July 2 at Spirit United

A Dance Circle on a Sunday morning!  Come!  Come!  Join us!

 

When: Sunday, July 2, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Where:  Spirit United (map below), 701 Lexington Parkway N, St. Paul, MN  55104

Saleem and Conie will be your leaders for the morning. 

 

 

June Dances in Rochester

Be an instrument of peace.

Join us! 

Saturday, June 24, 7-9 pm
Assisi Heights Spirituality Center
1001 14th St NW, Rochester, MN

Lead by Francis Gurtz.
Questions?  Contact Marion Coit, marioncoit@hotmail.com or 507-398-6028.

Summer Schedule Changes

Beloved Dancers, Please note the following changes on your Dance card:

• Light Upon Light Sufi Center will be holding its annual sabbatical closing in June this year.  There will be no Dance Circle on the 4th Sunday, June 25. 
• The St. Paul 3rd Saturday Dance Circle at St. Mary's has begun its summer vacation.  A regular schedule with resume in September.
• Saleem, our Dance Leader host at Holistic Gateway, assures me the 1st Sunday Dance Circle will continue unabated.  7-9pm on Sun, Jun 4, Jul 2, and Aug 6.

Kids Dances in Des Moines

Morgan, Certified Dance Leader, invites you saying,

 

 

Come, Come…kids of all ages.  ( :

 

It’s always a blast of JOY.



 

 

Feel free to download and use this poster

to invite others at your place of worship or via email. 

Sat May 20 @ Rochester: Become an Instrument of Peace

From Marion C:  

BECOME AN INSTRUMENT OF PEACE
Join us in the Dances of Universal Peace. 

Francis Gurtz

The dances are spiritual practices in motion. We use the sacred phrases, scripture, and poetry of the many spiritual traditions of the earth. The Dances blend chant, live music and movement into a living experience of unity and peace.

Francis Gurtz will be leading us.

When: SATURDAY, MAY 20, 2017, 7-9 PM
Where: Assisi Heights Spirituality Center
1001 14th St NW, Rochester, Minnesota

Free will Donation at the door. 

Francis teaching a dance at the 2015 Villa Maria retreat.

Photos by Dean Johnson.

Newton Retreat Bonus: Fri Night Dance (4/28)

You're invited to the Musician-led Dance Circle that precedes the Anahata-led Dance Retreat on Saturday and Sunday.  The format will be a little different as Anahata will be giving musicians feedback throughout. 

What:  Musician-led Dance Circle
When:  Friday, April 28, 7-9 p.m.
Where:  The Chapel of the Newton Christian Conference Center,
5064 Lincoln Sreet, Newton, IA 50208 * 641-792-1266

Fee:  Free! 

If you'd like to come early for dinner and stay overnight with breakfast in the morning, please let Morgan Rivers know at Morgan@healingpartners.biz at your earliest convenience.  Lodging and meal details are listed on this registration form for Saturday and Sunday's retreat. 

Mar 26: No Dances at LUL



From Hakim of Light Upon Light Sufi Center:  

Dances of Universal Peace Potluck, scheduled to occur on Sunday, March 26, 2017 2:00 PM has been cancelled. Please update your plans accordingly.

If you have further questions, you can email me through the Contact Us link on Meetup.

Dear Ones, As you see, the Dances of Universal Peace/Potluck at both the Center for Performing Arts and Hakim and Karima's home is cancelled for the month of March. There is a large Sufi meeting in Madison that weekend, the Jamiat Ahm of the Sufi Ruhaniat International. Many of the people who would ordinarily attend the Dance/Potluck will be in Madison winding up a four day retreat. I have attended these retreats before. They are held every year around the country and are an absolute feast of bliss, sound, light, and movement. It is a rare opportunity to have one held this close to us. It is not too late to sign up! An event such as this is a great help in finding one's balance in these upset and upsetting times. It could be just what we need to return to a calm happiness and solid sense of proper direction. It may well be the heart's ease we are missing.

