by Angela Perin, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
In my life, dancing has been something I’ve attempted, but never really ‘got’. I remember ‘trying’ to get it at the high-school discos – trying to get my body to do the fancy and smooth moves that I saw some of my friends do; trying to exude the confidence that some of them had appeared to master – never missing a beat and technically faultless. The point is, I always felt somewhat awkward. There was something not quite right, and I never felt like I could really let go…
Of course there were the odd flashing moments when I didn’t feel this awkwardness – such as dancing in the privacy of my own bathroom or bedroom (quickly brought to an embarrassing halt when I realised someone was watching!), but this was not consistent. So I settled for imagining what it would be like to dance with absolute freedom and joy, almost (as the saying goes) as if ‘no-one was watching’…
In my high school years, there were the odd (and very brief) moments of connection (when my body and head were on the same page), but mostly I was ‘trying’ in my head to ‘pre-think’ the move and get something together, and the truth was, my body just wasn’t following the instructions! Although on the outside I probably didn’t look as awkward as I felt (I still had some mastery of beat and rhythm), I knew that the way I danced was not totally comfortable… there was still an awareness of not feeling totally comfortable in my body, and I was subtly aware that there was ‘effort’ required to get the moves, which just didn’t seem natural, and felt forced – even when from the outside, they may have looked ok.
In my 20’s and 30’s, the only time I really felt comfortable dancing was after a few (or a lot of) drinks. The alcohol seemed to give me a sense of confidence that I didn’t have otherwise, but looking back – even then, I was aware that I didn’t feel ‘me’… Even though I felt more outwardly confident with my dance moves, they were over-exaggerated (to the point of being plain silly/ridiculous at times). It simply didn’t really feel like it was ‘me’ dancing, and I felt a very strong sense of having to put on a display and show off (which I must add, I had mastered quite well!). Overall, I could feel there was a disconnection from me when I danced under the influence of alcohol, so I can’t really say ‘I’ owned the dancing or felt ‘in’ or ‘with’ my body.
So the feeling of actually dancing just for me was something that largely eluded me through most of my life, and to be honest, I hadn’t really given it any further thought until a few weeks ago…
Now, imagine what it would feel like to be in a large group of people that were all dancing for themselves but with everyone else at the same time? Imagine if there was no alcohol and no drugs, no-one trying or needing to out-compete or out-dance the other, and no-one judging or comparing another’s dance moves. In fact, what if you had people actually celebrating each other’s dance moves? Not by way of “Oh no, you’re ‘better’ than me”, but “Wow, I’m inspired by you”. And – what if there was nothing to prove or achieve (as in getting recognition) by this dancing? What if it was simply a natural expression and way of celebration?
Impossible you say? I say not.
The end of year Universal Medicine concert and dance celebration at Lennox Head on 15th December 2012 was absolute confirmation to me that dancing has nothing to do with ‘proving’ anything: it is not about showing off, comparison, judgment or envy, and it is definitely not about how many people are watching you, or having ‘better’ or more technically advanced or coordinated dance moves than another.
I experienced (in myself and in observing others) that dancing can be a celebration of who you truly are.
In the case of last weekend, the dancing was truly amazing, full of vitality, and absolute fun and joy! What I felt was an expression of a group of people celebrating themselves and each other. There was no ‘hype’ or ‘prep’ or artificial stimulus (i.e. alcohol, drugs etc.) for people to get in the mood – the dance was simply a natural extension of the amazing presentations and concert that had preceded the dance. And because of this, there was no ‘let down’ or ‘regret’ at the end of the dance and there was no ‘high’ to come down from.
For me, I realised at the end, that although I had stopped dancing, (by that stage I felt, [like I’m sure many others did!] that it was time for a shower and bed…), I didn’t stop being ‘me’, and that’s why I continued to feel amazing after the dancing stopped. I didn’t feel less or more of me because of the dancing – I simply felt like me.
I never understood until this particular weekend what it truly meant to dance for, and dance with, me. My deepest thanks to Serge Benhayon, his family and Universal Medicine – not only for organising such an awesome end of year celebration, but for presenting, and inspiring by living example, the consistent commitment to re-connect to the body, and to allow the possibility for all expression (including dance) to come from that connection.
I say… bring on the celebrations of 2013!
The Truth about Universal Medicine 
To me too the celebration dancing at Universal Medicine events have allowed me feel that I can be completely me and in the movements my body then makes and all the other bodies with me, I can feel one, joyful and fulfilled with love.
We all learn to move in specific ways to generate specific vibrations. Some are able to explore different movements alongside a specific level of vibration with others. That is perceived as a problem by those who cannot move like a fish in the water within such vibratiosn. But is it really? Without minimizing the fact that it says something regarding your capacity to connect and express, what the music invites you to connect to and express is also relevant.
Yes Eduardo, it is all about connection, connection with our body, with ourselves, connection with other people but too with that what is given to us by the music which can be an invitation or a force, dependent from which source the music comes from and that is for us to become ourselves consciously aware of.
