The Universal Dancer Podcast

In our recent podcast interview, Quantum Energy Healer, Transformational Teacher, and International Bestselling Author Pollyanna Blanco shared her experience with Chakradance and how healing movement practices can restore radiant resilience in shifting times. She emphasized the importance of sacred self-care and practices feeding your soul. We had an engaging and insightful conversation about the concept of the Daimon. We delved into the idea of this energy being a guiding force as we navigate the twists and turns of our paths through life's cosmic dance. Additionally, we discussed how this energy could manifest itself in different ways and how we can tap into it to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our place in the universe. Our exploration gave us a new perspective on the Daimon and its role in our lives. We also discussed the importance of balancing creative and emotional tension, which she explores in her book In Rhythm With Your Soul. This book was born from her spiritual journey and experiences with ballroom dance. Join us in exploring the power of sacred self-care and healing movement practices. Find Pollyanna Online: Website: www.pollyannablanco.com Facebook: @PollyannaBlanco or @LuminousLightworker Instagram: @pollyannablanco YouTube: @MultidimensionalMuse LinkedIn: @Pollyanna Blanco Find Us Online: Main Website: https://www.universaldancer.com/ Podcast Website: http://bit.ly/TheUniversalDancerPodcastWebsite Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/universaldancercommunity Dance as a Spiritual Practice Course: universaldancer.thinkific.com Instagram: @the.universaldancer YouTube: TheUniversaldancer Books: "In Rhythm With Your Soul" by Pollyanna Blanco *"We Are the Sacred Feminine Rising" by Pollyanna Blanco *"The Alchemy of Dance: Sacred Dance as a Path to the Universal Dancer" by Leslie Zehr *"The Al-chemia Remedies: Vibrational Essences from Egyptian Flowers and Sacred Sites" by Leslie Zehr 🎶 Music by Konrad OldMoney Did you enjoy the show? Please like, subscribe, and share. Thanks for listening! Leslie 🌀TheUniversaldancer *Affiliate's Link. A small commission is paid when using these links, which helps support this channel.

During my recent interview with Elina Kieft, I was fortunate to learn about her inspiring story and journey. As a dancer, she has developed an incredible sense of creativity and self-expression. Moreover, Elina shared how dancing has enabled her to become a change facilitator, empowering others to be their best selves. Her passion for dance is evident in the way she speaks of it.  She shared her journey of dancing from a young age, through professional training, on to academia, and how her concept of 'the sacred' has been informed through studying shamanism and other world views.  Elina's insights on the power of dance to connect with nature and spirit beings offer a unique perspective that could profoundly impact our lives. Through her teachings, we can explore new ideas, views, and ways of understanding the world around us. Elina believes we can open ourselves up to new possibilities that enrich our everyday lives by connecting with nature and spirit beings through dance. Find Eline Online: Website: https://www.elinekieft.com Facebook: @ElineKieft or @TheWayoftheWildSoul https://www.facebook.com/TheWayoftheWildSoul https://www.facebook.com/eline.kieft/ Twitter: @ElineKieft https://twitter.com/ElineKieft Instagram: @wild_soul_way https://www.instagram.com/wild_soul_way/ YouTube: @ElineKieft LinkedIn: Dr. Eline Kieft https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-eline-kieft/ Find Us Online: Main Website: https://www.universaldancer.com/ Podcast Website: http://bit.ly/TheUniversalDancerPodcastWebsite Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/universaldancercommunity Dance as a Spiritual Practice Course: universaldancer.thinkific.com Instagram: @the.universaldancer YouTube: TheUniversaldancer Books*: Dancing in the Muddy Temple by Eline Kieft: https://amzn.to/3Y6pxJc The Alchemy of Dance: Sacred Dance as a Path to the Universal Dancer by Leslie Zehr: https://amzn.to/3P2MaLC The Al-chemia Remedies: Vibrational Essences from Egyptian Flowers and Sacred Sites by Leslie Zehr: https://amzn.to/3UulDrx 🎶 Music by Konrad OldMoney Thanks for listening! Leslie 🌀TheUniversaldancer *Affiliate's Link. A small commission is paid when using these links, which helps support this channel.

