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Dancing Spirits Workshops

Wellness and Balance

Discover Workshops

Introductions. Intentions. Inspirational Cards. Affirmations. Laughter. Tears.

Deep into the Redwoods, a Magical and Mystical FULL MOON, Libations, Priye Ginen – African Prayers, asking spirit to open the way for a blissful weekend of healing + releasing, breath presentation, alignment, and connectedness. We became one! The Dancing Spirits Sisterhood. A sweet beginning to a fantastic weekend. 

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Workshops

Anbla Dlo

Beneath The Water Lwa: La Sirene (The Mermaid)

Sometimes we need to go "Anba Dlo." Beneath Water. Under. Deep. To sit with our dreams, thoughts, goals, and aspirations. To tap into our creative selves. Heal. Transform. Cleanse + Refresh. LISTEN! Beautiful things take place when you are faced with YOU! Mirrored reflections...

Meditation: "Do not lose hold of your dreams or aspirations. You may still exist if you do, but you have ceased to live."

Materials: Pen, Paper, Mirror (hand-held), Seashell(s)

Suggested Attire: Hues of the Sea (Royal Blue, Turquoise, White, Silver, Indigo)

Anbla Dlo" - Beneath The Water Lwa: La Sirene (The Mermaid)

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Racine

ROOTS: reNEWal & reBIRTH Lwa: Manbo Ayizan (Healer)

Out with the old. Let it go. Release. Make way for the new...

Meditations: "You always have the opportunity to let go of something and let newness in order to rebirth yourself" "Prosperity and abundance grow abundantly as I nurture and care for myself."

  • What are your rituals to renew your Life, Spirit, and Happiness?
  • Let's dig deep to discover what we need for renewal

Materials: Basil White Flowers Bottle of Florida Water Affirmation: Rebirth, Healing, or Rejuvenation Pen Paper Medium/Large Jar or Bottle with Lid

Suggested Attire: White

ROOTS: reNEWal & reBIRTH Lwa: Manbo Ayizan (Healer) Workshop

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Lanmou

Loving YOU! Lwa: Ezili Freda Dahomey (Divine Feminine)

Maintaining a healthy sense of self-love is essential to your well-being. Now is the time to establish an abundance of love, joy, health, happiness, and wealth - from within.

How do you liberate yourself? (Mind, Body & Spirit) How do you maintain a healthy sense of SELF-LOVE?

Meditations: "My body is a beautiful expression of my individuality." "Today, I choose me." "Love is my birthright. I am a manifestation of this love. I am loving and loved by many." "I am authentic, true, and expressive."

Materials: Sweet Scented Perfume. Pink or White Roses or Pink or White Carnations. A self-love affirmation, poem, or song and Fan (hand-held). Medium/Large Jar or Bottle (recycled is fine!) with lid. Pen Paper

Suggested Attire: Shades of Pink, White, Gold, Skirts

Loving YOU! Lwa: Ezili Freda Dahomey (Divine Feminine) Workshop

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Salye Manman

Salute the Mother Lwa: Ezili Danto (The Protector)

Womanhood. Motherhood. Self-empowerment. Strength.

Victory! We all have a story to tell. What's yours? How do you honor and empower yourself within the daily demands? How can one develop strength in oneself and courage?

Meditations: our backs tell stories no books have the spine to carry women of colour - rupi kaur

Materials: Bottle of Florida Water Wicker Basket with Foliage/Leaves - to fill a basket (type of foliage: your choice)

Affirmation: Strength, Courage, or Empowerment. Pen and Paper.

Suggested Attire: Red/Royal Blue Red/Navy

Salute the Mother Lwa: Ezili Danto (The Protector) Workshop

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OSUN-OXUM

Dancing Spirit: OSUN-OXUM with DANDHA

When Dandha Da Hora agreed to participate in Dancing Spirits, we knew it would be MAGICAL! A wealth of information, a keeper of the culture, and a devoted practitioner, this woman transforms space and energy!

While sitting in a circle, Dandha opened her workshop with a beautiful song for Oxum-Oshun. No one in that circle needed to understand Portuguese because we FELT those words. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. With tears streaming down my cheeks, I was entirely grateful for the sisterhood in the room.

Thank you, Queen Dandha!!! So much love, honor, and respect for you and all you bring to our lives.

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FruitFULL Flow

Lwa: Kouzin (The Merchant)

Come! Tap in and cultivate your Entrepreneurial Spirit! Let's honor and salute Kouzin's energy through Movement, Song & Ritual!

Affirmations: "I can create success and build the wealth I desire." " I am grateful for the abundance that I have and the abundance on its way." "I deserve to be paid for my skills, time, and knowledge." "I give myself permission to prosper and grow."