“An expression of a group of people celebrating themselves and each other…I didn’t feel less or more of me because of the dancing – I simply felt like me” – this feels absolutely gorgeous, and totally different from a dance formulated performance designed to impress the audiences/onlookers.
“I never understood until this particular weekend what it truly meant to dance for, and dance with, me” – this line and this blog too Angela is awesome.. and it gets you to think about what it is, or what things we actually do truly for ourselves and the way to do this being found in the love of oneself. Having a level of self-love means that love is what we feel first and so is there in whatever we do, (love) dance or no dance : )
It’s quite a different experience to dance in connection to the soul, to learn how to express through movement a way that is true to the qualities of our essence – to dance tenderly, delicately, with sacredness and joy. The dance also becomes about how the way I move affects the whole.
I have always been a “good” dancer but I have never been able to follow an instruction when it comes to dance, I always feel uncoordinated when I am attempting to follow choreographed dancing. Free style on the other hand I am in my element. What I missed so much when I stopped drinking was going out on the dance floor and having fun, that is why I look so forward to the dance parties that are put on after the Retreats. The bonus is, I wake up and I do not feel hungover or embarrassed about anything.
Universal Medicine has raised an awareness within me that movement is essentially how we live. The quality of movement is hence the quality of our lived experiences in life. So if we dance for instance and feel we have to try to be something or someone then how much are we also doing that in our day?
It’s truly lovely to feel settled in your body and not think you need to put on a performance or look like someone else!
I’ve always loved dancing but often alcohol fuelled. But something different occurred since being a student of Universal Medicine and attending my very first end of year celebration, I was hesitant at first wondering if anyone would be watching me and I observed everyone celebrating their true self. I joined the dance not to show off, but danced the joy and sexiness I felt within my body – so lovely to really connect and be present.
I totally agree Angela, to dance with yourself and everyone else, expressing how we feel from the inside out is both freeing and inspiring at the same time.
When I move my body with the flow of music that does not impose on me I can feel a connection to the movement within me that I know is my expression.
Great dancers are not necessarily people who have the ability to have the mind and the body on the same page outside of dancing. We have to be able to look at the totality. When we do so, we discover that some people have different abilities to have mind and body on the same page. Perhaps, these different moments do not socially sell in the same way compared to dancing but they are equally important and have to be appreciated.
Dancing from a deep connection to our inner self is such a joy and a lot of fun when we can dance expressing us, and not from how we may look or how we should be dancing, or putting on a display, simply us enjoying the movement of our bodies.
You really are a great writer, I was with you that entire blog! I was a real show off dancer when I use to drink and some might say I am the same now as I am very confident and fun on the dance floor but if you feel me, I am completely different. When I was drunk dancing, there was a subtext with every move I made, it said
” I am overtly sexy and I am better than you” – it’s awful really now I reflect on it. It’s great to re-imprint my dancing style with a family flavor of fun and all inclusive wholesome energy.
Celebrating is just that – a deepening of connection to the body through true movement.
As a former lover of nightclubs and big dance parties I’ve been for the most part comfortable dancing in public but can agree the Universal Medicine celebrations offer a unique, judgement-free zone. But what impresses me most is the music. Produced by fellow UniMed students, it – just like those dancing around me at the UniMed events – is completely unimposing. This includes music in the dance genre. It might have a big beat, but that rhythm leaves me and my body alone. I can really feel now when I hear loud dance music out in the public domain how it attempts to hold me in its sway with its insistent, hypnotic beats. I don’t want to be ‘owned’ in that way anymore and therefore leave non-esoterically produced music aside now and my body loves me for it.
What I have been exploring lately is that the true movement and feeling from the body is felt from within and sometimes the music found today can take hold of you and in some ways move you in a way that may feel slightly out of sync with what is natural to you. Feeling the flow and silkiness of the body and how it wants to move is beautiful to explore and the difference is the true dance is possible in every movement we then make because we are in the rhythm of the hearts own beat.
Experiencing what many do today in this light, one can’t help but wonder just what ‘drummer’ we were moving to, in days gone by… Never have I felt movement so enlivening and easy in my body today, and in my late forties too. The music we oftentimes move to at such celebrations – that of Glorious Music and Sounds of Soul for example – also offers a freedom in the movement our bodies may express. This is music that doesn’t impose on you, it speaks to the love and joy equally known within all. And I have to say, I choose THIS ‘drummer’ any day, over the inner-wrangling I felt in the past with moving to music that simply did not hold you in such a fully honouring way.
So much Joy in reading this Angela, thank-you 🙂 As I know also, the enormity of what has freed up in my own body and the joy I can today dance and move in – in true celebration – thanks to the work and inspiration of Universal Medicine (UM) and also, the profound modality of True Movement that many students of UM today get to participate in regularly…
Bring on the next celebration!
I always despised dancing as I felt uncomfortable in my body. I would always avoid a dance floor. I am now finding how much joy I live and allow in my life determines how I move when I am on the dance floor. If I have shut down expressing myself in life, I will feel awkward on the dance floor. If I haven’t lived by control but allowed myself to express then I am more free when it comes to dancing too.