Megha Buttenheim from Let Your Yoga Dance joined me this month to share her story about how she created Let Your Yoga Dance and how it has changed and grown over the years. Through this form, Megha share's her passion for yoga and dance with others. We discuss how she combines it with Positive Psychology, which makes life meaningful and fulfilling and increases human flourishing. She has found a way to add embodiment through dance, to work with character strengths—to help bring more joy into people's lives. We also spoke about how she has adapted it to work with special groups, such as the elderly and patients with Parkinson's Disease, and how effective it is. Be sure to subscribe on Spotify or iTunes for future episodes. Find Megha Online: Website: letyouryogadance.com, Store: store.letyouryogadance.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letyouryogadance Twitter: https://twitter.com/letyouryogadanc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megha_nancy_buttenheim YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcr4pvGf389xELEiqq-71lQ A gift for listeners: 2 free audio MP3s of yoga and moving meditation on Megha’s website store (store.letyouryogadance.com) Find Us Online: Main Website: https://www.universaldancer.com/ Podcast Website: http://bit.ly/TheUniversalDancerPodcastWebsite Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/universaldancercommunity Instagram: @the.universaldancer YouTube: TheUniversaldancer Books*: “Expanding Joy: Let Your Yoga Dance: Embodying Positive Psychology” by Megha Nancy Buttenheim:  https://amzn.to/3B7ObAq “The Alchemy of Dance: Sacred Dance as a Path to the Universal Dancer” by Leslie Zehr: https://amzn.to/3P2MaLC “The Al-chemia Remedies: Vibrational Essences from Egyptian Flowers and Sacred Sites” by Leslie Zehr: https://amzn.to/3UulDrx 🎶 Music by Konrad OldMoney Did you enjoy the show? Please like, subscribe, and share. ✨WHY SUBSCRIBE? ✨ Every month, we record a new interview with someone from the sacred arts world. You will be notified when a new episode goes live if you subscribe. After you subscribe, hit that little bell icon, so you don't miss any future videos! Thanks for watching! Leslie 🌀TheUniversaldancer *Affiliate's Link. A small commission is paid using when these links to help support this channel.

Leslie and Wendy discuss sacred dance in the modern world and how to create a safe space for the body. Wendy speaks about the Guild's history and inclusive philosophy and how they strive to be an anchor to bring together those in the sacred dance world. They share their journeys, discuss the meaning of "sacred," and explore how dance can be a spiritual path. Find The Sacred Dance Guild Online: Website: https://sacreddanceguild.org/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SacredDancGuild Find Us Online: Main Website: https://www.universaldancer.com/ Podcast Website: http://bit.ly/TheUniversalDancerPodcastWebsite Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/universaldancercommunity Instagram: @the.universaldancer YouTube: TheUniversaldancer 🎶 Music by Konrad OldMoney To watch previous episodes of The Universal Dancer Podcast, check out this playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL98WHbpBnljXhWJK8c80xKpHUrr_1U_-S 💃🏼 If you have a passion for sacred dance, be sure to watch previous interviews from the Sacred Dance Summit; check out that playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL98WHbpBnljWu2qHa2DcC135VPAvJLj4i Did you enjoy the show? Please like, follow, and share. Thanks for listening! Leslie 🌀TheUniversaldancer

Leslie and Sofiah start the conversation by emphasizing the importance of dance and the arts as a way for teens to express themselves—drawing on their own experiences in adolescence. They discuss the courage it takes to be on a spiritual path, the importance of Incubation and Divine timing during the process, and the need to surrender and listen to hear and follow the call—wherever that might take you. They conclude by touching on a subject very dear to them: the Dakini/Divine Feminine/Serpent Goddess energy. Find Sofiah Online: Website: https://www.sofiahthom.com/ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/templebody/ Instagram: @sofiahthom YouTube: Sofiah Thom Find Us Online: Main Website: https://www.universaldancer.com/ Podcast Website: http://bit.ly/TheUniversalDancerPodcastWebsite Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/universaldancercommunity Instagram: @the.universaldancer YouTube: TheUniversaldancer 🎶 Music by Konrad OldMoney Did you enjoy the podcast? Please follow, subscribe, and share. Thanks for listening! Leslie 🌀TheUniversaldancer

Leslie and Banafsheh take a deep dive into the essence of sacred dance. The interview explores what "sacred" is, how it can take us to a place of spiritual transcendence, why it's something we should be present in and connected to, and how it can lead to that feeling of surrender. They also explore the sacred feminine and why it is essential to embrace her, not just for women but for all of us, to bring her back into our consciousness to heal the planet. Find Banafsheh Online: Website: danceofoneness.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BanafshehSayyad Instagram: www.instagram.com/banafshehdance/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/dancemystical Embody the Power of the Feminine Through Sacred Sufi Dance: Live With Authenticity, Passion & Peace in Your Own Body, Online Event Register here: https://bit.ly/BanafshehShiftNetworkEvent Venus Rising https://academy.danceofoneness.org/courses/venus-rising-regenerating-love/ Living in Harmony https://academy.danceofoneness.org/courses/living-in-harmony/ In the Fire of Grace Film https://danceofoneness.org/in-the-fire-of-grace/ on Amazon Prime: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B08CL51ZTX/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r on Vimeo https://vimeo.com/ondemand/inthefireofgrace Find Us Online: Main Website: https://www.universaldancer.com/ Podcast Website: http://bit.ly/TheUniversalDancerPodcastWebsite Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/universaldancercommunity Instagram: @the.universaldancer YouTube: TheUniversaldancer 🎶 Music by Konrad OldMoney Thanks for listening! Leslie 🌀TheUniversaldancer *Affiliates link. Commissions paid from this link go to support the podcast.

