DANCE AND SPIRITUALITY

Seminars

SEMINARS

Forthcoming Seminars

 A draft list of forthcoming seminars and approximate dates concerning 2026  1st semester
will be published soon
 
 
 

Past Seminars

2025
December
 13th

CID SEMINAR 38
(Group : Far East 
1)
FROM WALL TO STAGE :The Art and Spirit of Dunhuang Dance in China
 

This lecture introduces the history, aesthetics, and cultural significance of Dunhuang Dance (敦煌舞), a modern/contemporary performance form inspired by the Buddhist murals of the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, China. Through vivid visuals and movement analysis, the session traces how ancient images of celestial dancers (飞天 Feitian) were transformed into a living dance language that embodies the Silk Road’s fusion of spirituality, art, and cross-cultural exchange.

See Poster in English
See Poster in French

See program and contribution of speakers

2025
November
 22d

CID SEMINAR 37
(Group : Dance and Christianity 
12)
DANCED SPIRITUAL LIFE OF TERESA OF AVILA and CURRENT WITNESSES
 

La question de la  danse dans le culte chrétien ou hors culte a été un sujet passionnant tout au long de l’histoire de l’église et prend une dimension mondiale à l’époque contemporaine.
Nous y avons déjà consacré une dizaine de séminaires en ligne

Sophie Lespinasse – qui consacre sa vie , sa recherche et son cœur à ce sujet – nous présentera une grande mystique chrétienne Sainte Thérèse d’Avila qui avait incorporé la danse dans sa vie monastique
Et plus que cela, après un bref résumé historique nous aurons la surprise d’ apprendre – avec de témoignages – que la danse est bien présente dans certaines communautés monastiques aujourd’hui !! 

See Poster in English
See Poster in French

See Poster in Spanish

See program and contribution of speakers
Le programme sera completé dans les prochains jours avec l introduction, les documents en français

2025
October
 25th

CID SEMINAR 36
(Group : INDIA 
6)
MAHABHARATA 1 (in India)
(The Chronicles of co-heirs, conflicts and climax)
 

In 2022, Dr. Uma Narayana Murthy enchanted us through  four successive seminars on the countless choreographies inspired over 2,500 years by the Hindu epic “Ramayana” in India and around the world.

She is back with a first seminar on the epic “MAHABHARATA” and its choreographies in India. While the Ramayana’s success in terms of the number of choreographies remains unmatched, our journey through MAHABHARATA will lead us to a deeper understanding of Hindu spirituality around Krishna and the seminal book BHAGAVADGITA.

We will also delve deeper into the influences of the epic on Indian art as a whole

See Poster in English
See Poster in French

See program and contribution of speakers

2025
September 20th

CID SEMINAR 35
(Group : RESEARCH  
3)
THE DANCE OF THE ORIGINS
(Body, Gestures and Sounds in Prehistory)

This seminar tries to answer fundamental questions: What do we know about prehistoric dances? How do we know this? Is the sacred dimension of these dances really predominant? Is there a continuity between prehistoric and actual dances ?

Gaudenzio Ragazzi, CID member, is an expert in prehistoric art, specializing in dance and gesture scenes from the iconographic repertoire of European and world prehistory. This is a topic on which he defended his philosophy thesis many years ago at the Catholic University of Milan. He is the author of several publications, including the book that bears the same title as the seminar.

See Poster in English
See Poster in French

See program and contribution of speakers

2025
May 24th

 
CID SEMINAR 34
(Group : EUROPE
3)
TARANTELLAS FOR  THE VIRGIN
(Choreographic rites and popular devotion in southern Italy)

This presentation aims to analyze, from an anthropological perspective, the ritual and cultural significance of the Tarantellas for the Virgin, a traditional expression present in contexts of Marian devotion in Southern Italy. The study, conducted through an ethnographic and historical approach, aims to shed light on the complex interrelationship between bodily movement, musical structures, and popular religious practices.