♥ JAMIAT AAM 2017, THE ANNUAL OPEN GATHERING OF THE SUFI RUHANIAT INTERNATIONAL
"Nurturing the Heart, Caring for the World".
Al-Jami is to gather, to bring together. The annual Jamiat Aam retreat is an opportunity to draw our community together. We welcome our family from near and far Calling all Seekers, Mureeds, Dancers & Mystics to join us, March 23-26 in Madison, WI. http://ruhaniat.org/pdf/mar17/JA2017.pdf

Much Love, Dear,

Hakim

Mar 25: Collette's Memorial Meeting

Colette at the 2015 Villa Maria retreat.

Dear Family, friends, Quakers, coworkers, Dancers, Zumberas, cyclists, singers, climbers:

To celebrate the life of Colette Jackman Miller, a Memorial Meeting for Worship will be held, under the care of Rochester Friends Meeting (Quakers). It will be in Crawford Hall at Calvary Episcopal Church in downtown Rochester, on Saturday March 25th, 2017 at 2:00 pm. Informal dress is fine.

The Quaker Meeting will consist of an hour of silent worship, with all attenders welcome to “speak out of the silence” if they feel so moved. After the Meeting we will sing a few songs, followed by light refreshments and further informal sharing.

The address of the church is 111 Third Avenue SW. However, please use the west entrance door, which is on Fourth Avenue SW, just north of Second Street SW.

There is free street parking downtown, as well as the Damon parking ramp, whose entrance is on Third Avenue just north of the church and across the street from the Mayo Clinic Gonda Building.

In Love and Light,
Francis

p.s. Do contact Francis with any questions, either by email (gurtzmiller AT gmail DOT com) or at (507) 282-8966.

Apr 8: Rumi Meets Sofia: A Love Story

Coleman Barks

United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities will be hosting renown Rumi scholar and translator, Coleman Barks, former Poet Laureate of Rhode Island Lisa Starr, and Sofia, a three-person musical ensemble, for a beautiful evening of music, poetry, and interfaith connection. The artists will weave readings of Rumi's mystical poetry with Jesus of Nazareth's Beatitudes sung in their original Aramaic. 

When:  Saturday, April 8, 7-10 p.m.
Where:  Bigelow Chapel
United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities
3000 5th Street Northwest, New Brighton, MN 55112
For:  The event is also accepting donations for two non-profit organizations as part of the event: Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment (RISE) and The Advocates for Human Rights.
Fees:  $50-75
Register:  Eventbrite

In Memoriam: Colette Miller, 1935-2017

It is with a sad heart to share with the Dances community the obituary for our beloved Colette of Rochester, MN.  Her smile was bright, her enthusiasm undefeatable, and her love was long. 

 

A Quaker Meeting to Remember is being planned and will be announced here. 



Colette at the 2015 Villa Maria dance retreat.

Please keep Francis and their family in your hearts and prayers during this time. 

Coming Soon: Dances in Winona

Long time Dancers from Winona, MN, Raqiba and Ron, have been chatting with dance leaders about leadings some dances at their intentional community some time this spring/summer. 

Conie took a visit and thinks these spaces will be just right for dances.  What do you think?

Inside their community room.
(don't worry, we'd move the Ping-Pong table and swing some of those couches back against walls)

At the outdoor pavilion:  cover for rain or strong sunshine
and open space for dancing under the blue sky
(sand volleyball, anyone?)

Stay tuned as details develop! 

In Madison: Jamiat Aam, March 23-26

For more information, visit the Special Events page on the Madison Sufis website, http://www.madisonsufis.com/. 

Dance in Coon Rapids, 4/12

From Will Hale:  

Greetings! I want to invite you to a Dances of Universal Peace event I will be leading. It would be great to have a few experienced dancers to support the expected large group of over 80 intergenerational people with no history in the Dances of Universal Peace.