After years as a contemporary dance performer, Julia's body, like many dancers, began to suffer. In this episode, Julia shares her journey of creating a modality called Upward Spiral after injury forced her to find new ways to move. Later in the show, Leslie and Julia shared their love of nature and working with plants and trees. Julia explains how she created her new dance practice with trees from inspiration from the Celtic Ogham alphabet. Find Julia Online: Website: www.upwardspiral.me Facebook: @JuliaAplin, @UpwardSpiral Find Us Online: Main Website: https://www.universaldancer.com/ Podcast Website: http://bit.ly/TheUniversalDancerPodcastWebsite Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/universaldancercommunity Instagram: @the.universaldancer YouTube: TheUniversaldancer 🎶 Music by Konrad OldMoney Did you enjoy the show? Please like, subscribe, and share. Thanks for listening! Leslie 🌀TheUniversaldancer

Leslie and Karen discuss their passion for dance and how this feeling led Karen to write her book "Our Love Affair with Dance"—a memoir about two of her mentors, Magda and Gertrud Hahn, intertwined with her dance journey. They also delve into dance's spiritual connection and the importance of embodiment. Find Karen Online: Website: https://karenmckinlaykurnaedy.com/ Facebook: @Karen Kurnaedy Instagram: @karenmckinlaykurnaedy Twitter: @kkurnaedy Find Us Online: Main Website: https://www.universaldancer.com/ Podcast Website: http://bit.ly/TheUniversalDancerPodcastWebsite Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/universaldancercommunity Instagram: @the.universaldancer YouTube: TheUniversaldancer 🎶 Music by Konrad OldMoney Did you enjoy the show? Please like, subscribe, and share. Hope to see you at the next live recording! ✨WHY SUBSCRIBE? ✨ Every month, we record a new interview with someone from the sacred dance world. You will be notified when a new episode goes live if you subscribe. Thanks for listening! Leslie 🌀TheUniversaldancer

In this episode, Ya'Acov shared his journey to becoming a "dancer." We talked about the power of dance, the wisdom of the body, and the importance of daily spiritual practices in our evolution towards greater consciousness. Find Ya'Acov Online: Websites: 21gratitudes.com, schoolofmovementmedicine.com, darlingkhan.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yaacovandsusannahdk Instagram: @shamanyaacov Find Us Online: Main Website: https://www.universaldancer.com/ Podcast Website: http://bit.ly/TheUniversalDancerPodcastWebsite Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/universaldancercommunity Instagram: @the.universaldancer YouTube: TheUniversaldancer 🎶 Music by Konrad OldMoney To watch previous episodes of The Universal Dancer Podcast, check out this playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL98WHbpBnljXhWJK8c80xKpHUrr_1U_-S 💃🏼 If you have a passion for sacred dance, be sure to watch previous interviews from the Sacred Dance Summit; check out that playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL98WHbpBnljWu2qHa2DcC135VPAvJLj4i Thanks for listening! Leslie 🌀TheUniversaldancer

What is embodied awakening? How can we use dance to attune to the body and come back into balance with ourselves and the world around us? Join Leslie and Amara for a deep dive into how conscious dance can be a path of awakening. And how this awakening is exactly what is needed in this critical turning point in time. Find Amara Online: Website: https://pathofazul.com/, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Azul.consciousmovement, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amarapagano.azul/ Membership Community: https://pathofazul.com/membership-portal/ Embodied Movement Conference: https://embodied-movement-conference.com/collection Find Us Online: Main Website: https://www.universaldancer.com/ Podcast Website: http://bit.ly/TheUniversalDancerPodcastWebsite Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/universaldancercommunity Instagram: @the.universaldancer YouTube: TheUniversaldancer 🎶 Music by Konrad OldMoney Did you enjoy the show? Please like, subscribe, and share. Thanks for listening! Leslie 🌀TheUniversaldancer

Join a dynamic and diverse panel from different backgrounds for a roundtable discussion on what it means to heal trauma through dance. Dance is a powerful medium for healing trauma. Regardless of ethnicity, race, gender, or age, people can find community and strength through dance. They discuss the power of dance in healing from traumatic experiences and how to bring about more peace and resilience. Stefan Freedman, Author of the book 'Dance Wise,' is passionate about the role of integrative arts in transforming society. His research focuses on healing trauma through conscious movement. He has facilitated dance in mental health settings for 15 years in Ipswich, UK, and continues a weekly therapeutic movement class where many participants attend with their carers. Stefan's dance training includes dances from many cultures and styles. He sees dance as an integration of body, mind, emotions, and spirituality is drawn to exploring inwardly and outwardly, and has studied Voice Dialogue, Psychosynthesis, Co-Counselling, NLP, and NVC. Stefan coordinates a free online hub where facilitators share insights and practical tools. The aim is to create a global group of dancers and practitioners sharing resources contributing to a more compassionate and sustainable world. www.dancewise.net Marylee Hardenbergh studied under Irmgard Bartenieff and Penny Bernstein and is a Board-Certified Dance/Movement Therapist. She served on the Board of Directors for the American Dance Therapy Association, and led numerous Movement Choirs for the openings and closings at the conferences; she was honored to be a keynote speaker at their 2015 conference. Hardenbergh loves to travel and work with communities to create site-specific performances that combine community art with therapeutic intentions, creating performances in sites worldwide. She was an Artist-In-Residence at the Center for Global Environmental Education at Hamline University in Minnesota and the original Artistic Director of Global Water Dances. She directs Global Site Performance and has received numerous awards for choreography. Globalsiteperformance.org Rebecca Faro's dance journey started at ten while attending Bush Davies & Elmhurst Ballet School. At seventeen, she auditioned for the London School of Contemporary dance. Overjoyed to be one of four accepted from eighty people, they found she had a back problem at that audition, meaning she couldn't continue with her dance career. Although this was earth-shattering news, it changed her direction. She began to explore movement as a healing path for herself & others, training in Creative movement through the Anna Halprin method. She continued her exploration by attending Authentic Movement, Contact improvisation, Rebirthing, Trance Dance, 5rhythms, BioDanza, and Grief Counselling courses. She has recently completed a ten-month online personal development training with Jamie Catto. dancinginsideout.com Alia Thabit is an Arab-American Oriental (belly) dance artist and a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner. She is also a writing instructor, Dancemeditation and Spiritual Bellydance instructor, and creativity coach. Alia champions self-expression, resilience, and trust in the body. Her dance classes help participants reclaim their joyful spirit and deep wells of creativity. She weaves Somatic Experiencing techniques into her classes and coaching to help seekers transcend limiting beliefs and connect to their true self. Alia is the author of "Midnight at the Crossroads: Has belly dance sold its soul?" which challenges cultural stereotypes, discusses its evolution, and shows how to access the dance's inherent spirit and joy. 🎶 Music by Konrad OldMoney