We will show how these dances constitute a communal form of faith expression, a vehicle for negotiating healing processes, and a marker of cultural identity. The analysis will also focus on the potential interpretation of these choreographies as a nonverbal symbolic system of communication with the sacred.

The presentation will draw on empirical data from fieldwork, supplemented by oral testimony, and will pay particular attention to the role and dynamics of gender within these rituals.

See Poster in English
See Poster in French

See program and contribution of speakers

2025
April 12th
16h00

 
CID SEMINAR 33
(Dance and Christianity 11 )
The expression of Christian faith through BUTOH dance
 

Butoh dance theater was born in Japan in 1959 by Tatsumi Hijikata and Kazuo Ohno. The creation was a result of their influence from within the Japanese Fluxus artistic scene as well as a desire to create a new dance expanding the idea of what dance could entail. Tatsumi Hijikata felt a strong pull to resonate in the body with the world of suffering, the underclass, common laborer, marginalized, and physically sick segments of society. Kazuo Ohno, whose Christian faith generally remained a private matter, brought to Butoh a poetic, ethereal, and spiritual quality informed by his experiences of loss and grace.

This seminar will focus on the expression of Christian faith through this art, particularly the “descent into the depths” called “khenosis” for Christ, and the journey of Light through these depths, leading to the Resurrection.

We wanted to place it just before Holy Week and Easter, as the significance of this art is particularly linked to them.

For this seminar, we welcome Marilyn GREEN, Butoh choreographer at Trinity Church in New York, and Adam KOAN, Butoh dancer and choreographer, creator of the Theokinesis method.

See poster in english

See   program and contribution of speakers

 

2025
March 1st
17h00

 
CID SEMINAR 32
(Dance and Christianity 10 )
THE EXPRESSION OF CHRISTIAN FAITH ROUGH DANCE
IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
 

This theme has been close to our hearts for a long time, and we are very happy to be able to present it to you, with various speakers from different countries : a professional dancer, committed lay Christians, priests.

This seminar  highlights the delicate articulation between the Catholic liturgy and the expression of Christian faith through dance.

We will be keen to distinguish this expression in events outside the celebration of Mass, from its place during Mass, with particular attention paid to the Zairian rite.

See poster in english
See poster in french

See   program and contribution of speakers

2024
December 9
17h00

 

CID SEMINAR  31
(Dances and Trances 2)
 DANCE AND CHAMANISM
INCORPORATION : THE MONGOLIAN EXPERIENCE

This second introductory seminar to shamanism – presented by Flo Kardinal, choreographer and shaman – addresses the subject of incorporation

We will discover:

– Flo Kardinal’s journey from trance to healing

– Her initiation into the Mongolian Darkhad tradition by the tsataan shaman Enkhtuya Ragchaa.

– A study of the Darkhad shamanic tradition.

– The influence of shamanism on dance in this region

Incorporation is an ancient ritual of shamanic trance, a relationship between man and spirits

See poster in english
See poster in french
See program and contribution of speakers

2024
November 9
17h00

CID SEMINAR 30
Dances and Trances 1
 DANCE AND CHAMANISM
Towards a corporal manifestation of the invisible

Notre nouveau groupe « Danses et Transes » présente son premier des trois séminaires d’introduction présentés par Flo Kardinal chorégraphe et chamane .Flo nous initie au principe chamanique et à la mise en transe et on étudie comme exemple, la danse hip-hop – mouvement culturel et artistique de transformation et d’émancipation d’un groupe dont les racines puisent au cœur des danses ancestrales et devenu un phénomène universel Après une présentation des grands traits de la transe chamanique, en proposant une approche de la pratique ancestrale un pont est créé entre la scène de la cérémonie chamanique et le cercle des danses hip hop des origines

See poster in english
See poster in french
See program and contributions of speakers


2024
September 28
17h00

CID SEMINAR 29:
Dance and Christianity 9 
THE  PLACE OF DANCE IN CHRISTIANITY
Historical Overview and Perspectives

What is the place of dance in Christianity, in worship and outside of worship, in its two thousand year old history and today?