You can contact me if you have questions.
Thanks! Will Hale
651-307-3849
William@willhale.com 

What: Dances of Universal Peace - Aramaic Easter
When: Wednesday, April 12th, 7:00 PM
Where: Unity North,
11499 Martin Street NW,
Coon Rapids, MN 55433
(763) 754-6489

Overnight Retreat in Central Iowa: 4/29-30

Anahata Iradah,
Retreat Guest Dance Leader

From Morgan Rivers, a Dance Leader in Des Moines, IA: 

"You're invited to our 1st ever overnight Dances retreat with guest leader, Anahata Iradah coming from England via many places on the planet, and most recently Georgia. She is delightful.

It will be at the peaceful rural Newton Christian Conference Center. If you would like to come and prefer staying in a motel-style room with private bath rather than a bunk cabin/shared bath, then it would be wise to send in your registration ASAP. There are a few rooms left."

- What:  Planting Divine Qualities, Harvesting the Blessings
- When:  Saturday, April 29, 9:30 a.m. - Sunday, April 30, after lunch, 2017
- Where:  Newton Christian Conference Center
5064 Lincoln Sreet, Newton, IA 50208 * 641-792-1266

- Fees:  $125 for the retreat and meals plus lodging (three types available onsite ranging from $25-100/night); offsite lodging is also available.

- Registration & more information:  Download pdf form and return to Morgan Rivers with $100 deposit by April 1 for early bird registration.

Musicianship Retreat: 4/27-28 & 30

From Morgan Rivers, Dance Leader in Des Moines, IA:

"Greetings Lovers of the Dances,

Here is a unique and special opportunity to view the Dances of Universal Peace through the lens of the music with Anahata Iradah.

Anahata is a senior teacher and mentor in the MTG and a gifted musician. Many of you know her as the author of “Guitars of Universal Peace”.

We will put the music at the center of the Mandala and study how to provide the most beautiful foundation for the dancers to dance upon.

This retreat is meant for musicians and leaders. A special invitation goes out to leaders who are not musicians who wish to learn how to better communicate with musicians and work harmoniously to create the desired sacred atmosphere for the dances.

The training will be followed by a public retreat where musicians and leaders may assist Anahata.

It will all be held at a lovely rural conference center and camp. The Newton Christian Conference Center welcomes diversity and all spiritual paths.

Of note: In order for Anahata to devote time and attention to each participant, enrollment will be limited to ~ 12 for the musicianship training. If this calls to your heart, it would be wise to send in your deposit soon to reserve your place."

--
To register for this musicianship retreat, please download this pdf brochure and registration form and send it to Morgan Rivers with a $100 deposit by April 1 for early bird pricing. 

2017 Dances in Des Moines

January Holistic Gateway Dance Change

Saleem from Holistic Gateway tells me that because of the New Year's Day holiday, the Dances of Universal Peace regularly scheduled for the 1st Sunday of the month (that Jan 1, 2017) will be on January 8, 2017 instead. 

The Meetup calendars for Dances of Universal Peace and Holistic Gateway are updated. 

May all beings be well.

May all beings be happy.

Peace, peace, peace. 

Christmas Day Dances

Happy Holy Days Dancing Friends,

The Christian feast day of the birth of Jesus is coming in a few days.  This affects one regular dance meeting and adds a couple of special events.  Read on for the details ...

First from our friends at Light Upon Light Sufi Center:

• There will be no Dance/Potluck in December 25 (the regular 4th Sunday)
• But we'll be at the Center the evening of Christmas Day (12/25) to have a mellow, sweet time of interfaith music, prayer and sharing for friends of the Center who need to relax from the holiday or want a little more community before it ends.

Second from Conie: 


"Magnificat" line drawing
Artist unknown.

The Christmas Day Eucharist at St. Mary's Episcopal Church will feature Dances of Universal Peace inspired from the Judeo Christian traditions.  Come and dance the joyful Gloria in excelsis Alleluia, the reflective Ave Maria, the intimate All I ask of you, and the blessed Shalom Benediction.  More information here. 

Happy (belated) Solstice!

Happy Hanukkah!

Merry Christmas!

Happy Kwanzaa

Merry Festivus!

And Happy New Year!

May all beings be well.

May all beings be happy.

Peace, peace, peace. 