Mary Abrams holds an MA degree in Consciousness Studies, focusing on embodied movement, the biology of emotion, and Epistemics. She owns and directs Moving Body Resources, a space in New York City for teachers and practitioners supporting body awareness, wellness, and authenticity in life. Mary has over 25 years of exploring and teaching somatic movement practice inspired by dance, creativity, and healing and has worked with psychotherapists, social workers, political activists/leaders, artists, actors, health care providers, business leaders, and educators, among others. In this episode, we spoke about Continuum-inspired Somatic Movement, the Biology of Emotion (affective theory), Epistemics (a model for how humans create meaning), and how we can use body-centered movement practices to find balance in our lives. We also spoke about Mary's beautiful space in NYC, Moving Body Resources, and her challenges over the last two years keeping this sacred space open. Find Mary Online: Website: www.movingbodyresources.com, and www.maryabrams.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mbrnyc Find Us Online: Main Website: https://www.universaldancer.com/ Podcast Website: http://bit.ly/TheUniversalDancerPodcastWebsite Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeslieZehrAuthorPage/ Instagram: @the.universaldancer YouTube: TheUniversaldancer 🎶 Music by Konrad OldMoney To watch previous episodes of The Universal Dancer Podcast, check out this playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL98WHbpBnljXhWJK8c80xKpHUrr_1U_-S 💃🏼 If you have a passion for sacred dance, be sure to watch previous interviews from the Sacred Dance Summit, check out that playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL98WHbpBnljWu2qHa2DcC135VPAvJLj4i Did you enjoy the show? Please like, subscribe, and share. Hope to see you at the next live recording! ✨WHY SUBSCRIBE? ✨ Every month, we record a new interview with someone from the sacred dance world. You will be notified when a new episode goes live if you subscribe. After you subscribe, be sure to hit that little bell icon so you don't miss any future videos! Thanks for watching! Leslie 🌀TheUniversaldancer

The Universal Dancer Podcast celebrates its first year of podcasting with a special event. Joining host and author Leslie Zehr was the first guest from last year, Dunya McPherson, Founder of Dancemeditation™, and Phoebe Neville, a dancer and Buddhist practitioner with a background in BodyMind Centering. Leslie and her guests take a deep dive into the importance of dance and embodiment in a spiritual practice. What a fantastic group of knowledgeable women—lots of insight to be shared. These women with different dance and spiritual backgrounds all arrived at the same point—surrender, joy, coming home. They spoke about: How their dance transformed from performance to a spiritual practice The many-faceted aspects of the shadow Working with the shadow through dance The ability to both give and receive through the dance The role of consciousness in the dance The many levels of working with veils and other props Our more profound ability to interact with the environment in the dance Moving to "the place of unknowing." In addition to the thoughtful conversation, there was much to be celebrated. Leslie announced the line-up of guests for the podcast's second season. Dunya spoke about her newly released book Sojourn the Inner Heaven: Movement Meditations for Awakening. Find Dunya Online: Website: https://dancemeditation.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dunya.mcpherson Instagram: @Dancemeditation, @DunyaMcPherson “Sojourn the Inner Heaven: Movement Meditations for Awakening” https://dancemeditation.org/2022/01/sojourn-the-inner-heaven-movement-meditations-for-awakening/ Feb 6th Dancemeditation on Zoom 1-3 pm EST https://dancemeditation.org/2022/01/2-6-dancemeditation-with-dunya/ Find Us Online: Main Website: https://www.universaldancer.com/ Podcast Website: https://bit.ly/TheUniversalDancerPodcastPortal Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/56896909604 Instagram: @the.universaldancer YouTube: TheUniversaldancer 🎶 Music by Konrad OldMoney Did you enjoy the show? Please like, subscribe, and share. Hope to see you at the next live recording! Thanks for listening!  Leslie  🌀TheUniversaldancer