Why Christian services -so open to all the arts- kept dance apart?

What is happening today in the multitude of churches in the world?

This seminar is intended to set milestones, raise questions but above all open ways to research and creation

Our host is Dr Constantin KONTOGIANNIS head of the “Dance and Spirituality” Program of CID

 

See poster in english
See poster in french

See draft  program and contribution of speakers

see also Dancing the Christian Hymns

 

2024
Juin 29
17:00

CID SEMINAR  28
“Dances and Christianity 8”
Dances of Vesuvius

The traditional dances of Southern Italy and in particular the “TAMMURRIATA” dance from Campania are held during a procession in honor of the Madonna. The dimension of pagan tradition and devotion to the Virgin unite during these celebrations of which the “Dances of Vesuvius” are an integral part.

Barbara Sabella, a contemporary dancer passionate about   the dances of Southern Italy (Campania region) will be our guide!

See poster french
See poster english
See poster italian
See Program

 

2024
April 20
17h00

CID SEMINAR  27
(Group : EUROPE 2)

The Etruscan dance and the relationship with Mediterranean Culture

The Etruscan was a people strictly linked with “spirituality”. Through them the art of divination (auruspics, augur) came to roman culture.

Unfortunately we have few written source, but we know that the Etruscan have a great relationship with music and consequently also with the dance. For that Etruscan  painting tomb of Tarquinia
are very important iconographical source.

We haven’t great studies on Etruscan dances, but we can find connections with other cultures of Mediterranean area (Greece, Egyptian etc.).
Starting from an iconographical reading of the images, the analysis of written sources
and the experience as reenacted, we want to give a vision on Etruscan dance.

Our hostess Dr Elisa Anzellotti is Ph. D. in Cultural heritage -theater and dance. She has numerous publications (among this also the book: “La danza nell’antichità. Etruschi, greci e romani)”

See poster in english
See poster in french

See program and contribution of speakers

2024
April 6

CID SEMINAR  26
“Dance and Christianity 7”
Dance and the Church in the Middle Age
From sacred dance to sacrilegious dance

Presentation of the ambivalent attitude of the Church and the dance in the Middle Ages through dance representations from the 8th to the 15th century

By Dr Catherine Ingrassia specialist in Medieval Dance.

https://www.ladansemedievale.fr/     https://morescarole.fr/

See poster french
See poster english

Program and Contributions of Speakers

 

2024
March 24

CID SEMINAR  25
(Group : EUROPE 1)

ORCHESIS AS A THARAPEUTIC ART :
Three Goddesses Athena Aphrodite Artemis

Following our seminars on ancient civilizations, we approach ancient Greece honoring  three major Goddesses from a view where the therapeutic aspect mixes with the sacred and the aesthetic.

This seminar will be presented by Professor of Philosophy Ms. Anna Lazou responsible for the “Philosophy and Art” laboratory and the Study Group on Ancient Orchesis (the art of dancing in the Greek choir)

See poster in english
See poster in french

See program and Contributions of Speakers

2024
February 24

CID SEMINAR 24 
(Group : NORTH AFRICA )

THE GREAT QUEENS OF ANCIENT EGYPT
(Dancing The Godesses)

After having introduced  ourselves to the world of sacred dance in Iran, Armenia and among the Aztecs, we will approach the immense civilization of ancient Egypt from a feminine angle which links history and the sacred.

We will have the pleasure of welcoming Florence Quentin, an Egyptologist, writer, journalist, cinema director and speaker who will deal with the historical aspect by presenting us some great sovereigns of ancient Egypt.

Concerning dance, Assia Guemra, teacher, dancer-choreographer, art therapist….., and one of the founders of the “Dance and Spirituality” program will initiate us to some aspects of sacred Egyptian dance from which she draws considerable inspiration for her own choreographies.

