Sacred Circle Dancing: New Haven, CT

Sacred Circle Dancing

in New Haven, CT

Contents

1. History

2. Description

3. Schedule

4. Cost

5. Requirements

6. Directions

7. Dance Links

8. Search Links

9. Ritual

10. Contra Dance

11. Poetry

12. Contact Information

Contents
1.	History
2.	Description
3.	Schedule
4.	Cost
5.	Requirements
6.	Directions
7.	Dance Links
8.	Search Links
9.	Ritual
10.	Contra Dance
11.	Poetry
12.	Contact Information

Celebrate the turning of the seasons with circle dance ~ join hearts and hands, heaven and earth in ancient patterns that create harmony, community and balance, within and without.
Move in the footsteps of our ancestors as we enjoy tratitional dances from many cultures, as well as contemporary pieces choreographed in the spirit of ancient folk dance set in the context of the Wheel of the Year.

All dances are taught, so no experience is necessary.

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What is circle dance?

On the continent, the circle dance community sprung up as a grass roots phenomenon as more and more people discovered the cultural and spiritual richness of these dances. There are presently more than 100 active circle dance groups in England and dozens in Canada. In the United States the dance is growing rapidly along with the repertoire, which now includes dances from all over the world to music of tremendous ethnic and cultural variety.

The story behind these dances is a living, evolving story, as is the case with any art form based in folk traditions. These dances connect us to early generations and transport us to a time characterized by a greater sense of community and an understanding of our relationship to the natural world-a time when people still lived in villages and great forests still stretched across Europe. Some of the dances are so old that we are unsure of their origins, knowing only that they were done among the great standing stones of Gaul or in Armenian mountain villages. These dances give form to our images of that time, which rest in our collective unconscious today, and the lyrics of the music enable us to experience the oral traditions and poetic verse through which much of our culture and history was communicated and preserved. In all of this the dances enable us to experience celebration, community, joy, grounding, affirmation, and healing-all so badly needed in today's world by both the Earth and Her inhabitants.

Many of the dances speak to seasons and days on the agricultural calendar, particularly the solstices and equinoxes. Because these dances grew up in societies that were more agrarian than industrial, many tell stories of cycles of nature and our relationship to the earth; others tell stories of gender and age and relationships in a time when communities appreciated life's passages as another manifestation of the cycles within nature. Others celebrate the old goddesses and gods of Europe when people still believed that every hill, stream and mountain was inhabited by a spirit.

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When you join us, you will be welcomed in a smoke-and alcohol-free environment. You will find serenity, spirituality, humor, worship, and fellowship. At times the atmosphere may be subdued; at other times you may hear frequent bursts of laughter. In the center of the circle is a nature- oriented display which changes with the wheel of the year. We often celebrate the old agrarian holidays and deities, as well as the cycle of the seasons, the movement of the heavens, and most of all, respect and reverence for the Earth.

You will be invited to dance. The dances come from all parts of the world; some are traditional, some are new, and most of them represent some story. You may at any time choose to observe rather than participate. You may also sit in the center of the circle and partake of the circle's energy. You don't have to be an experienced dancer; the dances are generally easy.

The gatherings last about two hours with one short break for refreshment, fellowship, and relaxation. Children are welcome, especially to dance with the older folks, but we are unable to provide child care for the young ones; their parents are responsible for them.

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When and where are the dances held?

For more information, call 203-881-9831 and leave a message.

Upcoming Dances

* = Bring an item to give away or share on these dates if you'd like to

September 6

* October 4

November 1

December 6

January 3, 2008

February 7

March 6

* April 3

May 1

June 5

NOV 2-4 NOMAD Festival
Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven
Visit www.nomadfest.org for room locations and driving directions.

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What do they cost?

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Are there any special requirements?

The hall is beautiful and the meeting room floor is well polished, sprung, and well cared for. Therefore, we ask that you dance in bare feet, stocking feet, or special non-marking off-street shoes used only for dancing.

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How do I get there?

I-95 NORTH (from Fairfield):

Get off on exit 50 after the Q bridge (Woodward & Lighthouse Point). At the first light at the top of the exit ramp, take a left turn onto Woodward. Proceed to the first light at Forbes Avenue (gas station on your left). Go through the light, crossing Forbes, and proceed straight on Woodward past a fire station and woods on your left, some houses on your right. You'll come to a STOP sign at Woodward and Townsend. Proceed across Townsend straight onto Quinnipiac Avenue (large grey condos on your right). Quinnipiac takes some twists and turns for about a minute or so. You'll see an elementary school on your right, Buckeye Pipe Co. on your left, and then New Haven Morors on your right. The road will now be running parallel to the river. At the first light on the corner of Quinnipiac and East Grand Avenue (a large old bridge off to the left), take a right turn onto East Grand. Go up the hill. The meetinghouse will be on your right, (toward the end of the street) at 225 East Grand Avenue. Pull into the parking lot and enter through the front of the building. (If you reach the T at the end of the street, you've gone a wee bit too far.) I-95 South (from New London):

Get off on exit 51 (Route 1, Frontage Road, Lighthouse Point). Get into the right lane and drive up the small hill on the right, past stores, gas stations and a U.S. post office facility. Proceed through the first light (Gulf station on your left) to the second light at the intersection of Forbes Avenue and Woodward. Take a right onto Woodward, and proceed straight on Woodward past a fire station and woods on your left, some houses on your right. You'll come to a STOP sign at Woodward and Townsend. Proceed across Townsend straight onto Quinnipiac Avenue (large grey condos on your right). Quinnipiac takes some twists and turns for about a minute or so. You'll see an elementary school on your right, Buckeye Pipe Co. on your left, and then New Haven Morors on your right. The road will now be running parallel to the river. At the first light on the corner of Quinnipiac and East Grand Avenue (a large old bridge off to the left), take a right turn onto East Grand. Go up the hill. The meetinghouse will be on your right, (toward the end of the street) at 225 East Grand Avenue. Pull into the parking lot and enter through the front of the building. (If you reach the T at the end of the street, you've gone a wee bit too far.) From the center of New Haven:

Get onto Elm Street and drive past the New Haven Green toward State Street. When you get to the intersection of Elm and State (TV station on your right), cross over State Street onto Grand Avenue. Follow Grand Avenue to the river (two miles or so). Cross the bridge, which puts you onto East Grand Avenue. Proceed up the hill. The meetinghouse will be on your right, (toward the end of the street) at 225 East Grand Avenue. Pull into the parking lot and enter through the front of the building. (If you reach the T at the end of the street, you've gone a wee bit too far.) South on I91 (from Hartford):

Get off at exit 8 (Middletown Avenue). Take a left turn at the bottom of the ramp and go under the highway. Go through a couple of lights, passing a Super K-Mart on your right. Immediately after the Super K-Mart is a stoplight with a Shell station on the right. Turn right at this stoplight onto Quinnipiac Avenue. Go to the first stoplight at East Grand Avenue (to your right is the river and a large old bridge.) Turn left onto East Grand and go up the hill. The meetinghouse will be on your right, (toward the end of the street) at 225 East Grand Avenue. Pull into the parking lot and enter through the front of the building. (If you reach the T at the end of the street, you've gone a wee bit too far.) The building and facilities are wheelchair-accessable.

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Dance Links

The Findhorn Bay Community
Seren's Seventh Circle Site

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Ritual

Not-So-Serious

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Contra Dance

The

New Haven Country Dancers

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Poetry

Comments on

these

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Contact Information

here

	September	6
*	October	4
	November	1
	December	6
	January	3, 2008
	February	7
	March	6
*	April	3
	May	1
	June	5