Brietta Leader has been on a lifelong exploration of movement. In this podcast, she shares how she became a dancer, discovered conscious dance, and how life-altering dance can be. Brietta explains how she came to create WildCore™, a natural evolution of the dance modalities that she learned infused with her own experiences and values.  Leslie and Brietta discuss the benefits of combining choreographed movement with conscious dance and how it can help the student expand their limits and create a safe container for those unfamiliar with improvisation and free dance. They also explore dance as an ancient form of healing that is often overlooked in its modern application and the importance of “normalizing” ritual and ceremony in our everyday lives. Find Brietta Online: Website: https://wildcoremovement.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/untamednature Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildcoremovement Find Us Online: Main Website: https://www.universaldancer.com/ Podcast Website: http://bit.ly/TheUniversalDancerPodcastWebsite Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeslieZehrAuthorPage/ Instagram: @the.universaldancer YouTube: TheUniversaldancer 🎶 Music by Konrad OldMoney 💃🏼 If you have a passion for sacred dance be sure to watch previous interviews from the Sacred Dance Summit, check out that playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL98WHbpBnljWu2qHa2DcC135VPAvJLj4i Did you enjoy the show? Please like, subscribe, and share. Hope to see you at the next live recording! Thanks for watching!  Leslie  🌀TheUniversaldancer

In Episode 12, Leslie speaks with Jennifer Jiménez, Founder of the Health & Well-Being Division at Brave Thinking Institute and Creator of Transcendance™. Jennifer is a highly sought-after speaker, consultant, trainer, and coach who has been featured in major media outlets, including Self Magazine, NBC News, Oxygen and Woman’s World, and more.  Jennifer talks about how she first began dancing and her desire to become a professional dancer. She shares her early experiences with conscious dance and how that led her to develop—Transcendance™— a dance modality helping people of all ages and backgrounds worldwide to move stuck energy, dance their dreams into reality, and truly thrive with joy and vitality in their body temple!  Leslie and Jennifer discuss how life carries unexpected challenges that can often teach us essential lessons on our spiritual journey. And how can dance teach us skills to move through those challenges and has the power to transform those experiences into gifts.  Jennifer shares her program's ten steps that empower people to transform their lives and inspire people to change their lives by introducing them to the world of expressive dance. We envision a world where everyone has the opportunity to experience the joys of dance and share their vision and life dreams with others through this medium. Find Jennifer Online: Website: www.BTI.com/DanceNow Website: www.BraveThinkingInstitute.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transcendanceglobal/ Find Us Online: Main Website: https://www.universaldancer.com/ Podcast Website: http://bit.ly/TheUniversalDancerPodcastWebsite Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeslieZehrAuthorPage/ Instagram: @the.universaldancer YouTube: TheUniversaldancer 🎶 Music by Konrad OldMoney Did you enjoy the show? Please like, subscribe, and share. Hope to see you at the next live recording! Thanks for listening!  Leslie 🌀TheUniversaldancer

Alana Shaw is one of the USA's leading experts in embodiment and art-based social change work. In this episode, Alana and Leslie discuss how dance can create an opening to embodiment and how important that is in the healing of trauma. Alana talks about the organization she founded, Turning the Wheel, and the numerous outreach projects they do in communities with children and educating teachers to cultivate skills to support their students better. She uses her journey of healing trauma to create a basis for the work she shares with others, drawing on her own childhood experiences, her master's in dance, as well as her more than 30 years of experience working with individuals and groups. Find Alana Online: Website: www.turningthewheel.org Find Us Online: Main Website: https://www.universaldancer.com/ Podcast Website: http://bit.ly/TheUniversalDancerPodcastWebsite Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeslieZehrAuthorPage/ Instagram: @the.universaldancer YouTube: TheUniversaldancer 🎶 Music by Konrad OldMoney Check out the previous episodes of The Universal Dancer Podcast! Did you enjoy the show? Please like, subscribe and share.  Thanks for watching!  Leslie  🌀TheUniversaldancer

In Episode 10, Erica Ross, co-founder of The Move and Dance Our Way Home, talks about how dance began for her, coming from a long lineage of dancers, a passion passed down from her grandmother to her mother and then herself. She speaks intimately about her spiral journey out of and back into dance. The journey began with chronic pain and forced her to let go of her dance practice, Dance Our Way Home, and find new forms of expression. An iteration of life experiences that led her to write the book; She Reflects: A Spiral Journey for the Feminine Soul, back to her art, and DJing. Erica shows us through her own experiences how to turn our pain into art and reinvent ourselves as part of the healing journey. The replay is available on TheUniversaldancer YouTube channel as well as all major podcast platforms. Find Erica Online: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EricaRossPage Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EricaRoss.Joy Website: https://www.EricaRoss.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnanfWT4Wv-LFRBVTJ5M6HQ Mixcloud: https://mixcloud.com/erica-ross Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/erica.ross Find Us Online: Main Website: https://www.universaldancer.com/ Podcast Website: http://bit.ly/TheUniversalDancerPodcastWebsite Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeslieZehrAuthorPage/ Instagram: @the.universaldancer YouTube: TheUniversaldancer 🎶 Music by Konrad OldMoney Did you enjoy the show? Please like, follow and share. Hope to see you at the next live recording! Thanks for listening!  Leslie  🌀TheUniversaldancer