See poster in french

See poster in english
See program and contribution of speakers

2024
February 9

CID SEMINAR  23
“Dance And  Christianity 6 “
Dancing the silence of God
(Clandestine Dance)

The silence of God is a concrete reality that inhabits churches and temples; when we enter them it captivates our interiority.

To dance the silence of God is therefore to make visible this immaterial reality of the intangible…

It means abandoning the idea of spectacle and representation; put the body in tune with the invisible.

It is dancing the relationship and discovering new territories of artistic expression through the study of texts and the practice of Christian rites, through the mysticism of the divine nature of the dancing body.

Graduate of Paris-Sorbonne University in Romance Studies and Thanatology, choreographer and artistic director, Sabine Jamet questions and explores movement and corporeality in contemporary society and, since ten years, she is working on the place of the collective body in the church and in Christian spirituality.

See poster in french

See poster in english

Program and Contributions of Speakers

 

2024
January 27

 

CID SEMINAR  22
“Dance And  Christianity 5 “
The Mystery of the Dove

In this video conference, Fabienne Courmont presents how for her, through the danced oratorio “the mystery of the dove” created by Michel Garnier, and her experience in her long collaboration with this composer of sacred music, it is possible to dance to religious and Christian music and to embody the Holy Spirit through dance in the footsteps of Mary Magdalene

The Mystery of the Dove is an oratorio in eight scenes, written and composed by Michel GARNIER. It relates manifestations of the Holy Spirit : Baptism in the Jordan, Pentecost…

Several paintings are choreographed, notably the painting “The Initiated”, glorified by dance, which represents the Last Supper in a feminine way, inspired by the work of Leonardo da Vinci. Thus Michel Garnier wished to pay homage to the female apostles who followed Christ throughout his life.

Also a painting on the arrival at Saintes Maries de la Mer where the female apostles offer flames of hope to the public.

See poster in french

See poster in english

Program and Contributions of Speakers

 

2023
december 16

CID SEMINAR  21
“Dance And Christianity 4”
The legacy of Hildegarde de Bingen for a liturgical dance today


Doctor of the Church, Hildegard of Bingen is an exceptional woman! She was abbess, mystic, visionary, illustrator, composer, poet, founder and preacher, as well as a significant figure in medieval medicine; she arouses great interest today.

Our hostess Claudine Gérez, speaker and choreographer on Hildegard, will reveal to us a lesser known aspect of her work linked to dance. She will explain to us how she analyzes Hildegard’s heritage and draws inspiration from it in her vision of a liturgy integrating the danced expression of Faith.

This is our fourth seminar on dance and Christianity. Participants linked to the Church, sacred dance, anthropology and even naturopathy will provide additional information on the work of this immense spiritual figure.

See poster in french

See poster in english

See program and Contributions of Speakers

 

2023
December 2

CID SEMINAR 20
(Group : RESEARCH 1)
MARCEL JOUSSE : Anthropology of Expression

Marcel Jousse was a leading authority in the anthropology of orality, gesture, and rhythm.

His research is of interest to anyone who studies dance.

Our host Dr Titus Jacquignon is a member of the office of the Marcel Jousse Association. His doctoral thesis is an exegesis and explanation of all of Marcel Jousse’s classes on the anthropology of gesture.

After a brief and concise presentation of the principles of the anthropology of expression, Dr Jacquignon will draw inspiration from them to offer us particular viewpoints for our research within the framework of the “Dance and Spirituality” program

.

See poster in french

See poster in english
See   program 

Speaker and References (french)

2023
november 4

CID SEMINAR 19
“Dance and Christianity  3”
Dance in the Liturgy

Sylvie Lagache, is a contemporary dancer, therapist with a master’s degree in theology specializing in liturgy.