My experience with True Movement is quite interesting. Initially I was quite sceptical, wanting to show off my moves, the ones I always used to get the attention in clubs – moving my hips very smoothly, projecting exactly that confidence you’re talking about at the beginning of the blog, smiling and pretending that I am loving it. However, during the first time I did True Movement, something happened. I actually began to enjoy it and what’s interesting, I could see that people could see my enjoyment also. Some were so pleased, that their smiles could not come off their face. That freaked me out a bit, I thought to myself “my god, why are these people smiling at me so much”. But now I know, it wasn’t just my joy that they were feeling, they were joyous too!
I have many many a time danced drunk but have now realised that when I did this I thought I was in rhythm but it was a false timing driven by bravado and show not quality and balance.
Gorgeous sharing Angela, and it reminded me of being a teenager and feeling like my dance moves were really not up to scratch and that I just could not move my body the way some people were able to! I found myself feeling clumsy and uncoordinated, and yet this was only because I was trying to impose certain dance moves on my body that were not natural to me. When I look back now, I recognise that many of these dance moves were actually quite harsh and jerky on the body, and would not have felt natural for anyone to do! And having attended some of the Universal Medicine end of year celebrations, I too have re-discovered a more natural way to be with the body and celebrate and enjoy who we are, how we naturally move and ‘let loose’ – what a blessing!
Over the past two days I have been on a training course where competition was regularly used as a motivator. Once in my life I played a lot of sport and so was heavily into competition but in truth it has rarely if ever felt right. Life isn’t about winners and losers. Life is about co-operation, collaboration, living in harmony and in a unified way. Competition may support co-operation and collaboration but only partially and not completely. When we pit ourselves against another we go against our innate call to live harmoniously with our fellow man. Letting go of this comparison with other people is very liberating. Not something I have mastered yet, but I have experienced it for sure and it is very clear which is the truer way in my body.
I love dancing and always remember how i would wake up every Saturday morning put on my little handmade dancing outfits that my mum made for me and dance till my hearts content. That feeling has stayed with me throughout my life and I love to celebrate that freedom and joy whenever I am dancing. A great sharing thank you Angela.
The old way of partying is not for me anymore, feeling like myself at the end of the evening is what I prefer and I also wake up feeling like myself and not drained looking for whatever to pick me up from feeling yuk.
I get the feeling my body and its absolute knowing of how to move and dance freely and joyfully but gets short circuited when I try to think about the moves. I have always found this with learning choreography and would feel quite tense and awkward at times. I have realised it doesn’t help starting from the point of thinking it’s something I have to learn, that I don’t know how to do it and must watch the experts to have any hope of success!
When we reconnect to our bodies we move differently and in a way that allows the body to guide us, and to communicate everything that we need in that moment…and all the moments throughout our day. .I am just beginning to understand how truly intelligent our bodies are!
I can relate to a lot of what you’ve shared about your experience of dancing Angela. Since being introduced to True Movement by Natalie and Curtis Benhayon a few years ago, I have been letting go of the need to look good, in favour of being inspired to learn to move my body in a way that is healing and true for me.
Having just experienced another end of year celebration with Universal Medicine, I totally agree with all you share Angela. The freedom to express yourself with dancing and moving with everyone is a beautiful experience for all to share, such a joyful and expansive feeling.
I certainly have to observe myself astutely when I am dancing as I have used dancing as an opportunity to flirt and show off in the past yet I also have to watch when I contract comparing myself to another. So much can be exposed in the way I move my body which is a reflection in the way I choose to be and live with myself in every moment, every day.
Thank you Angela for a beautiful sharing, dancing with and for ourselves just being who we are is so much fun and a joy, not only on our own but when it is in celebration with a large group of people doing the same, the joy and fun only deepen.
How great that dancing can be “a celebration of who you truly are”and not a performance to show off your skills or attract attention, not a cathartic explosion of excess energy or a display of emotion. Just moving for the joy of it and feeling the freedom of that expression there is nothing to prove or display, no ‘hype’ and no ‘let down’. When you move with yourself you can express who you are through the movement and also enjoy moving with others in joyous celebration.
I can relate to feeling totally awkward when dancing and would recoil if anyone looked at me. I found it an excruciating experience. I love the way True Movement is taught as it allows you to have fun without taking yourself too seriously.
Dancing was something that you had to learn and be able to replicate the steps or moves – it was never about free expression and celebration of self. True Movement combines them both which feels so natural and joyful – it is simply the best!
Dancing can be a full celebration of our bodies connection. It feels totally amazing to allow ourselves be free to express exactly who we are without judgement and others can see that reflection and be inspired too. A double moment of appreciation.
I used to dance a lot but always with the focus on getting attention and if I could impress anyone with it… and even though I was not big on drugs and alcohol I totally gave myself up to the music and often felt very burned out afterwards. This approach has changed with attending Universal Medicine celebrations, which are very different as you describe and inspire to truly celebrate us in our true nature.
