FROM ASHES TO BLOSSOMS

Dancing with grief and loss as agents of change

Movement Medicine™ Workshop

“There are losses of loved ones that sooner or later we have to come to terms with.

There are the losses of loves, of roles, of our pets, and, no less important, the losses of us.

Dancing does not erase the marks, but it helps to unlock the life that has stood still for an infinite amount of time.

From here the flowers are reborn.”

Every experience in the span of our lives is stored in the body. So, too, is our grief and the losses we experience, along with pain over the state of the world, the environment and what we are passionate about that does not find fulfillment.

In this workshop we will dance to revive these places within us, to bring air, breath and movement, in order to give voice to what is important and to open ourselves to the new.

“Grief dares us to love once more” – Terry Tempest Williams

There is no better tool than dancing to give free expression to the weathers of the heart, the emotions we experience or that we strongly try to keep at bay. The body that is free to move, moment by moment, creates a safe space for the heart to express itself in its infinite nuances, from pain to joy.
We will dance together based on the Movement Medicine map, to create the conditions to be safe in the body, trusting in who we are and in our feeling in the moment, opening ourselves to group connection and co-creation.

In a society where we are required to set aside our pain and “pick ourselves up quickly” and move on, this weekend is meant to be a time during which we will dance, share experiences, create beauty together, and witness the new flowers of life that will bloom from the ashes of our sorrows.

WHAT WE WILL DO:

This unique proposal is based on movement and dance according to the practice of Movement Medicine.
We will dance to find confidence in our bodies as a means of expression, contacting our personal resources. We will work individually, in pairs and in group settings, including creativity, drawing, sharing and moments of ritual.

PREREQUISITES:

This weekend is open to all who resonate with the theme and proposal. At the same time, it is essential that each participant takes their responsibility for being in the right mental and physical condition for movement and that they take care of their own well-being (physical, emotional, spiritual) for the duration of the weekend and thereafter. This includes each person’s commitment to have resources and support available, both personal and possibly from other professionals.

THANK YOU NOTE:

This workshop is based on Ashes & Blossom, a work and invitation to dance about grief and loss through the practice of Movement Medicine, which was conceived, carried out and supported by Rosie Perks, my mentor, a pioneer in this area.

I have danced for the past 3 years, and continue to dance, under her leadership and trained with her directly in the field, including in the role of assistant in the groups she led.

Photo credits: Rosie Perks

June 6-8, 2025 Riva del Garda (tn)