INVESTIGATE REVEAL CONNECT
The body knows who you are.
When we investigate ourselves by moving our bodies
dancing
listening
especially together
we open up to an awareness of all that we are and all that we are not.
Our stories, our conditioning, our fears, our strengths, our passions, our light, our joy.
We reveal ourselves.
The dance floor provides a space
where we can move with, express & release these revelations.
There we can
know our true nature
connect
feel fully alive
live in love
experience moments of magic in the struggles of being human
and
be of service.
Join me in the dance of discovery, of deeply knowing, embodying and offering who you are.
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I have always loved dancing and music. I discovered the 5Rhythms® movement practice in 2005 and have been practicing and studying ever since. In 2010 I trained to be a certified teacher with Gabrielle Roth (creator of the practice) and her amazing faculty, Kathy Altman, Lori Saltzman, Andrea Juhan (Open Floor) and Jonathan Horan (5Rhythms).
Along with offering 5Rhythms® classes & workshops, in 2019 I founded Dance Your Ability Therapeutic Movement Foundation, a not-for-profit organization. Programs bringing movement & dance to those that would not normally attend public classes: children, elderly, at-risk youth, mixed abilities, trauma survivors and those in recovery. I am also a Conscious Dance DJ, collective member of both Dance Temple Salt Spring Island and Conscious Dance Nanaimo. Other trainings include, Yoga Outreach CoreTraining™ (2014), Zumba (2009), ongoing Trauma Informed Practice and over 10 years as a Level II Ski Instructor with the CSIA, currently studying with Banafsheh Sayyad (Dance Of Oneness®), a BA in Latin American Studies/Spanish, with a Direct Studies on the Merengue Dance (1996) and over 20 years as a Mama to three very unique human beings. |
I spent my childhood living in Canada, where my most joyous moments were when I was dancing with my friends, walking in nature or playing in the snow. In my late teens I moved to the Dominican Republic, I found myself dancing almost every night, Merengue, Bachata & Salsa. What JOY! Years later, I realized how deeply profound dance and movement were to me, along with my desire to share that passion with others. An evening with Coleman Barks and Robert Bly reciting Rumi and Banafsheh Sayyad dancing totally changed the course of my life and brought me to the dancing path. That night I researched ecstatic dance, found Gabrielle Roth's work and the following week I attended my first 5Rhythms® class. During the class I made the declaration, "everybody deserves the right to dance and experience themselves through movement and I am going to make that my mission!" Today, I find myself dancing and moving with such a variety of amazing people, YEAH!
Through offering dance events, classes and workshops to people of mixed abilities & diverse needs since 2006, what I now know and deeply understand is that human beings are wired to connect. We have used connection in the past as a means of survival, and in our modern day society we still need to connect, more than ever. Free movement and conscious dance are an unique opportunity for connection. Through receiving and responding to the music with our physical being, so much about ourselves can be revealed, we have an opportunity to get to know ourselves in a way that cannot be put into words. Once this connection to self is felt, we are more able to connect with another, and eventually to know our place and importance in the group as a whole. Music and dance holds us as we explore ourselves and each other in all of our joys & sorrows, awkwardnesses & strengths, in all of our humanness.
Dancing with and playing music for people, is my total joy: children, teens, mixed abilities, elder care residents, violence survivors, the marginalized and everyone in between. I hope to meet you one day and dance together, thank you for visiting my website.
~Shauna
What people have to say about Shauna...
Shauna has a true gift: in her work she is part shaman, coach, space holder, movement therapist, activist, and guide. For a special part of a therapeutic retreat, I asked Shauna to lead a group of 30 women in an evening of 5Rhythms. Her attention to the group energy, her ability to hold the space while also skillfully leading was masterful. Working with her was a highlight of the retreat for all who attended.
-Hillary McBride
PhD, RCC, therapist, speaker, author researcher
Shauna’s experience, in life and in facilitating dance, gives her an ease and a deep wisdom which provides a place where every dancer, from experienced to brand new, can land. She understands each person in the room, she celebrates each of our openings and patiently guides us when we are closed. It is truly an honour to watch this woman keep growing into her potential; keep refining her craft; keep reaching beyond her edge to touch more people with the magic of dance.
-Naomi Jason
Co Founder Dance Temple Salt Spring
Shauna has been gracious enough to host a 5Rhythms class for women who have suffered sexual violence, and I have to say that although it is heartbreaking to see so many women in the same room with such heartache and grief... She has found a way to make all of our hearts sing and to lift us up in dance and connection. She is such a blessing to all of us and I cannot recommend her enough.
-Margaret
Shauna is an incredible leader with the capacity to create openness and comfort in the space she shares with others. Listen to your own internal rhythms while you let yourself move and groove in the beat of your own dance. I love these events so much and have been attending for years while supporting my own self growth and change. They are transformative and healing, fun and sweaty!
-Laura
Yoga Teacher Nanaimo
The workshop helped me process past trauma, connect me to my body and re-awaken my creative spark. Shauna is an intuitive guide, knowing when to push and when to support so I always felt safe but challenged to my edge. She is a remarkable, caring teacher and I am so grateful for her love and music.
-Participant at A Work of Art Workshop
I am starting out on the 5Rhythms teaching path and this video is truly inspiring and what I want to be able to do and will keep me fired up about this work thank you.
-Miranda White
Thank you for sharing the gift of dance in several communities! We are blessed to have your quiet, calm energy leading the way...helping us release our stuff!!
-Sue D.
Teacher
Shauna Devlin is a great gift to both the conscious dance community and to this world. She is generous, passionate and kind as well as being fun and very sassy. She has one of the biggest hearts I know, she cares deeply for others and is committed to making a difference. Her grounded and gentle presence encourages and inspires healing, growth readiness for change in those around her.
-Anne Marie Hogya
Occupation Therapist & 5Rhythms Teacher
Shauna has a rare talent to spark the joy of movement in everyone she encounters on the dance floor. With her huge heart, she can ignite a life long passion for freedom in motion. She encourages people of all abilities to stretch and grow into the authentic dancers they truly are.
-Bettina Rothe
Coach & 5Rhythms Teacher
Shauna is a bright and sparkling dance facilitator and DJ. She brings soul and beat to a space in a graceful and engaging way.
Her sharp mind, loving heart and creative humour support a wide range of experiences on the dance floors where she hosts.
I highly recommend dancing with Shauna.
-Christy Greenwood
Massage Therapist & Kundalini Dance Facilitator
I would have to agree with the participant’s and say that the music you played was very appropriate for everyone in the group! Shauna you bring such great energy to dance which clearly shows as one of your passions.
-Shanan St. Louis
Alzheimer BC
Shauna has a way of guiding the dance floor with a mix of humour, authenticity, care, and focus that my body and mind can trust and sink into. Her experience in life and on the dance floor comes through in her facilitation, and she has the ability to take people, and a group as a whole, really deep into their dance. I whole-heartedly recommend dancing with Shauna!
-Cedar Soulfeather
Dance Temple Facilitator & DJ
Shauna was my first introduction to conscious dance. I am grateful that I had such an amazing teacher and positive experience. She taught me the value and gift of working with teachers/instructors who ensure you are safe and supported in sacred movement practices.
-Valerie Williams