I too used to give myself over to music, feeling the stimulation and ignoring how I was feeling to end up depleted. I also never questioned the impact the music I danced and listened to had on my body. My relationship with music and how I move my body to music is changing too as I learn to discern what supports me and my body.
Dancing to celebrate ourselves and each other is miles from what I used to think dancing was about. I always saw it as a show or something to get attention or exercise. But to see dancing as an expression and a celebration and a movement of our bodies is to really appreciate it and how beautiful it can be.
So beautiful to share in your experiences Angela as I too have experienced this same thing. Dancing takes on a whole different meaning when it is done to celebrate the joy and glory of who we are. So different in fact that the way the body feels afterwards is vitalised not drained.
It is such a joy to be with a group of people and to dance for, and with ourselves. The joy just gets magnified and it is so much fun. It is like when we were children and the joy that came from moving our bodies.
It’s a pleasure to read the joy and appreciation you experienced in dancing for and with yourself. There is no doubt that it is truly beautiful to experience doing anything and everything from a true connection with yourself without the need for learning… for in connection it becomes just a natural expression of you without the need for you to do or be anything else.
“I didn’t feel less or more of me because of the dancing – I simply felt like me.” I love this Angela. Being who we naturally are – celebrating ourselves – and everyone – is one of the joys of True Movement.
I’m finding that this joy of movement – whether it be dancing or simply walking somewhere – is becoming more and more part of everyday life. Sometimes it’s just me being silly and playful and sometimes it’s more specific as in with doing exercise movements etc., but what I am connecting to is that this joy always comes from within and it’s the expression of ‘me being me’ that is the central key.
The simple but flowing moves of True Movement at the Universal Medicine celebrations allow you to feel the liberating connection to yourself and with everyone around you and feel the rhythm of the music in your body.
Being ourselves is not popular. We are told what to wear, how to wear it, how to behave, what is acceptable and what is not. It’s incessant. No wonder we feel inhibited when it comes to dancing, which should be the most natural thing ever. There is something very freeing about dancing. Its great you got to feel the joy of dancing like when no one is watching, even though you were surrounded by people.
‘I experienced (in myself and in observing others) that dancing can be a celebration of who you truly are.’ Angela this is also very true for me too, it was not until I actually built up a loving connection with myself that I found dancing to be another form of joy-full expression.
We look at dancing and many of our other curricular activities for a high but whatever goes up must come down. in truth it is the consistency of naturally being ourselves that we all crave.
I’ve always loved dancing and the ‘freeing’ nature of it’s expression – the Universal Medicine end of year celebrations are a whole other level of joy in expression though and it’s awesome being in a room full of people dancing for the pure joy of it, with each other and with themselves.
I’ve always loved dancing and moving my body, it’s been a way for me to connect to my body, as I feel the joy flow through me and all the stuck energy move on. It’s such an enjoyable way to heal ourselves.
Beautiful Angela, dancing with you…. When I go to these celebrations I always look around in appreciation of everyone in there moving with themselves, it creates a dance floor of true movement which feels incredible to move within.
I can only agree Angela – dancing is also for me now pure joy and a celebration of who I am. There is nothing to achieve, just to enjoy dancing with me and other people. Wonderful.
Dancing from a connection with ourselves is amazing when compared to the dancing to show off or to numb from our feelings. This morning I connected to myself and all of a sudden I couldn’t help but bust a little move in my bedroom. Our true selvess are worth dancing for and celebrating, it can’t help but come out and should that be through moving the body in a certain way then so be it! Certainly beats trying to control my movements which is very exhausting.
“Now, imagine what it would feel like to be in a large group of people that were all dancing for themselves but with everyone else at the same time? Imagine if there was no alcohol and no drugs, no-one trying or needing to out-compete or out-dance the other, and no-one judging or comparing another’s dance moves.” Gorgeous blog Angela. I love the celebrations at the end of Universal Medicine courses and retreats. I love dancing, but used to dance and either my mind would be away with the fairies or I would be self-conscious. Since coming to True Movement and the esoteric modalities I am more connected to my body first as I dance nowadays, allowing my natural expression to emanate, rather than ‘look at me’ or ‘don’t look at me’!
‘the consistent commitment to re-connect to the body, and to allow the possibility for all expression (including dance) to come from that connection.’ – Beautifully said Angela, I love the reminder of how re-connecting to the body makes all our movements true and allows a freedom and joy in us that is deeply inspiring.
My story is similar to yours Angela as to the awkward and self-conscious way I used to feel about dancing, so different to the freedom felt when dancing at the Universal Medicine end of year celebration, where there is no comparison or judgement felt, but just the pure joy of celebrating with each other and the wonderful connection felt within ourselves and our bodies when we move in this way.
Angela, l remember that awkwardness in my body as a teenager at discos . And l too remember that awesome concert where you so beautifully described the dancing and how we all felt deeply having celebrated who we are. Thanks for the reminder of that incredible marker still living in our bodies.
