Endless Waves ~ weekly 5Rhythms classes

Weekly 5Rhythms® classes every Tuesday evening
January to July and September to December
at the White Eagle Hall, Victoria, BC

Every Tuesday evening
6:45 to 8:45 pm
at the White Eagle Hall
90 Dock Street (at Niagara)
in James Bay

With certified 5Rhythms teachers Joanne Winstanley, Anne Marie Hogya, Shauna Devlin, and Chantell Foss

Tuesday nights ~ April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
May 7, 14, 21, 28
June 4, 11, 18, 25

Classes are pre-registered and the group will be capped at 40 dancers.

** Please note, you will need to provide a photo of your negative rapid test OR your proof of vaccination before attending ** at the door or by email to joanne@danceherenow.ca.

. . . . .

We’re so excited to offer weekly classes again, and to collaborate in holding this longtime community practice space.

Each class offers practical instruction in the 5Rhythms movement practice, balanced with plenty of room to explore your own dance. Participants can expect to connect with a community of devoted dancers as we explore and embody the many teachings the 5Rhythms has to offer. Deepen your personal practice, or dance a Wave for the first time; all ages (15+), abilities, orientations, and levels of experience are welcome.

Pre-registration is required.

Proof of vaccination (one time) OR a photo of your negative rapid test (within 24 hours, each time) is required, before attending.

Masks are welcome (however not required) on the dance floor.

The group will be capped at 40 dancers, and tickets will remain on sale as long as there’s space in class.

** Community care request ** please complete a Covid test within 24 hours before class if you have been travelling, festival-ing, or attending large group events (rapid tests are available free of charge at most pharmacies). If your test shows a positive result, or if you are experiencing any symptoms, please do not attend.

A full refund or class credit will be offered for any class missed, with advance notice, due to illness. No refunds for no-shows.

Accessibility: the hall has one flight of stairs (no elevator), and one gender-neutral washroom.

Teacher rotation: Joanne will teach ~2 classes/month, Anne Marie ~1 class/month, and Shauna or Chantell ~1 class/month. Given that life can be flexy, this schedule may change ~ we’ll keep you posted.

For April 2024, Joanne will lead on the 2nd and 16th, Shauna on the 9th, Chantell on the 23rd, and Anne Marie on the 30th.

Points for Practice

Welcome! The 5Rhythms is a movement meditation and, as with other meditation forms, the quality of our experience depends on the quality of attention we bring to our practice. The following points will help get you started, and help us all create and nurture a space for deep practice.

Keep moving. As we move, we stir things up; you may hit patches of fatigue, boredom, frustration, or discomfort. Even if you can only wiggle a finger or nod your head to the beat, you can stay with that until something changes. Movement opens the door to the alchemy of this practice.

Pace yourself. No matter what the rest of the room is doing, honour your own energy level so you don’t get exhausted. By allowing yourself to rest in the beat when you need to, you’ll be ready to ride the next wave of energy when it comes. Respect your body’s needs and limitations; there’s no need to push.

Stay present with what’s happening for you. As with any meditative practice, you will have to deal with distractions. You may have the sudden urge to admire the décor or find a partner NOW or otherwise get away from yourself. (This is a great place to map those escape routes- and we’ve all got them.) Just notice when you get distracted and gently, consistently, keep bringing your attention back to the dance.

Release your expectations. You might be ready to play tonight, but what if no one else is in the mood? What happens when you have a hankering for a certain kind of experience – and the teacher (or your body) has other plans? We might prefer dancing to our favourite song, in our favourite outfit, with our favourite partner, but holding onto ideas of “how it should be” – and rejecting anything else – cuts us off from what is actually moving in the moment.

It’s not just about the music. The teacher uses music to catalyze and support what’s happening on the dance floor. While a certain exercise or piece of music may evoke strong ideas or emotions for you, how you respond is up to you: whatever comes up, use it as fuel for your dance. The music is simply a platform for your practice. You don’t have to love it – just keep moving, and respond.

Practice respect. Is your partner sending signals that he/she needs a bit more space? A bit more connection? Do people have to dance around you or tune you out while you stop for a chat on the dance floor? Are you endangering anyone? Mindfulness – in relation to Self, to others, and to the whole group – is an integral piece of this practice.

Stretch. If you always keep to yourself, you might try including others in your dance. Or, if you are constantly on the prowl for a partner, maybe it’s time to try ‘going solo.’ Slow down -or speed up- and see what happens. Experiment with different ways of moving, and ways of being still. This practice can stretch us in so many ways – and move us, if we allow it to, into places we’ve never been before.

Please * no scents or perfumes * no socks or street shoes * no intoxicants * no chatting on the dance floor *