May is officially Haitian Heritage Month! May is also the feast month for Haiti's Agriculture Spirits: KOUZEN & KOUZIN, the powerful duo of farmers and merchants who are both healers. Unbeknownst to many, Kouzin is a successful Merchant (Machann) woman with a keen business sense and beastly bargaining skills. She is a businesswoman who ensures her survival and that of her family.

What are your manifestation rituals to achieve your "FruitFULL FLOW?" What does your Financial Freedom look like?

Learn more about "FruitFULL Flow" Lwa: Kouzin (The Merchant)

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Yemaya

A Queen Crowns Her Own head: Birthing Yourself and Your Visions (YEMAYA)

Night rituals under a bright moon, enveloped in a natural setting amongst the sisterhood, aren’t new. We chose to have this particular workshop in the thick of the night. Creative flows often happen at night. MAGIC occurs at night. We danced into the night.

As part of the Yemaya workshop, an interactive craft project took place, where the Dancing Spirits (participants) created beautiful Yemaya-inspired pieces of art. Yemaya’s power or aşę is to help people heal from trauma, pain, grief, or loneliness by providing comfort, soothing, and transcendence. This project allowed each individual to dig deep and tap into the depths of their creative side - perhaps a side that needed nurturing. Pearls, beads, shells, mirrors, ribbons, sequins, and tons of shiny aquatic symbols were shared amongst the Sisterhood. The final projects are gorgeous! The creative juices were flowing and abundant! Take a look!

Asatu Musunama Hall, a powerful woman with many talents who constantly gives to our community: birthing, mentoring, dancing, and teaching, truly stepped into her power at Dancing Spirits. Asatu, what a pleasure to witness your gifts and talents unfold in one setting. Your transparency, stories, and relayed messages from Yemaya flowed through your being. You dove into this project and gave so freely. You took us on a journey as we learned about the sacred waters of the mother of the fishes, who reigns over the feminine mysteries. What a treat to also take a trip to Dahomey to honor Yemoja Afreketę! Continued blessings, SiSTAR! You are loved and appreciated for all that you do!

Learn more about A Queen Crowns Her Own head: Birthing Yourself and Your Visions (YEMAYA) Workshop

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Our Workshop

DANCING SPIRITS: Folkloric Dance + Wellness Retreat

We've chosen to tap into the vibrations of Danbala (Haiti), Obaluaye/Babalú-Aye (Cuba), and Yansa Bale/Oya (Brazil). LWA! DANBALA represents the essence of LIFE! Embodied as a serpent, Peace, Wisdom, Purity, and Clarity are associated with Danbala. ORISHA! OBALUAYE is the Orisha of healing and the protector of health.

ORIXA! YANSÃ BALE/OYA is the owner of the marketplace and keeps the gates of the cemetery. The force of change in nature and life, she wields lightning and rides the winds into battle, often fighting with her machetes.

Ages

Adults 18+

Instructors

View details of Dancing Spirits Workshop Instructors

Fees

TBA

Location

TBA

Haitian, Afo-Cuban, & Afro-Brazilian Folkloric Dance

Holistic Treatments, Spiritual Hygiene, Balance. Self-Care is your right.

A sacred space will be created to provide an intimate setting. Participants interested in honoring spiritual growth, self-care, learning, and healing are encouraged to attend. Contact us. Let us know your needs, and schedule a workshop today!

This workshop includes:

  • Self-love
  • Self-care
  • Healing and balance
  • Live Music
  • Spiritual growth

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Dancing Spirits Workshop

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Artists, Healers and Wellness Practitioners

Dancing Spirits Instructors

Portsha T. Jefferson

Haitian Folkloric Dance

Ms. Jefferson’s dedication and exploration of Haitian culture have brought her to Haiti, where she has traveled throughout the country to research folkloric dance, and musical traditions, while partaking in ceremonial + healing practices since 2003.

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Asatu Musunama Hall

Asatu Musunama Hall

Afro Cuban Orisha Dance

Asatu Musunama Hall is a seasoned performer, choreographer, and founding member of Emesè: Messengers of the African Diaspora, a collective of artists based in 1998 with a mission to promote and present the rich cultural traditions of the African Diaspora.

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Dandha Da Hora

Brazilian Dance

As a lead dancer with Ilê Aiyê, Dandha toured internationally and has shared the stage with many of Brazil’s most renowned artists, such as Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, and Daniela Mercury. A master dancer, as well as a vocalist and percussionist. 

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Luna Nueva

Healers: Holly, Luanda, Sabrina, Asatu

Wellness Practitioners

We guide balanced well-being and self-care through complementary and holistic health services and education. Rather than practice
individually, we came together to support
each other and build a community.

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Student reviews

What people say?