Rumi Celebration-St. Paul: Sun, Dec 11 at Tula Yoga



Rumi Celebration
Sunday, December 11th, 2016, 7-9 pm.

Tula Yoga and Wellness Center
99 Snelling Avenue North,
St. Paul, MN 55104
www.tulayogawellness.com

Our 18th annual night of music, chanting , poetry, and sacred dance in honor of Sufism's Greatest Poet.
With the Wild Moon Bhaktas,
Hakim Bushnell of Light Upon Light Sufi Center,
Rev. Ted Tollefson of Mythos Institute,
And you!

It will be grand if you bring your favorite Rumi poem to share.
Recommended donation: $10-15
Info: wildmoonbhaktas@gmail.com 

Dances with Light Upon Light Sufi Center: Now 4th Sunday @ 2p

From Karima & Hakim, our friends at Light Upon Light Sufi Center: 

--
Dances of Universal Peace will be offered only once a month, but as an expanded event. The new time: Every 4th Sunday of the month, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., followed by potluck at our house, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Dances will meet in the Sunroom except that on Sunday, September 24th we'll be in the Chapel, one floor higher.

Final huddle from the Villa Maria retreat, August 2015

 

The Aramaic Words of Jesus will be moved to the second Thursday of every month, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. So, Hakim's evenings will be Dervish Class/Zikr for all other Thursdays and Aramaic for the 2nd.

Second Saturday evenings of the month: October, November and December only. Three special presentations on movement, singing, dance, and sound healing. All of these events connect body, mind, emotions and spirit, and each has an individual, wonderful presenter from our own Center community.  October: Alia Arlys will be offering dans*peace Movement Playground on Saturday October 8th 7:00pm-9:00pm. Please see below for more info.

Updates at Light Upon Light

From our dear friends at Light Upon Light Sufi Center (LUL): 


Hakim and Karima
leading meditations of sound and the 99 Names.
Villa Maria 2015

--
Dear Dances of Universal Peace folk,

Karima and I are back from our August sabbatical and ready to restart zikr (the Sufi Ceremony of the Remembrance of God) and the Dances of Universal Peace. There are some schedule changes.

There will be no more Tuesday night Aramaic Words of Jesus meetings. The Aramaic words of Jesus will meet once a month on the second Thursday of every month instead of the usual zikr.

All other Thursdays will have the usually scheduled zikr meeting. Karima's zikr continues to meet regularly on Wednesdays

There will be just one Dances of Universal Peace meeting a month from here on out. It will be on the 4th Saturday or Sunday. We don't quite know yet, waiting for the Center for Performing Arts to get back to us about room availability. No Dances on September 10th!

We hope to see you soon at one of these events. Lord knows we all could use some relief from the election season, and something that feels calm and true.


Blessings to One and All

Hakim and Karima 



Rochester Retreat Update

The retreat with Rev Murshida Tasnim Fernandez & Imam Bilal Hyde is less than three weeks away.  If you're on the fence about attending, here's a few tidbits from the retreat organizers that may entice you:

• 44 people have registered so far!
• Hailing from New York, California, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Arizona, Indiana, Illinois and of course, Minnesota!
• 10 rooms are left at the retreat center (as of 8/30, 4:30p).  We can have up to 50-55 people, so we're getting close to capacity. 
• The last date to register is September 7th, since we must give our final food & lodging counts by then.
• If the retreat center fills ups, we have a nice deal with a local hotel.  Details are available at the eventbrite site.

Register here:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sacred-presence-tickets-25177242811

Iowa September Dances

From Morgan, Certified Dance Leader in Des Moines, IA:

--

Greetings Central Iowa Dances Community,

         It’s the first Sunday again!

         And we’ll be gathering for both Chant and Dances on this holiday week-end.

         You are invited to come and fill yourself up while making a difference in the world at the same time.

