.

Access Notes:

The Space: There are no stairs to get into or out of The Outdoor Centre. There is a two inch lip to exit the door to go out to a flat grassy area outside and an accessible nature trail.The Outdoor Centre has a large entrance foyer with bathrooms and two rooms. We will be using the West Hall, a large half-moon shaped room with two pillars. It is to the left upon entering the foyer. The room will mostly be empty but there will be a couple tables and some chairs against a wall.

Bathrooms: The Outdoor Centre has 2 multi-stall bathrooms labelled as mens and women's. There is no washroom labelled for all genders. However it will only be our small group using the Outdoor Centre during the workshop hours.
There is one large wheelchair accessible stall in one of the bathrooms.

Noise: During the dance portion of the workshop there will be loud music with high beats played.

Language: This workshop will be lead in English. No Sign Language interpreters will be present. For the movement and writing portions of the workshop, direction can be given in writing instead of verbally.

Host or Publisher Emily and Sarah