Nestled within a short drive into the woods of Northern California, The Dancing Spirits Retreat was my summer's nature-filled, spiritual highlight. As an educator, dancer, and mother, my time during the summer is as precious to me as it is time with my family, but the sacrifice to attend proved well worth it.
The weekend retreat was a much-needed time to myself while in a community of sisterhood. Those women, whose backgrounds and life experiences were different than mine, were strangers to me upon arrival but quickly became more familiar because of how space was intentionally held for us. At times, it was as spiritual as it was rhythmic and reflective. I was compelled to go inward with our time to journal, create, meditate, laugh, and relax. Days were centered around dance and song, yoga at sunrise, mid-day massages and feminine care from healing hands, and a night among the stars. And we danced! The three dancers, Asatu Hall (Cuba), Dhanda da Hora (Brazil), and Portsha Jefferson (Haiti), each messaged truth, strength, and authentic femininity in each step. They worked us out! And I have to shout out the beautiful facility and gracious hosts who never stopped feeding us fresh, well-prepared nourishing meals and fruit straight from the trees. It was amazing how much was planned for us in a weekend. I will be back!
I came to this retreat last year, struggling to maintain peace in times of great turmoil and grief. I needed to feel the love of a women-centered community, to be held in ritual and ceremony, to connect to Spirit, to let go of a lot of s**t. I received ALLA THAT and so much more!!!
I left this retreat singing, praising, blessing, and thanking Spirit for placing me in this space exactly when I needed it. I left as an empowered woman, restored from the inside out. The magic and energy I received have propelled and fed me throughout the entire year (which has not been an easy one by any means), and I look forward to being in this sacred space again! Dance, Ceremony, Community, Education, and Healing Bodywork, all against the beautiful backdrop of a secluded retreat center in Northern California created and run by a wonderful couple who was ready to meet our needs and then some. Delicious homemade food for every meal and a Social Justice centered approach to holding space for healing and spiritual WORK!
Yes, We DANCED in nature! Our Soulful Spirits will keep moving while finding peace and calmness in the storm of Life! Thank you...Muchas gracious...Salamat po to Sister Portsha, Sister Asatu, and Sister Dandha for teaching us about Ezili Freda Dahomey, Yemaya, Osun-Oxum & Oya-Iansa as well as indigenous Haitian, Cuban, and Brazilian knowledge, practices, and dance/movement/ceremony. Thank you...Muchas gracious...Salamat po to Luna Nueva Wellness Collective Healers: Sister Holly, Sister Luanda, Sister Asatu, and Sister Sabrina for your touch of love, healing, and herbs. Thank you ALL for a wonderful journey! I am so BLESSED to know, connect, break bread, and be surrounded by a positive, thoughtful, and loving Womxn community!!!!!
As an educator, dancer and mother, my time during the summer is so precious to me as it is time with my family, but the sacrifice to attend proved well worth it."

Media

Dancing Spirits

Dancing Spirits Workshops

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YOLANDE STERLING

A lover of all forms of dance, Yolande Sterling has been an avid student of Haitian folkloric dance since 2008. She has studied and danced with veteran dancers and educators such as Blanche Brown, Michelle Martin and Portsha Jefferson. Ms. Sterling has traveled to Haiti on several occasions to experience the culture first hand by traveling to various parts of the country as well as learning from dance and song instructors at the Ecole Nationale des Arts (ENARTS).

Ms. Sterling joined Rara Tou Limen (RTL) in January 2014 and has been fortunate enough to travel and perform with the company both in the Bay Area and internationally in Haiti and Montreal Canada. She also participated in the 2017 cultural exchange tour to Havana Cuba where RTL collaborated with a renowned Cuban Folkloric company to explore the connection between Haitian and Cuban-Haitian dance. In 2019, Ms. Sterling had the opportunity to visit Benin West Africa with RTL and witness first hand the connection between the Beninese and Haitian cultures through dance, song and Vodou.

In keeping with her love of folkloric dance, Ms. Sterling has performed with the Afro-Cuban folkloric company Grupo Nago Experimental under the guidance of Artistic Director Temistocles Fuentes Betancourt. She has also studied with and danced in San Francisco Carnaval with Afro-Brazilian dancer/choreography Tania Santiago, Artistic Director of Aguas da Bahia Dance Company. Yolande is passionate about Haitian dance as well as the rhythms and rituals that embody the culture.

MICHELLE PEACOCK

Michelle Peacock is originally from Los Angeles, CA and enthusiastically began training 22 years ago in various dance forms. High School is where Michelle was accepted into a prestigious performing arts school, The Los Angeles County High School for the Arts where she studied with various well studied teachers and continued to perfect her skills. After graduating high school she went on to further her training in dance while getting her B.A in Broadcast communications at San Francisco State University.

After graduating college and entering into the work force, dance, her one true love and passion was calling out to her, so she sought out classes until she stumbled upon Portsha’s Haitian dance class on a bright Sunday and thus began her love affair with Haitian dance.