         Here’s a comment from Mary R after last month’s gathering:  “What happens in that small gathering ripples out to the entire world and cosmos.”  (Shared with her permission)

 

1:00 ~ Gathering time for Chant

         1:15 – 2:15 ~ Chant

         2:15 ~ Gathering time for Dances

         2:30 – 4:00 Dances

       

         No specific charge / Free-Will Donations and Love Offerings Welcomed 

Peace Be With You,

Morgan Rivers

 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dances-of-Universal-Peace-Iowa/108330695900008

 

Our local circle is part of a world-wide non-profit organization dedicated to peace, inner and outer, through the arts.

          We create a sacred atmosphere through music, movement and sacred phrases from many of the spiritual traditions around the world.

The Dances are both deep and meaningful as well as uplifting and a great sense of community is generated.

 

New arrivals and old hands form the circle. 

          There is no audience.

          We say the Dances are not about “performance” but “transformance”.

Fall 2016 Dance Events

Welcome to Fall, where we return to regular work, school, and dance schedules, after breaks, vacations, and sabbaticals.  Sing, eat, dance, and pray together at these following events*.

September 2016

• 1st Sun, Sept 4, 7-9p @ Holistic Gateway, Mpls
• 2nd Sat, Sept 10, 7-9p @ Center for the Performing Arts, Mpls
• Special Event!  Fri, Sept 16-Sun, Sept 18 @ Assisi Heights Spiritual Center, Rochester, MN (registration link)
• No 3rd Sat, Sept 17 Dances @ St. Mary's Episcopal, St. Paul
• 4th Sat, Sept 24, 7-9p @ Center for the Performing Arts, Mpls

October 2016

• 1st Sun, Oct 2, 7-9p @ Holistic Gateway, Mpls
• 2nd Sat, Oct 8, 7-9p @ Center for Performing Arts, Mpls
• 3rd Sat, Oct 15, 7-9p @ St. Mary's Episcopal, St. Paul
• 4th Sat, Oct 22, 7-9p @ Center for Performing Arts, Mpls

November 2016

• Special Event!  Fri, Nov 4-Sun, Nov 6 @ Madison, WI - more info. 
• 1st Sun, Nov 6, 7-9p @ Holistic Gateway, Mpls
• 2nd Sat, Nov 12, 7-9p @ Center for Performing Arts, Mpls
• 3rd Sat, Nov 19, 7-9p @ St. Mary's Episcopal, St. Paul
• 4th Sat, Nov 26, 7-9p @ Center for Performing Arts, Mpls

December 2016

• 1st Sun, Dec 4, 7-9p @ Holistic Gateway, Mpls
• 2nd Sat, Dec 10, 7-9p @ Center for Performing Arts, Mpls
• 3rd Sat, Dec 17, 7-9p @ St. Mary's Episcopal, St. Paul
• 4th Sat, Dec 24, 7-9p @ Center for Performing Arts, Mpls

* Visit often as events are subject to change. 

Madison's Fall retreat: Shahabuddin, Nov 4-6

For more information, visit the Special Events page on the Madison Sufis website, http://www.madisonsufis.com/. 

News from Light Upon Light: Picnic (7/30) & No Dances in Aug

Fourth Anniversary Light Upon Light Picnic! 
Saturday, July 30, 2016, 3-7 p.m.

At Hidden Falls Park near where Minnehaha Creek meets the Mississippi. A sheltered space of beauty, often used for outdoor dancing.

1313 Hidden Falls Dr, St. Paul
Enter at North Gate, Magoffin entrance.

There will be: 

• Dances of Universal Peace
• Fun and hanging out
• Potluck picnic supper.

Hakim says, "We feed each other with the Dances and the Sufi practice, and we feed each other in the material world."

 

Also, the center will be closed in August, so there will be no Dances of Universal Peace on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays (Aug 13 and 27). 

Summer 2016 Dances

Come Dance with us!  No previous experience necessary.  Everything is taught during our circle time. 