I have always loved to dance but I was always aware of how it looked and it never felt completely free, it had to be in a certain way, specific moves etc. And when I got home I felt empty and left alone or too excited to sleep. I love what you share Angela about the celebration; ‘I didn’t stop being ‘me’, and that’s why I continued to feel amazing after the dancing stopped. I didn’t feel less or more of me because of the dancing – I simply felt like me.’ That is the joy of true movement!
‘Naturally cool’ I love that Jeanette, I am naturally cool too : – )
This is huge Angela as my feeling is that most dancing is designed to not only take us away from our bodies but to also shut down our awareness of them in the first place. You show here just how simple and joy-full it truly can be to dance with our bodies instead of against them. Setting the trends for the future well before its time!
It is lovely to let go our inhibitions and just freely enjoy the music and movement in the company of others who are doing the same, enjoying themselves. If we could carry this over into other areas of life how amazing this would be. Joy Love and harmony with all,
thank you Angela.
Beautifully shared Angela. I agree that ‘dancing can be a celebration of who you truly are.’ As I also have discovered that when with ourselves, connected to our essence, is a joy in itself where worrying about ‘how we look’ or if we are ‘getting it right’ does not exist. And to move with this joy is truly and simply a naturally divine and glorious experience. It is really beautiful and inspiring to be able to celebrate with others in this way.
“the consistent commitment to re-connect to the body, and to allow the possibility for all expression (including dance) to come from that connection.” This is interesting. I used to think that I didn’t have a problem with dancing for myself because I danced a lot and freely without inhibition – but I wasn’t completely with myself nor in my body. I was channelling dancing. I was often using it as a form of release and relief. I also could dance with the music, letting the music dictate what I would feel and how I moved. I am gradually forming a relationship with myself that allows me to be connected to me first before anything outside of me – so the music supports me as I move and dancing this way feels totally different. Attending Esoteric Yoga ( as practised by Universal Medicine Practitioners) True Movement and Sacred Movement are now my chosen ways of continuing this way of feeling from my body and allow me to deepen as far as I want to go.
I loved this blog – mastering the dance moves was always very stressful and cringe worthy. Like you, I found confidence in dancing after a couple of drinks which seemed to make things appear easier, along with socialising in general but it wasn’t a great solution as the alcohol just didn’t agree with me – in the end I realised it just wasn’t worth feeling that ill and restricted it to once a year at christmas.
It is now clearer to me that the anxiety I was feeling was purely because I was too concerned about what I thought others felt about me and how I looked from the outside, getting it right and not connecting to me first.
Wow, I can feel the joy of you expressing in your dancing Angela! The coming back to you and expressing from that place. Only today I was dancing in my kitchen and could feel my body moving in a freer way, I could feel I was far more connected to myself and expressing from that deeper connection. It felt AWESOME! This too has been supported by the Benhayon family. Rock on…
I have found the same Angela, I preferred to hide out than be out there on the dance floor, with loud music and people everywhere – all a bit overwhelming… but i have rediscovered the joy of dancing in connection to myself and in celebration with others – a whole different ball-game. It has become something joyful and fun rather than the ordeal of old..
Just like you Angela I too have felt the self consciousness and awkwardness in the way that I move not only on an actual dance floor but symbolically on the dance floor of life. Why is there such a pressure for us to dance and live with perfection when we are inherently imperfect human beings?? You’ve inspired me to realise that as we all step out and dance though our lives that each of our own natural qualities of expression are definitely worth valuing and celebrating everyday both in me and in all others.
I have always loved dancing but I must admit that when I first started doing True Movement it felt very odd. I had not connected to myself and moving with “dance moves” in that way before. It is flowing more naturally now and I so enjoy it and it can still be a great marker for me as to what’s going on in my body at a level that I was not aware of.
Angela – I share your experience completely.
I was confined by the belief I had 2 left feet and would save dancing to the confines of my bedroom or my mind. Never in public. I really held myself as someone with no rhythm or grace in my movement. But as I have started to join in on true movement thanks to Universal Medicine and Natalie Benhayon, it is as if I have unlocked my hips and my spine, my neck and my limbs. Dancing is then not something I think about to get the moves right, but a natural flow and expression. It is an amazing step forward from how I used to think.
Very cool Angela. I think that ability to be free in your dancing without worrying about what you look like and without the raciness, is an experience well worth looking out for. I must try to make it one year
It is really lovely to read how you talk about dancing, just as it is gorgeous to be in a crowd of people who dance at these events… enjoying every movement they make that appears to simply flow from them celebrating being truly connected to, and enjoying, who they are rather than what they look like.
It was lovely to read your blog Angela, it reminded me of my dancing before True Movement and how fixed and stiff I was, yet at the time I thought I was moving quite well. The more I am aware of my body and how it moves the more I am able to see what I need to change and with the help of exercise and true movement I am beginning to move with more suppleness and gentleness.
The Universal Medicine end of year celebrations are a true celebration of who we truly are. The music and the True Movement allows you to feel who you are and to celebrate this with everyone around you.
