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MEDITATIVE CIRCLE DANCES -- DANCES OF UNIVERSAL
PEACE
Once a month, since January 1997, Elaine has been leading meditative
circle dances at Portland Yoga Studio. This practice is an excellent
complement to the practice of yoga. Like the postures, the mantric
dances reach deeply into the soul by engaging the body. This is
done through chants and meditative movements. Yet another set of
muscles is developed! The vocal chords!
WHAT ARE THE DANCES OF UNIVERSAL PEACE?
Created 30 years ago by Sufi Teacher Samuel L. Lewis, they combine
the chanting of resonant sacred phrases which have been repeated
in devotion for thousands of years with simple folk movements drawn
from the world's religious traditions.
Originally envisioned as a vehicle to promote peace by focusing
on what deeply unites us - the One Source of all life - the Dances
have now spread to 25 countries across five continents.
They are a kind of "visible 'peace demonstration,' a form
of therapeutic movement reeducation to heal the roots of war manifest
in the fear and superstition between peoples of various cultures."
Neil Douglas Klotz adds: "We have only begun to scratch the
surface of the therapeutic potential of the Dances for bringing
unity to a troubled body or body politic. They celebrate the rich
diversity of life and create the sound, the motions and the vision
of human cooperation."
The Dances of Universal Peace are not primarily dances but a spiritual
practice. Their heart is the sacred phrase or mantra. These words
of power resonating in the body can uncover new layers of personality
which have before never been touched. They can also create an entrained
group movement, a form of group meditation.
OUR REPERTOIRE
Our repertoire includes several Dances in a variety of languages
from a variety of traditions, for example Zororastrian, Jewish,
Christian, Islamic, Sufi, Native American, Buddhist, Hindu, African
and Universalist. One of Elaine's specialties is also the dancing
and chanting in Aramaic of the Lord's Prayer, the Beatitudes (e.g.
"Blessed as the peacemakers...etc.) and some of the sayings
of Jesus, e.g. "I am the Good Shepherd."
A PARTICIPANT'S RESPONSE TO SACRED DANCES IN
PROSE AND POETRY
Poem by Annie Seikonia
 The
Dance
The chants are sacred and ancient,
Arising from the deep well of old souls
In the warm wooden room:
Heart's church.
The circle gazes into itself,
Sways, folds and unfolds
To 12 strings and a drum,
Rising voices merging like a flock of birds.
Bright eyes fearlessly connect the past
With the present,
Sending prayers to the source of light
On the other side of night.
A clear voice leads the way
Through the darkest of paths
To a mystical consolation
Beyond words.
 ELAINE'S CREDENTIALS
Since 1996 Elaine has participated in the annual week long North
American Aramaic Dance Retreat led by Dr. Neil Douglas-Klotz,
author of the Aramaic Dances (as well as three books, Desert
Wisdom, Prayers of the Cosmos and The Hidden Gospel).
Dr. Klotz, an Aramaic scholar and world renowned leader of the Dances
lives in Edinburgh, Scotland. Those Retreats have been held in Chicago,
Canada and Montana (3x) and at Andover Newton Thrological School.
Elaine also regularly participates in retreat/workshops focused
on the Dances of the various Sacred Traditions. In June, 1999, Elaine
received her certification as a leader of the Dances of Universal
Peace, having completed the required three year training program
with her first mentor Radha Tereska Buko of Vermont. Her present
mentor since the fall of 1999 is Joseph Kilikevice, O.P., a Dominican
Brother from Chicago.
OUTREACH TO INTERESTED GROUPS
Elaine has introduced many different groups to sacred dances. Except
for women's groups (e.g. a Catholic Women's group at St. Edmund's
parish in Westbrook, ME, and the annual (2003) Women's Retreat at
the Friends' Meeting House in Portland, ME) , she has been accompanied
by her husband Francis who has a rich baritone voice which supports
the men's voices. Co-leader Mike Monahan has also often accompanied
them to play the guitar. They have celebrated the whole Lord's Prayer
for a group in Belfast, ME and for participants in a Lenten program
at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Parish in Brunswick, ME.
