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

** We are currently seeking members for our weekly crew: in exchange for assisting with setup, welcoming dancers, and helping put everything away after class, your attendance at class is free. Crew members can assist weekly, biweekly, or on a semi-regular basis. Please contact Joanne (250-380-1902 or joanne@danceherenow.ca) if you’d like to find out more, or if you think this might be for you.**

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 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29

Pre-register for April classes: $23/week, or $105 for all 5 April classes

For dancers under 30 years old ~ 2 for 1 (bring a friend for free)

(If space permits, drop-in at the door: $25)

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

In April 2025, Joanne will lead class on the 1st and 22nd, Anne Marie on the 8th, Chantell on the 15th, and Shauna on the 29th.

. . . . .

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.

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

. . . . .

Community care requests:

We understand that we share space with vulnerable folks who may bear a higher risk than others in case of infection. We aim to hold this space, and we ask that you hold it too, with an ethic of mutual and community care.

If you have been traveling, or if you have been attending large group events (especially where attendees have travelled to take part), participants are asked to complete a Covid test within 24 hours before class.
If your test shows a positive result; if you are experiencing any symptoms; or in case of a known exposure to Covid (within 5 days); please do not attend class.
A full refund or credit will be offered for any class missed, with notice, due to illness. No refunds for no-shows.
We also ask, if you should fall sick with Covid within 1-3 days after attending a class, that you let us know without delay so we can inform participants of potential exposure.
Masks are welcome (not required) on the dance floor.

Accessibility: the hall has one flight of stairs (please contact us in advance if you need to access a lift), and one gender-neutral washroom.

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

In April, Joanne will lead class on the 1st and 22nd, Anne Marie on the 8th, Chantell on the 15th, and Shauna on the 29th.

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 *