In Episode 9, Leslie Zehr speaks with Toni Bergins, MEd, an artistic alchemist, passionate catalyst, and the creator of JourneyDance™ and the Embodied Transformations Method coaching program. Toni explains what JourneyDance™ is and how students benefit from the process.  Leslie and Toni explore creativity, how it heals, and how this process has is programmed out of us from a young age. They delve into the importance of embodiment and emotional release for our overall well-being. They also touch on spiritual connection and how to achieve it through dance. Find Toni Online: Facebook: Toni Bergins and JourneyDance Instagram: @tonibergins, @journeydanceofficial Websites: www.journeydance.com Find Us Online: Main Website: https://www.universaldancer.com/ Podcast Website: http://bit.ly/TheUniversalDancerPodcastWebsite Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeslieZehrAuthorPage/ Instagram: @the.universaldancer YouTube: TheUniversaldancer 🎶 Music by Konrad OldMoney Did you enjoy the show? Please like, follow, and share.  Thanks for watching!  Leslie  🌀TheUniversaldancer

In Episode 8 my guest is Melissa Michaels Ed.D. Melissa is the Founder and Director of SomaSource Educational Programs, Golden Girls Global, and Golden Bridge, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving and empowering people's lives through body-centered initiatory processes, mentoring, and community action. Melissa is an amazing woman on a fantastic journey! During the show, we discuss the power of dance to support and heal individuals and communities during initiatory processes. We talk about Melissa's journey of dancing her way through cancer. We also explored the importance of sharing our stories of personal growth. Melissa beautifully describes what dance brought to her in the darkest of times. We discuss thresholds and the initiatory process as opportunities to grow and how that relates to turning points in our lives like rites of passage, the current pandemic, and so much more! Find Melissa Online: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.michaels.587 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/golden_bridge_movement/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgagTGF8c8rj7eP_VzMAB-w Websites: www.GoldenBridge.org, www.GoldenGirlsGlobal.org Twisted Gift: https://youtu.be/KDirtW1Ljdk Find Us Online: Main Website: https://www.universaldancer.com/ Podcast Website: http://bit.ly/TheUniversalDancerPodcastWebsite Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeslieZehrAuthorPage/ Instagram: @the_universal_dancer YouTube: TheUniversaldancer 🎶 Music by Konrad OldMoney Thanks for listening!  Leslie  🌀TheUniversaldancer

What a fantastic interview. I could have gone on for hours! Jacqui is a  wealth of wisdom and experience.  In the show, we discuss Transformation: Moving through the Sacred Dance of Grief to love and connection. We explore many of Jacqui's choreographies and how she draws inspiration from nature and the environment, exploring the ecology of place and embodied experience.  Jacqui has done a fantastic job bringing environmental and social awareness issues to the public through dance. We talk about many of  Jacqui's choreographies, including "Children of the Blue Light" and  "Échelons."  We also speak about the return of the Sacred King Fisher and how it sparked a Festival to celebrate and educate children and adults about our impact on the environment. Jacqui uses art, specifically dance, to bring awareness to the natural world around us. She shares with us her experience of visiting the Cape Coast Slave  Dungeons, Ghana, West Africa. She was inspired to choreograph and  perform "Children of the Blue Light: Bringing healing through music and  dance." Her first major ethnographic film documentary in performance ritual with Asanti Dance Theatre and Wild Moves International. We spoke about the healing power of dance and its impact on both the dancers and the audience.  I hope you will enjoy this compelling conversation!  Recorded live on June 13th, 2021.   **Find Jacqui Online:**  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WildMovesInternational  Instagram: @WildMovesInternational  YouTube: Jacqui Dreessens   **Find Us Online:**  Main Website: https://www.universaldancer.com  Podcast Website: http://bit.ly/TheUniversalDancerPodcastWebsite  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeslieZehrAuthorPage/  Instagram: @the_universal_dancer  YouTube: TheUniversaldancer   🎶 Music by Konrad OldMoney    💃 If you have a passion for sacred dance be sure to watch previous  interviews from the Sacred Dance Summit, check out that playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL98WHbpBnljWu2qHa2DcC135VPAvJLj4i   Did you enjoy the show? Please rate, follow, and share. Hope to see you at the next live recording!   ✨WHY FOLLOW? ✨  When you follow the podcast it helps other like-minded people find the podcast. Thanks for watching!  Leslie  🌀TheUniversaldancer

