The early years The dances spread Centre of the circle

The original collection of Circle Dances When, inevitably, some people left Findhorn to An important feature of Circle Dance is the was made by Bernhard Wosien, who was a start new lives elsewhere, they took with them centrepiece – perhaps a decorative square German dance professor. He travelled to the Circle Dances that had been such an of cloth with a candle in the centre, a plant Greece and former Yugoslavia and learned important part of their life in the community. or some flowers and possibly some crystals. many local folk dances. Realising that he Groups were started in various parts of Britain It provides a lovely focus for the dancers, had something very important, he and abroad. Gradually the word spread and making sure that the circle stays in the searched for a suitable place to take them the wonderful feeling generated by this type same place in the room and that its energy where they would be appreciated. He of movement together was a necessary part of is always directed towards that one centre knew they created a very special life for an increasing number of people. and thus the candle. atmosphere and a feeling of group The list of teachers grew dramatically; from a The dances are like a moving meditation, cohesion and harmony that he thought handful back in the early 1980s, there are so, after each one, we have a short pause to was unique in our busy everyday lives. several hundred teachers today. The repertoire absorb the feeling of the dance. This can be Eventually, he learned about the Findhorn has grown with hundreds more dances being a very personal experience, because each spiritual community in Scotland. This was added over the years. Some are traditional, person reacts differently to every dance. In started in the 1960s by Eileen and Peter from countries such as Greece, Romania, the moment after the dance, there is the Caddy and Dorothy Maclean when, as a Bulgaria, Israel, France, Russia – in fact essence of the dance. We do not clap after result of meditation and acceptance that anywhere that they dance in circles. Others a dance, as this dissipates the energy that a higher power was at work, they are newly choreographed, inspired by a whole the movement round the centre has transformed an area of sand dunes in range of pieces of music. created. This moment of quiet is often a north-east Scotland to soil rich enough to very powerful experience. grow record-breaking vegetables. Soon At the end of a session of Circle Dance, the people started to flock there to enrich Music dancers hold the silence and consciously their own spiritual lives and to find a In the early days of Circle Dancing, the music direct the light of the candle, to bring meaning that had escaped them before. was gathered wherever it could be found and healing and comfort to a particular person In 1976, the community invited Bernhard many of the recordings were of poor quality. In or a part of the world in need of positive to take his collection of dances to recent years, wherever possible, teachers have thought. The light of the candle represents Findhorn, which he described as ‘fertile obtained their music from original recordings the energy of all the dances that were ground’ where ‘they would flourish’ – and from the country of origin. In addition, there danced in that session. Blowing out the they did. are an increasing number of groups of flame in this simple ritual symbolises musicians that play live music for various sending that energy from the centre out to events. Some of these bands have recorded the world. their own CDs. The quality of the music we dance to has been greatly improved from both these directions. these ‘rites of passage’. What’s in a name? The Development In recent years there has been much Put on your dancing discussion about how to refer to these beautiful dances. Bernhard called his shoes of Circle Dancing dances Heilige Tanze. In German, heilige means holy or sacred but it also has Teachers now lead regular dance groups in connotations of healing and wholeness. halls and homes around the country, take The English translation of ‘sacred’ is Circle Dances into churches and cathedrals, to inadequate and we have no single word to hospices and prisons, to schools and youth cover the multiplicity of meaning of the clubs, to special needs groups and many other German word. places. Bernhard wrote of these dances: If you have never Circle Danced, do try it. It is a wonderful experience, but be prepared to One has to dance them and be totally get hooked! present to discover their meaning and healing power. Only then does their religious origin reveal itself — the way to Oneness, from separation to community to vibrant togetherness. With thanks to Lynn Frances (text) Some teachers call them Sacred Circle and to Annie Taber (graphic) Dances. Others have found this is intimidating to those who have not experienced it and have opted for more approachable names, such as simply Circle Dances or World Dances. Whatever the name, it has the same effect of bringing people together in a community atmosphere that is rare in our rather separated lives. After all, in their countries of origin, the dances were used to bring people together to celebrate significant events in the life of the community – weddings and births, the agricultural cycle and the connection of humanity with Nature and the Divine – but www.circledancenetwork.org.uk also to commemorate deaths both of © Circle Dance Friends Company Limited 2007 people and animals. Many dances marked