She will develop the concept  of a “ spiritualized body” for a liturgy less reduced to formalism, but more lively, celebrating the Living. .She will also talk about mystical dance and the parallel between the bodily learning of a dancer and the learning of the inner way and present her “Dance-Energy-Therapy” method

Being in your body as a temple of God and dance the prayer”

See poster in french

See poster in english
See   program 
See Summary  in English
See Summary in French

 

 

2023
September 30th

CID Teleconference 18
Dance and Christianity
N° 2
PRESENTATION OF THE PROJECT

The principles as well as the perspectives of the “Dancing Christian Hymns” project are now established and are detailed during this founding teleconference

Forthcoming events, as well as a rich videoconference program are presented.
Participants will be invited to contribute

See poster in french

See poster in english
See Program and Contributions of Speakers


View Recording of the seminar

2023
June 3

CID SEMINAR 17
(Group : AMERICAS 1)
TLALMANALLI : Pre-Hispanic Sacred Dances in Mexico

Professor Patricia Elizabeth Torres Villanueva is Director of the Institute of Interdisciplinary Anthropological Investigation, A.C. Huei Tlahtolli in Mexico. Her research concerns ancestral Mexican and Mesoamerican ritual dances

She will guide us in the world of pre-Hispanic rituals of Mexico, its presence in the current traditional dances of the country and the therapeutic and educational use of pre-Columbian dances.

She will introduce us to the great Aztec civilization and reveal new information to us.

See poster in french

See poster in english
See Draft  program 

Three additional texts by Dr Torres Villanueva

2023
April 8

CID Seminar 16
Dance And Christianity 
N° 1
DANCING THE HYMNS

DANCING THE HYMNS is part of the Christian dimension of our “Dance and Spirituality” program. Having noted the virtual absence of choreographies on the rich heritage of Christian music and poetry both at the level of churches and at the level of Western art, the CID encourages its artists to create them.

An important event in this direction took place on November 19 and 20 in the city of Autun within the “Festival of Beauty”. Our artists danced various hymns from various eras for an hour and a half in the cathedral. They also danced the next day during the mass presided by Mgr Rivière, Bishop of Autun.

We are therefore pleased to present excerpts from certain choreographies with comments from their choreographers/performers.


See poster in french

See poster in english
See program and Contributions of Speakers
View Recording of the seminar

Evénement 19/11/2022 “Autant emporte le souffle” en entier

Messe 20/11/2022 en entier

 

2023
March 18

CID Seminar 15
(Group: North Africa and Middle East)
VASHTAN Sacred Dances in ancient Iran

Mrs. Soudabeh Ghaffarian; ballet star and researcher invites us to learn about the sacred dances of ancient Iran linked to Mazdean spirituality. You will watch videos of the great dancer Behzad JavdanFard and many groups!

This is an opportunity of an introduction to the multi-millennial Persian civilization!

 

See poster in  english
See poster in french

See program and Contributions of Speakers

   

2022
novembre 20

CID ROUND TABLE 14
(Dance and Spirituality )

Dancing under the breath of the Spirit
A possibility of the Christain  liturgy  ?

This debate took place in the auditorium of the bishopric of Autun under the hospices of Mgr Rivière and consisted of an exchange of points of view on the role of the sacred dance in the Christian liturgy through the ages.

The Round Table took place as part of the 2022 beauty festival in Autun France

(See the  profiles of the  speakers)

 
Contributions of speakers (in french)

         1 Mme Gerez , Dr Kontogiannis et Mme Derieux (début)

(Réflexions sur la relation entre la danse et la religion chrétienne dans le cadre du programme “Danse et spiritualité ”  )

            2  Mme Derieux (suite et fin)

(L’implication corporelle du chantre au Moyen-âge )

          3 Mme Guillemé (1ère partie)

( Place de la danse sacrée dans la liturgie chrétienne à travers les âges 1)

            Mme Guillemé (2ème partie et Mme Nfa 1ère Partie)

( Place de la danse sacrée dans la liturgie chrétienne à travers les âges 2
La danse dans la dimension du ministère, un signe de réveil spirituel pour notre génération ?1)

             5  Mme Nfa (2ème partie)

La danse dans la dimension du ministère, un signe de réveil spirituel pour notre génération ? 2