My guest for Episode 6 of The Universal Dancer Podcast is Mariane Karou, Creator of Dance Alive®— "Dynamic Life Movement." A pioneer in the field of movement, Marianne has been teaching full-time for 50 years. Mariane shows us what it is like to walk the talk. She tells us the incredible story of how she first got involved with dance and how that evolved into her creating the Dance Alive® System. We discussed the importance of finding a balance between creativity and structure and the importance of integrating movement practices into your life, combining movement, meditation, and leadership, and why integrating physical vitality, emotional intelligence, mental clarity, and integrity is essential to balanced productivity. Mariane has created a fantastic community of participants who support and encourage each other through the work and their process of healing and becoming. About my guest: Mariane Karou is the Creator of Dance Alive, “Dynamic Life Movement”. Mariane is a formative leader, master teacher, innovator and pioneer in the field of movement, somatic meditation and life training and has been teaching movement full-time for 50 years. She teaches how to use movement as a basis for personal and professional mastery. Mariane is a Force of Nature as she is Vibrant, Inspired, Dynamic and Compassionate beyond measure. She is recognized as an expert in the field for stimulating creativity, clarity and balance throughout your whole life. Mariane's intelligence, coupled with her kind-hearted encouragement, and a keen sense of integrity, infuses all of her teachings. She carries an unyielding sense of adventure wherever she goes. Mariane walks her talk, and lives and breathes the Dance Alive System in everything she does, personally and professionally! Find Mariane at: www.dancealive.com Instagram: @dancealivemovement. Facebook: marianekarou The interview replay is available on Leslie's YouTube channel TheUniversaldancer, and all major podcast platforms. Music by Konrad OldMoney For more information go to: https://www.universaldancer.com/podcasts.html

In this episode, we had a lot to discuss! I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with Deb and sharing ideas. We talked about the importance of using dance to move blocked energy and emotions. We explored using dance and ritual for self-care, the importance of awareness in the healing process, music, nature, women's circles, and so much more! Find Deb at: www.DrDebKern.com https://www.facebook.com/DrDebKern https://www.instagram.com/drdebkern/ Here's the link and the special code for your free class: https://debkern.punchpass.com/passes/90273 Use code DANCER to receive a free 1-Class Pass Music by Konrad OldMoney About my guest: Dr. Deb Kern is a health scientist, visionary teacher and guide. From the rain forest of Costa Rica to the foothills of the Himalayas to the south of India to the jungles of Bali to the shores of Maui to the interior of Mexico, Deb has traveled far and wide to study and apprentice with master teachers, shamans, yogis, herbalists and healers. Her varied studies and experiences have helped her evolve practices and tools that help women embody the divine feminine and live pleasurable, purposeful, spirit-infused lives. Dr. Deb’s decades of practice as a health educator, personal trainer, yoga teacher, Nia teacher and yoga therapist combined with her life experiences have given her insights not found in books. She has observed, time and time again, that when we take actions in our own healing and become aware of the patterns that disconnect body and mind, miracles can occur in every area of our lives—and she adores inspiring others to experience these miracles. She’s the author of “Everyday Wellness for Women” and “Create the Body Your Soul Desires”, creatrix of a healing movement practice called PranaShakti™ Dance and the mom of an amazing young man.
 Dr. Kern studied Nursing at Vanderbilt University and holds a B.A. and an M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin, as well as a Ph.D. in Health Sciences from Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas. In addition, she is a Black Belt Nia Teacher, a certified Integral Hatha Yoga Instructor, a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist, and a Mindful Change Coach.

My guest for the 4th Episode of The Universal Dancer Podcast was Stefan Freedman. Stefan is a Sacred Circle Dance teacher in the Findhorn tradition and author of "Dance Wise". In our conversation, we spoke about many things! Stefan has a wealth of information and experience. His undeniable passion for dance, choreography, and music truly comes across when he speaks. He explained how he first got into dance in his youth as a way to overcome his extreme feelings of shyness and awkwardness. We spoke about what it means to teach dance and how it can expand the teacher's knowledge as much as the students. We touched on embodiment, the inner landscape of emotions and impressions, the secret dance, brain science, the psychology of dance, and so much more! Take advantage of Stefan's very generous gift and you will be able to add a physical experience to what we spoke about in our conversation.  About my guest: Stefan Freedman, and his wife Bethan, were among the first wave of sacred circle dance teachers in the Findhorn tradition. For almost 40 years they have toured the world leading sacred dance workshops from complete beginner to advanced levels, as well as cultural trips and festivals incorporating live music. Stefan's memorable choreography is designed for participation and is celebrated worldwide. Stefan Freedman describes himself as muse-driven! A practical dreamer, shape-shifting from choreographer/dance facilitator/film-maker/songwriter/author/community-worker/festival organiser & multi-instrumentalist. In all of these roles the common thread is actualising potential. For 16 years Stefan has facilitated structured dance, creative movement and music with the Inside Out community project. This serves adults receiving mental health support. Stefan’s ground-breaking new book, DANCE WISE, is a harvest from all these years of global and local group-work. Stefan's early background in education, social science and research are evident in his writing.    Dance Wise Book: https://amzn.to/3faTDIe  www.dancewise.net     Stefan’s Events:  www.worldance.org  To receive Stefan’s free gift email him at: Dancewise321@gmail.com    Music by Konrad OldMoney   For more information go to: https://www.universaldancer.com/podcasts.html