Angela – thank you for your sharing! It has allowed me to reflect on how much my dancing has changed from the same awkwardness that you too talked about and experienced to what I feel now is a far more natural way of moving and having fun! It is actually quite amazing to feel how much more relaxed I am these days busting some moves, and how much more fun I have with it too. No more putting pressure on myself to perform in some way or worrying about how I look to others, or feeling inadequate with how I move etc etc. Today there is just the simplicity and the letting go and the having fun.
I hadn’t considered dance in this way before Angela, but what you share shows that when we dance for ourselves – not to impress or to appear a certain way – it feels like we open up to truly celebrating who we are and that feels amazing. Dance then becomes a celebration of the choices we make and that feels so beautifully confirming.
As well as you, Angela, I’ve never been a dancer as such. I loved dancing though and took some classes of classical dance. Most of all I enjoyed dancing circle dances-all the movements are taught and we are dancing together the same dance. Maybe it was reminding me of brotherhood and doing things together as a community – in joy.
Then I get to do true movement. It was total celebration for my body. It loved it! The movements were simple yet meaningful and every cell in my body was saying yes to that.
The combination of Glorious Music, movements, dancing together in unison and being individuals without competition and comparison just expressing ourselves felt awesome.
I love True Movement and Universal Medicine celebrations as well as dancing with myself in the park or at home. Thank you, Serge, Natalie, Michael, Miranda, Curtis,and Emmalee Benhayon for introducing it to us all.
When we have the connection to our body, then everything we do, including dancing, feels more flowing and natural, and without the need to force anything.
Thanks Angela. Dancing as I remember it to be feels so empty and held none of ‘me’ in it. Copying moves, wanting to look good, look desirable, cool, to be someone I wasn’t or releasing pent-up emotions. There is nothing about who I feel I am in my body today that could even consider ‘doing’ one of those moves ever again, actually to even write it brings pain to my body. Thank for providing another opportunity through this blog for me to feel the new and true marker I have set and am living today.
Dancing Queen Angela thanks for expressing so honest about your experience with dancing. For me dancing was the only way to express and so I find it very interesting to read how it was for you – a person who find it not so easy to dance. With your amazing blog I got a deeper understanding about this fact – wunderbar.
Brilliantly expressed Angela. When we are in connection with ourselves, everything reflects the true joy and love we then feel. It then radiates that to everyone else. If everyone around us does that too, wow think of the power in that?
Thank you Angela for expressing how amazing it is to dance in connection to yourself within a group of people all doing the same. For me this was initially very exposing of how disconnected I had been, but as my connection has grown the joy I feel from expressing through my body and dancing has been deeply confirming of my growing awareness of what it means to be truly connected.
Moving my body in True movement, Sacred Movement, or whilst I am dancing and singing along with Glorious Music is so different to the way I have learnt to move in the past. I always loved dancing and moving as a child but it was changed as I grew up and became self-conscious. It has been so gorgeous to have the joy and freedom of movement return again and to feel me in my movements.
Was great to read Angela. I love dancing and have experienced many of the things you have shared…including the dancing to be on display. I found after these times my body was sore and achy.. there’s a huge difference when I’m just dancing for me and enjoying it- I don’t get sore and I’m not exhausted afterwards. It so much fun to just enjoy the movements and It’s great to be able to let go and feel my body move without constricting it to what I think it should be like.
Awesome blog Angela, I have been to a few of the end of year celebrations at Universal Medicine. I loved it, each experience was the same, celebrating with everyone with joy, vitality and love. It was truly amazing. Like you said at the end of the night when it was time to go home I was still feeling the same, joyfulness. Because I was being myself throughout the entire celebration, connected to who I am and connected to everyone. I had experienced true celebration, everyone was connected and beaming with love.
Dancing has always been such an exposing thing for me. The lack of confidence, a need for recognition, not being able to truly connect with another, feeling awkward in my body, not wanting to be looked at/wanting to be looked at, how I see myself in the world… it was all there and I couldn’t hide or ignore. I feel there’s a lot in the way we move our body through dancing – for us each to feel for ourselves, and to express and communicate to the world.
Wow Angela, what you are describing is amazing! I have always felt awkward dancing and still don’t overly enjoy it, but I am gradually learning to express myself naturally through movement thanks to my experiences over time at Universal Medicine events.
I love how you said how you still felt as amazing at the end of the dancing and celebration as you did during the whole day. What I have found with other concerts and dances that I have been to is that I didn’t want them to end and I felt sad and disappointed that they did. I realise I was using these events to check out or to use these events to feel good about myself rather than what you have shared, that the celebrations are just a natural extension to the joy we feel when we celebrate who we are with everyone – equally, for which we could never be let down.
Great comment Jennifer, I can totally relate to everything you’ve shared. I have experienced this so many times, the feeling of not wanting the night to end or feeling disappointed. I never realised it was because I used going out and having fun as a form checking out, to disconnect from myself. Where as going out or celebrating with the natural joy that was already within me, I am able to fully be present and leave in the same energy…..Joyfulness.