They have led other groups as well: at a United Church of Christ
(UCC) Sunday service; at Pilgrim Lodge, a UCC Camp in Gardiner,
ME; at Ferry Beach, a Unitarian Universalist Conference Center in
Saco, ME; at an
Allen Avenue UU Church Saturday evening event in Portland, ME; at
the Common Ground Fair in Unity, ME; at the Jung Center's Membership
Night in Brunswick, ME, and at the quarterly meeting of the New
England CORPUS (The National Association for an Inclusive Priesthood)
Group in Framingham, MA. For this group and also in Framingham,
Elaine also led an Aramaic sacred dance workshop at the CORPUS National
Convention.
Our Writer/Poet/Dancer friend, Annie Seikonia
wrote this description of our monthly Sacred Dance Circle
for the National Network of Dances of Universal Peace:
Dances of Universal Peace held at Portland Yoga Studio, Portland,
Maine: As a regular dancer in Portland, Maine, I see six elements
that make our dance circle unique.
The first is Elaine McGillicuddy, the woman who founded the Portland
Yoga Studio and who usually leads or shares in leading the dances.
Elaine is a person of exceptional open-heartedness, vigor and
kindness. Her spirit permeates the yoga studio and her gentle guidance
and beautiful voice form a framework from which the dances evolve
into a magical experience each month.
The second element is Mike Monahan, a practicing Sufi who drives
two hours each way to provide musical accompaniment with his tear-drop
shaped 12-string guitar and deep resonant voice. His musical and
calligraphic talents have greatly benefited the dances and his
sense of humor keeps us grounded.
The next element of crucial important is the extraordinary people
who come to the dances. Each time I attend, I feel an overwhelming
sense of acceptance, joy, love and healing from the other people,
especially the core members of the dance group.
The fourth and fifth elements are the aspects of the space and
city in which we dance. The Portland Yoga Studio, located on the
third floor of an historic building in downtown Portland, emanates
a powerful spiritual aura, perhaps because at one point in its
long evolution, this pleasant room with its gleaming hardwood
floor was the site of a Baptist Church. The city of Portland itself
is an amazing background for the dances, with its saltwater ocean
breezes and prolific art studios and galleries.
The sixth and perhaps most crucial element are the dances themselves,
without which none of these elements would come together. The dances
help us to open our hearts and liberate our souls. The unique configurations
of personalities, music, space, nature and spirit combine when
we enact the dances, creating a circular mosaic of wisdom, love
and potential that is both ancient and alive. Surely this is the
legacy that the founder of the dances has passed on to us, which
continues to pound in our blood and flow through our veins.
– Annie Seikonia, writer, poet
DANCE LEADER TEAM
• Elaine Beatrice McGillicuddy: Portland, ME
• Mike Muraq'abba Monahan: Farmington, ME
• Julie Malika Serrano: South Berwick, ME
JOIN US FOR THE DANCES OF UNIVERSAL
PEACE
Meditative circle dances inspired by various
sacred traditions
 Usually the 3rd SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH, September through June, but call Elaine at 797-2151 for confirmation or details about special events and sacred dance retreats.
No previous experience needed. Come see for yourself
why the Dances of Universal Peace are a treasure, just as yoga
is a gem (Title of Geeta Iyengar's book: Yoga, A Gem For Women).
Don't forget to print out the overview and detailed maps on
our website if you need parking hints.
PORTLAND YOGA STUDIO
616 Congress Street, Portland
7-9 PM
Call 797-2151 for details
Donation: $6 - $8
"Why think of liberation
at some future time?
Liberation is in the little things, here and now."
– Iyengar, His life and Work p. 520
Artwork at the top of this page was done by Mary
Southard, CSJ
Sisters of St. Joseph of LaGrange, LaGrange Park, IL 60526-1721
800-354-3504
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