            6 Soeur Blandine-Marie 

Danse et prière, paroles de consacrée

            7 Monseigneur Rivière

                                                                        Conclusion

 

 

2022
october 29

CID Seminar 13
(Group India 5)
RAMAYANA : The story of Rama
( Seven Countries in Seven Chapters   )

See poster
See draft program and Contributions of Speakers

Complements on the four seminars

Teaser
Introduction to Indian Spirituality
Ramayana en Indonésie
Encyclopedia of the Puppetry Arts  (for more details on the puppetry in every country)

 

 

2022
october 29

CID Seminar 12
(Group India 4)
RAMAYANA : The story of Rama
( Seven Countries in Seven Chapters   )

 

 

 

2022
october 15

CID Seminar 11
(Group: INDIA 3)
RAMAYANA : The story of Rama
( Seven Countries in Seven Chapters   )

2d Part  RAMAYANA in INDONESIA, LAOS, CAMBODIA

See poster
See program and Contributions of Speakers

  

2022
october 8

 

CID Seminar 10
(Group : INDIA 2)
RAMAYANA : The story of Rama
( Seven Countries in Seven Chapters   )

Ramayana is (with Mahabarata) one of the two classic Indian epics , the equivalent of Iliad and Odyssey in the occidental culture

Our precious collaborator Dr Uma Narayana Murthy is our host. After an introduction to the story and multilevel meaning of the epic , we see the its origin and its spreading throughout India, and beyond its shores to South and South-East Asia (1st Seminar) , then we visit each one of the seven countries adaptation of the epic (2d and 3d seminars) and finish by some particular topics : folk versions and Ramayana’s influence ….beyond South East Asia (4th seminar)

During all the four seminars a great number of videos and pictures will immerse us into the atmosphere of millenary civilisations of a high aesthetic and spiritual level

1st Part  INTRODUCTION

See poster
See program and Contributions of Speakers
  

2022
june 11

CID Seminar 9
(Group : Subsaharan Africa 2)
UBUNTU beyond theology
(Tsutsube /  The San of Kalahari Healing dance )

Under the UBUNTU spirit (I am because you are) whose  recent disciples were Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu,  the seminar deals with the passionate history and spirituality of the SAN people, one of the most ancient nations of the earth, their struggle to survive ,  and the beauty of their healing sacred dance TSUTSUBE.

See poster
See program and Contributions of Speakers

2022
march 26

 

CID Seminar 8
(Group : North Africa and Middle East 2)
When Dance turns into a prayer
(The spiritual dimension of armenian dances)

Most traditional dances have a spiritual dimension .
This characteristic is predominant in Armenian Dances pre-christian and post-christian
However the “proactive cultural policies in the USSR “ as well as actual globalization had an influence on their authenticity

After a presentation of the marvelous world of armenian dances , an equally interesting presentation  will follow of how to “repair” , safeguard them and get inspired for the future
Those issues concern traditional dances in many countries and the debate is open !

See poster
See program and Contributions of Speakers

 

2021
december 28

CID Seminar 7
Spiritual Practices for Dancers

Two different approaches will be presented :

       Dr. Carla Walter is the author of “Sacred Dance Meditations: 365 Globally Inspired Movement Practices Enhancing Awakening Clarity, and Connection”

      Ms Natalia Mogolivets , president of the Lviv Section of CID and president of the Ukrainian Federation of Dance accompanies the teaching of erotic and other dances , by a progressive training in yoga !

Both approaches, as well as so many others differ in their methods but share a common point :
Dance Teaching should be much more than training to execute movements !
Let’ s keep in mind Maurice Béjart’s thought :

“A dance that does not contain a tiny divine and sacred particle would not be a dance”.

See poster
See program and Contributions of Speakers

 

2021
october 30th

CID Seminar 6
Sacred Dances for Contemporary World 

Sacred dances have been around since Homo Sapiens began to emerge from the animal state However with time their realization requires more and more dexterity and in general it is reserved to professionals.