My guests for this episode are Laura Lee & Paul Robear, the Cuyamungue Institute's Directors. The Cuyamungue Institute (CI) was founded in 1978 by Dr. Felicitas Goodman to carry out her anthropological research on Ecstatic Trance Postures. In this episode, we explored Ecstatic Trance Postures, what they are and why they are important to us today. Laura and Paul talked about the Institute and what they are doing to carry on Dr. Goodman's work and let us in on new projects in the works. Paul explained the importance of ritual and described what is involved in an Ecstatic Trance Posture session. Laura spoke about the importance of community and debriefing as a group to share our experiences and gain deeper wisdom from each other's experiences and how sessions can often result in each person collecting a piece of a greater puzzle. We also spoke about the importance of us as humans to experience ecstatic states to bring the wisdom and knowledge of other states of consciousness into our daily lives. The interview replay is available on Leslie's YouTube channel TheUniversaldancer, as well as Spotify and iTunes. About my Guests: Laura Lee & Paul Robear are the Directors of the Cuyamungue Institute. The Institute was founded in 1978 as the worldwide headquarters to carry forward anthropologist Dr. Felicitas Goodman’s work with Ecstatic Trance Postures. Laura and Paul write books, articles, newsletters and present this work. Venues have included interviews and lectures for the general public and for university classrooms, on-site workshops around the world, a collaborative modern art exhibition showcasing Cuyamungue Institute at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, and lately online Zoom gatherings. They studied with Dr. Goodman for ten years before her passing in 2005, have taught since 2000, and have guided and administered CI since 2011 with expertise born of media careers. Laura Lee hosted “The Laura Lee Show” on nationally syndicated radio while Paul ran a media company, producing and publishing books and videos. Links: Information about experiencing ETP online: https://www.cuyamungueinstitute.com/the-experience/ Music by Konrad OldMoney For more information go to: https://www.universaldancer.com/podcasts.html

Join us for a soulful conversation with my guest Dunya McPherson! In the Podcast, we spoke about Dunya's journey with dance from a young age, to attending Julliard, to finding Middle Eastern dance and the Sufi path. She gave an excellent history of modern dance evolution in the USA and the politics involved in the dance world. Dunya's explained how she created Dancemeditation™ and gave us a detailed overview of what you could experience in a class. We got into the harmful effects of negative body image and how an embodied practice can help us create a more loving relationship with our bodies. She also talked about how she used her MA as a vehicle to write her memoir, Skin of Glass: Finding Spirit in the Flesh, and gave us a preview into her new yet unpublished book on Dancemeditation™. Enjoy! My Guest: Dunya Dianne McPherson, BFA, MA, the Founder of Dancemeditation™ and a pioneer in the field of embodied mysticism. An acclaimed authority and meditative leader coming from an extensive background in mysticism and art (Juilliard School, Sufi Foundation of America), her teaching credentials include academic faculties, artist-residencies, and academic department chairmanship (including Barnard College, Princeton University, Swarthmore College, New York University, Hunter College, Oberlin College, Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne, Australia among others) as well as Featured Presenter at meditation centers & conferences (Netherlands Mystic Festival, Kripalu Center, SAT Institute, The Embodiment Conference.) She is critically acclaimed as both dancer and choreographer, and a recipient of numerous choreographic grants, including the prestigious National Endowment for the Arts Choreography Fellowship. She teaches in-depth meditation trainings nationally and internationally. Her literary memoir, “Skin of Glass: Finding Spirit in the Flesh”, chronicles her dynamic journey in embodied mysticism. You can find out more about Dunya and connect with her here: Website: https://dancemeditation.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dancemeditation Book: https://dancemeditation.org/2020/05/skin-of-glass-finding-spirit-in-the-flesh/ Instagram: @Dancemeditation Music by Konrad OldMoney For more information go to: https://www.universaldancer.com/podcasts.html

The launch streamed live on Sunday, January 31st, 2021. In this launch episode, Leslie Zehr, our host and author of "The Alchemy of Dance" and "The Al-chemia Remedies," introduces us to the Universal Dancer concept. What is the Universal Dancer? What is its relation to the tarot and alchemy? How can we use this archetype on our spiritual path? How is it related to ancient wisdom and practices such as the sacred arts? What is the cosmic dance of co-creation? How can we use it as a tool for self-empowerment? She also speaks about why she transitioned from the Sacred Dance Summit to a monthly podcast and gave you her vision for this podcast and its relation to the Universal Dancer. For more information go to: https://www.universaldancer.com/podcasts.html Music by Konrad OldMoney References: The Alchemy of Dance: Sacred Dance as a Path to the Universal Dancer by Leslie Zehr— https://amzn.to/36wpE8K The Alphabet Versus the Goddess: The Conflict Between Word and Image by Leonard Shlain— https://amzn.to/3aqC6bh Dance as a Spiritual Practice free ebook download— http://bit.ly/DSPebook