I love how you talk about the dancing Angela. Like you, I have often wished I had ‘the moves’, but I have felt quite stiff and uncoordinated. I now realise the stiffness was all to do with how I held my body, a feeling of holding back. With True Movement it’s just about expressing me in movement. The joy I feel in this movement is very special, like being hugged very tenderly by me, in my body.
I can very much relate to what is being said here especially the ‘showing off’. I thought I was a ‘good’ dancer until I was introduced to Universal Medicine and realized that I had been dancing coming from a need, a need for attention and to be recognized – this was certainly not ‘good’ dancing! Thanks to True Movement, I am now learning to be with me and my body as I dance.
I can relate to your comment Caroline. I have also done the same. When I catch the thoughts of recognition creeping in I am able to arrest them and readjust my body to reconnect to who I am. I have only been aware of this way of my expression since attending events at Universal Medicine. I was unaware of how harmful those thoughts of recognition and comparison were.
I don’t think I ever managed to be ‘good’ at dancing Caroline. I was energetic, it was a way of letting emotions out, but the moves never had the body and head on the same page – I love that phrase of Angela’s, thats just how it used to feel . I recently attended an amazing Universal medicine event in the UK, it was great to see people dancing their own moves, with themselves, but also with with the rest of the room all bodies and heads joined in the sheer fun and joy of the dance, and be one with them,. all on the same page.
I can very much relate to what you are sharing here. I always felt kind of awkward dancing and never really seemed to get the right moves and was particularly bad in staying with the rhythm while dancing… until I came across Universal Medicine and was introduced to True Movement. Here I had the opportunity to simply feel my body and move to my body’s expression, not having to worry of getting the moves right, and I have started to really enjoy dancing and am very much agreeing with you what a joy it is to just be among people enjoying and celebrating themselves without any outer need of stimulation.
Whilst I wasn’t at that particular celebration, I have been to others and I can say that I have absolutely felt a lack of judgement, comparison and competition from others at these events.
It feels so amazing not having the added imposition of feeling watched and judged as is often the case in so many situations.
It confirms that we don’t need to live in a way that is about protection of self. There is absolutely another way and it’s absolutely doable, liveable and achievable!
The connection to the body is everything when it comes to moving – the way we walk, every move we make and definitely in the way we dance! I have danced all my life, but also enhanced by a few drinks, and I don’t ever remember feeling really connected to myself after a night out of dancing. At the celebration I also attended, I did stay connected to me, to my body and I moved in the rhythm that felt right for me. It is liberating and wonderful to be amongst many many others who are also honouring their connection to their own bodies, but having the hugest amount of fun while at it. I left feeling as wonderful as when I arrived, not drained, not elated, just myself.
Thank you Angela and Jo, I agree, after attending many of these dances, it has become easier to hold myself, and not get lost, drained or elated, which then has become how I sleep, and the reflection I take into the day.
Yes I agree Angela. Everything we do, even dancing when done in connection with me feels wonderful and right. Even after the event is over.
What I love about what is experienced here is the breaking down of the ties that bind us and inhibit how we feel about ourselves and the way we behave in front of others. It is quite an incredible experience to have a group of people relax and be more free to express themselves without the dynamics, reservations or judgments.
Thank you Kristy you have expressed this beautifully.
Angela, dance is a really interesting topic as so much of it is done in disconnection to self. Most dance forms completely over ride the impulses of the body in order to be done. Also, what the dancers actually do doesn’t come from the body but is supplied by what forms and shapes that dance form adheres to. Then there’s the whole subject of disconnecting from self with drugs and alcohol to dance. How refreshing to hear your description of dancing, with you, amongst everyone else who was also being themselves. I truly believe that what you have described will one day be the norm and we shall look back on ‘getting wasted to go dancing’ as very odd indeed !
From years of dancing all over the world in night clubs and outdoor arenas, the transition to dance as an equal and with no stimulation is an interesting one. Reading this blog reminds me of this process and it’s wonderful to hear the experience of someone who perhaps lived at the other end of the dancing spectrum most of their lives.
It felt amazing reading your writing Angela, particularly the part when you said after dancing “having no highs to come down from”, I realised that in the past I used to loose myself so much in dance that afterwards I would feel empty drained in a stronger way than before I had danced.
There is a freedom in feeling the way you have described you being at the Universal Medicine dance party. The choice is deliberate and comes from you. I noticed, in the first few years, attending Universal Medicine Dance Celebrations; that I was still trying to be a great dancer, impress others and I experienced the let down at the end of the night that it was over and I felt incomplete. The change now has come from me choosing to be with me and enjoy me and my body as the choice has come from you to choose to enjoy the dance with you.
Hi Angela, I can so relate to what you have written, I was so disconnected from my body and so self conscious of the way I moved, the only time I danced in the past was when I had been drinking.