Michelle has been a member of Rara Tou Limen since 2011, where she has engrossed herself into Haitian folklore, with a willingness to continue to train and study as much as she can about Haitian culture through myriads of classes, workshops, performances and traveling to different countries with the company, showcasing the vibrant spirit of the Haitian culture.
“Dance is a conversation between Body and Soul”.

KARIAMU ERYKA NADREAU

Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and raised in Los Angeles, California, Ms. Nadreau has studied various dance styles from Africa and the diaspora, including Afro Brazilian, Afro house, Waacking, and Haitian folklore. In addition to dance, she has also studied sound design, fashion, and Earth and Environmental Sciences.
Her work has been seen on national TV, in the theater, and featured in music videos. 

HALIMA MARSHALL

Halima Marshall is a recent recipient of the 2020 Alliance of California Traditional Arts (ACTA) Apprenticeship with mentor Portsha Jefferson. She was first introduced to Haitian dance at St. Mary’s College in 1995 by Blanche Brown, Haitian dance instructor and director of then Group Petit La Croix. Years later, her desire to learn more technique, rhythms, and the intricacies of their connection led her to Dance Mission in San Francisco where she took classes with instructor Michelle Martin.

In 2007, Halima first performed with Portsha Jefferson at the inception of Rara Tou Limen (RTL) prior to joining the dance company. Since that time she has performed the colorful and emotion-filled storytelling of RTL throughout the Bay Area at San Francisco Carnaval, San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, Black Choreographers Festival, multiple performances at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, the University of Oklahoma for the Neustadt Festival honoring a Haitian literary great, Edwidge Danticat, and internationally with Mapou Ginen Haitian Folkloric Dance Troupe in Montreal, Canada. Halima also celebrates the opportunity to teach dance classes in the Bay Area because of these diverse experiences over the years, her skills as an educator, and, most importantly, because of her love of Haitian dance and culture.

A 2014 cultural exchange trip to Ayiti was the pinnacle of her experiences, as past knowledge was given life through witnessing Vodou on the soil of Ayiti. She brings reverence for the spirit of Vodou and acknowledgement of the fullness of Ayiti’s culture to her own dance and teaching experience.

ABEJE MAOLUD

Abeje Maolud is one of three of Rara Tou Limen’s newest company members, joining the Haitian Folkloric Dance Company in 2018.  She hails from the San Francisco Bay Area, where she began her lifelong dance training with notable dance teachers such as Mama Naomi Diouf (of Diamano Coura West African Dance Company) and the late Ms. Alicia Pierce (of Wajumbe Dance Collective).

Since such early exposure to dance, Abeje has embarked on a lifelong journey of studying various forms, locally and abroad, ranging from Tango to Tahitian dance.  Her experience includes modern dance techniques, with an emphasis on Dunham Technique, as well as studying and working with The San Francisco Ballet School, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s summer youth program, Ailey Camp, Columbus, Ohio’s Ballet Met, Headlong Dance Theater out of Philadelphia, and such local dance companies as The Zari Le’on Dance Theater and Eloi Movement. 
Abeje holds a BA in Dance from Denison University. Her experience extends beyond the velvet curtain to costume design, set design, and stage management. 

VALENCIA JAMES

Valencia James is a Barbadian freelance performer, maker and researcher interested in the intersection between dance, theatre, technology and activism.

She believes in the power of the arts to inspire change. In 2013, Valencia co-founded the AI_am project, which explores the application of artificial intelligence in dance. The project has been presented at several international forums, such as TEDxGoteborg in 2015, and premiered its first evening-length work in Budapest and Gothenburg in 2017. Valencia also creates solo works that explore stereotypes and colonial narratives. She has performed extensively in Hungary, Romania, Poland, France, Israel, Sweden, Argentina, and Canada.  After a decade in Hungary, Valencia is now based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

ASATU MUSUNAMA HALL

Asatu Hall is a seasoned performer, choreographer and founding member of Emesè: Messengers of the African Diaspora, a collective of artists founded in 1998 to promote and present the rich cultural traditions of the African Diaspora. Her background in dance incorporates over 25 years of various genres, including Ballet, West African, Congolese, Haitian, and Brazilian.

She has had the honor of studying and performing with a number of master artists in the Bay Area and abroad, in particular, her mentors Mestre Carlos Aceituno founder of Fogo Na Roupa Grupo Carnavalesco Cultural and Regina Califa,  Jorge Alabe, Blanche Brown, Titos Sompa, Malonga Casquelourd, Jose Francisco Barroso, Juan De Dios Ramos, Linda Faye Johnson, Isaura Oliveira, and others. She feels blessed and very honored to have the opportunity to deepen her study of Haitian dance, music, and culture with the Rara Tou Limen family. Asatu currently teaches Afro Cuban and Afro Brazilian dance in Oakland and Alameda.

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