During  the 20th century, certain choreographers decided to make them  accessible to the general public though retaining all the emotion of the sacred

The seminar is presented by Geneviève Khemtemourian and her students , Genevieve is one of the most active dancers of this current

See poster
See program and Contributions of Speakers

 

2021
october 2d

CID Seminar 5
(Group : India 1)
Sacred Folk Dances around Mysuru

The seminar deals with sacred folk dances practiced in Mysuru (Mysore) , a historic city in the state of Karnataka, south India.

India is universally famous for its sublime classical dances. However, the central idea of the seminar is that folk dances are the source of the classical ones.

See Poster
See Program and Contributions of Speakers

 

2021
june  19th

SDG  Panel Conversation Is THIS Sacred Dance?” 

 

The Sacred Dance Guild (SDG)  , Active CID Member , is a spiritually diverse, international, non-profit organization, committed to advocate for dance as a sacred art and to promote dance as a means of spiritual growth and integration of mind, body and spirit with inclusivity, diversity, equity and access as underlying principles. 

 

SDG has  initiated a series of “Quarterly Conversations” with great  panelists responding to the fascinating question «  Is THIS Sacred Dance?  » 

 

 See Poster in English   

 View Recording of the Conference

     

2021
june  5th

 

CID Seminar 4
(Group : Central Asia 1)
Shamanism in Mongolian Dancing

Shamanism  constitutes a fundamental cultural and spiritual dimension of Mongolia throughout its history

The presentation of Mongolian shamanism is a first step

We will have the opportunity to come back to it and deal with this spirituality at the level of Central Asia and other continents.

This seminar was organized in collaboration with  the Cultural Envoy of Mongolia and the Mongolian State University

.

 See Poster in English            See Poster in French

 See Program and Contributions of Speakers

 

2021
may 29th

CID Seminar 3
(Group : Research 1)
“Transmission of the Ritual Gesture”

This seminar has the particularity of being both theoretical and practical.

Some themes of the program:

  • What space for sacred dance?
  • How to ritualize your dance. Intention of the gesture and its symbolism.
  • Ritual or everyday objects?
  • From the individual to collective dancing
  • Magical, devotional and ecstatic dances.
  • Dancing the elements of nature.

    Times of sharing in movement are suggested in order to enter into resonance with the mysteries of sacred movement.

 See Poster in English            See Poster in French

 See Program and Contributions of Speakers

 

2021
april 10th

CID Seminar 2
(Group: Subsaharan Africa)
“Vôdoun : dancing the divinities”

This seminar deals with the traditional Vodoun practiced in certain countries of sub-Saharan Africa, around Benin. Once the prejudices that overwhelm it have been removed, participants  will discover a religion and a culture of extraordinary richness, varied rituals and a deep spirituality where dance is omnipresent performed by the gods, the living and the spirits of the ancestors.

See Poster


See Program and Contributions of Speakers

 

Lire avant le seminaire / Read before the Seminar

2021
january 23d

CID Seminar 1
(Group : North Africa and Middle East 1)
“Ecstatic Dances in North Africa”

Though some people  have heard about  Gnaoua, Aïssawa, Zar… , very few know that even today, from Morocco to Egypt, there are countless fascinating local customs that include ecstatic dances with a powerful feminine dimension and with roots that go back to antiquity.

Various speakers present this marvellous world including  some similar customs on the northern Mediterranean coast. The trance towards the divine or for healing purposes has had multiple faces in all regions of the world since antiquity. In this seminar we  introduce the one of North Africa!

See Poster

See Program and Contributions of Speakers

 

2020
december 5th

CID Tele-Conference on Dance and Spirituality

 

After the initial period of the COVID, the program was presented to our Members

Each participant suggested her(his) contributions on the program

 

View RECORDING of the Conference

See LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

See CHAT

2019
april 28th to may 2d

53rd World Dance Congress Nassau Bahamas

This is the first World Congress dedicated to “Dance and Spirituality”. It is considered as the kickoff of our Program

See the book of the Seminar
See Contributions of Participants