July 2016

• 2nd Saturday Dances, Jul 9, 7-9p at Center for Performing Arts, S. Mpls - Dances lead by John Hakim of the Light Upon Light Sufi Center.
• 3rd Saturday Dances, Jul 16, 7-9p at St. Mary's Episcopal, St. Paul - Dances lead by host Conie
• 4th Saturday Dances, Jul 23, 7-9p at Center for Performing Arts - Dances lead by John Hakim of the Light Upon Light Sufi Center.
• Special:  Light Upon Light Sufi Center Annual Picnic, Sat, Jul 30, 3-7p at Hidden Falls Regional Park, St. Paul (use Macgoffin entrance).  More details coming. 

August 2016

• 1st Sunday Dances, Aug 7, 7-9p at Holistic Gateway, NE Minneapolis - Dances lead by host Saleem Adam.
• NO 3rd Saturday Dances, Aug 20, at St. Mary's Episcopal, St. Paul (updated 8/18)
• NO 2nd & 4th Saturday Dances at the Center for Performing Arts - the Light Upon Light Sufi Center is taking their annual month long sabbatical in August. 

See location details on the pages for regular dances.

Dancing at Ursuline Hall, August 2015.

Registration for Sacred Presence retreat, Sept 2016

Online registration for the Sacred Presence retreat is at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sacred-presence-tickets-25177242811.

Dances of Universal Peace and Sufi Teachings, including Dhikr, the music and prayer ceremony of Divine Remembrance with Retreat Leaders Rev Murshida Tasnim Fernandez & Imam Bilal Hyde

Dates: Fri, Sept 16, 10a-Sunday, Sept 18, 12 noon, 2016
Location: Assisi Heights Spiritual Center, Rochester, MN

Retreat leaders: 

• Imam Bilal Hyde, founder of the Nurani Institute, is a profound scholar, powerful dhikr leader and co-author of Physicians of the Heart: Sufi Guidebook to the 99 Beautiful Names Of Allah. Samples of his events include, "The Heart of Love's Secret Ecstasy," "Reintroduction to the 100 Steps of Love on the Mystic Path of Sufism," "Arabic Grammar and Pronunciation and Quranic Tafsir" (insightful interpretation) and "Dhikr of the Two Niles". Let's see what he has for us this time!
• Rev. Tasnim Fernandez, co-founder of the Center for the Dances of Universal Peace, taps a lifetime's immersion in world religions to guide, teach, and train Dance leaders, Sufi students and Universal Worship ministers. A Representative, Center Leader, Healing Conductor and Siraj (senior minister) with Inayati Order, she is also director of the Church of All and a trained semazan in the Mevlevi Whirling Dervish tradition.

Lodging details, scholarship information, and more info are located at the link above. 

Pictures from the Villa Maria

Here's some pictures from the Farewell Villa Maria Dances of Universal Peace retreat held at Villa Maria, Frontenac, MN the weekend before Solstice.  Thanks PhotoDean Johnson for sharing these with us!



Flower petals inviting us into our dancing Hall, Ursuline.



An amazing shot of Ursuline's beautiful ceiling during the leader's planning time.



Our altar of Beloved Teachers.  Thank you all for contributing!



The Universal Worship altar

Saturday afternoon attendees with a view of the beautiful ceiling of Ursuline Hall.

Marian Hall which nourished our bodily needs for sleep and food.

Saturday afternoon attendees from another vantage point.

Sunday morning circle.

Jamila Joy and John Hakim listen to a dancer.

Friday afternoon Dance Leader huddle to plot and plan the dances for the weekend.

Another shot from below with a surprise!

Thank you Villa Maria!  You have served so many.  Thank you for serving us! 

Save the Date: Anahata in Iowa

Morgan from Des Moines invites you to pencil these dates into your dance calendar: 

When:  April 27-30, 2017
What:  Dances retreat with Anahata Iradah
Where:  Christian Conference Center near Newton, Iowa
http://www.uppermidwestcc.org/#!about/c4nz

Schedule:
- Thursday afternoon and Friday:  Retreat with Leaders
- Saturday and Sunday morning:  Public Overnight Retreat
- Sunday afternoon:  Completion with Leaders

Lodging and Meals available on site.

Contact: Morgan Rivers via morgan@healingpartners.biz or 515-783-5122.

Stay tuned for more details! 

Gather Inn July: Des Moines Circle