Since coming to Universal Medicine and re-connecting back to my body I have discovered a way to dance which is my way and I have so much fun and without a drop of alcohol…. never thought this would be possible in the past
This leads me to ponder if humanity as a whole supported each other in inspiration and acceptance with no judgement such as how you have experienced in the Universal Medicine celebration and dance Angela, wouldn’t we all be celebrating so much more naturally the truth of ourselves? Wouldn’t it be amazing to have the freedom to do so everywhere and in all moments through our unique expression – because we have accepted the amazingness of ourselves and truly and honestly expressing becomes natural.
Your light and joy shines through in this blog, Angela. Awesome
Beauty-full Angela, thank you. ‘I experienced (in myself and in observing others) that dancing can be a celebration of who you truly are’. It’s been hard for me to let go of the stiffness in my body, but as the love for me grows, the easier it becomes. Dancing for me is divine, takes me back to when I was a little girl, just being me.
Yes it is lovely to be comfortable with oneself and feel to naturally do what you feel to do.
I have always convinced myself that I can’t dance but am starting to realise this is more in my head than in my body. I love the way my body feels when I dance and it is a great feeling to dance with no judgement of how I look, something I still struggle with. Dancing freely is a great measure of how much I have let go of all the stuff that doesn’t matter and just being me.
Angela, I too have learnt to move my body with more harmony than ever before, and it feels awesome! Thank you Serge Benhayon and family for being such a true reflection.
Angela I can relate to so much of what you write. It lets me stop and appreciate how far I’ve come.
Your blog remembers me of my love for dancing. I did belly dancing and I loved the flowing movements and the high tension at that time. When I learned to know Universal Medicine and the true movement it took me a while to allow the spaciousness in the body which comes from movements where you don’t have to perform in this high perfectionism but are more designed to truly feel one’s body and enjoy this.
It is so funny how we have associated dancing with alcohol especially growing up in Australia with such a big drinking culture I relate to everything you say Angela and now also can dance without being drunk which is really fun , also dancing has become so much less expensive than in the past 🙂
I also love the ‘air’ of allowing and accepting oneself and others that is so evident at Universal Medicine events. Thank you Universal Medicine and Serge Benhayon for guiding the space where everyone in the room feels equal, a very special and rare feeling. Thank you also to Michael Benhayon for the awesome music.
I love the way you say that you didn’t have much rhythm but you always knew it was there Angela. Like the comparison and shyness of being seen got in the way of your natural ability to boogie, you always had the boogie beat within you.
Dancing! What a nightmare it was for me all my life!! No joy whatsoever there for me. Recently, through true movement classes I have realised that not being present in my body as I move with music was my automatic pilot. Yet, I could also realise how much joy I can really feel if I move being present in my body.
Perhaps it is uniquely Australian to be somewhat inhibited about dancing. English and European commenters can correct me if I am wrong. Perhaps it is a world wide phenomenon? There is an old joke about the Australian male dance; leaning on the wall, one hand in a pocket, the other holding a beer, moving their head out of time to the beat.
Women have a little more freedom, but often we have a thousand teenage jazz ballet dance classes clamouring in our mind telling us how we should be moving.
People do let go more in nightclubs, but only when they are “off their faces”.
The other socially acceptable options for people to dance are classes like ballroom dancing – but gee, even though most participants are sober, it doesn’t give you much freedom to express yourself.
So long live True Movement, the music of Michael Benhayon and Universal Medicine end of year celebrations, when we get up on the dance floor, and bust those moves, clear eyed, sober, and full of joy.
Dear Rachel, I grew up in Switzerland and loved dancing; we had a simple version of a foxtrot (I think that’s what we used to call it) for couples to dance to, and amazingly it worked well with a variety of different music genres, was light and fun. But if I had to dance by myself, like to some disco music, I was totally lost.
Absolutely nothing beats dancing to the music by Michael Benhayon of Glorious Music, especially at Universal Medicine concerts and celebration events like the one at end of 2012. Well said Angela, I remember having a dance with you there and I felt you were an absolute Natural! I look forward to our next celebration dance together!
It is incredible Anna to imagine we can only dance with alcohol!!?? Where did that notion come from?
I so agree Angela, “I experienced (in myself and in observing others) that dancing can be a celebration of who you truly are.” And so much fun without any outer stimulants or trying to fit in or hiding, such a contrast to how I used to dance, similar to what you have described – loosened up and believed I was flowing when I would have alcohol in my system. Celebrating like this at the Universal Medicine events, is hands down true fun and appreciation, for what has been presented and how that feels in my body!
Great blog, thankyou Angela. I’ve always loved dancing, but, “Now, imagine what it would feel like to be in a large group of people that were all dancing for themselves but with everyone else at the same time? Imagine if there was no alcohol and no drugs, no-one trying or needing to out-compete or out-dance the other, and no-one judging or comparing another’s dance moves. In fact, what if you had people actually celebrating each other’s dance moves?” Attending True Movement classes and Universal Medicine celebrations has been just that, and great fun.
Your blog has made me reflect on my relationship with dancing over the years, just who I’ve been being when dancing and who or what I’ve been dancing for. Thanks for the prompt.