INVESTIGATE REVEAL CONNECT
The body knows who you are and where you have been.
When we investigate ourselves by moving our bodies
dancing
listening
exploring
especially together
we open up to an awareness of all that lives within:
Our stories, our conditioning, our fears, our strengths, our passions, our light, our joy.
We reveal ourselves.
Our Body in motion provides an expanse
where we can move with, express & release these revelations.
There we can
remember our true nature
identify patterns holding us back from being ourself
release what is not ours to hold
connect
feel fully alive
meet our edges
&
live in the inhale & exhale of life: love.
Join me in the dance of discovery, of deeply knowing, embodying and offering who you are to yourself and to the world around you.
When we investigate ourselves by moving our bodies
dancing
listening
exploring
especially together
we open up to an awareness of all that lives within:
Our stories, our conditioning, our fears, our strengths, our passions, our light, our joy.
We reveal ourselves.
Our Body in motion provides an expanse
where we can move with, express & release these revelations.
There we can
remember our true nature
identify patterns holding us back from being ourself
release what is not ours to hold
connect
feel fully alive
meet our edges
&
live in the inhale & exhale of life: love.
Join me in the dance of discovery, of deeply knowing, embodying and offering who you are to yourself and to the world around you.
photo: Sydney Woodward
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Why I am a Movement Facilitator...
I trust the dance to take me where I need to go and have always had a deep desire to include. I adore bringing people together in environments where revealing their true self is expected, how magnificent! When I am dancing, doors open to my innermost workings and lead me to the truth: I am “the sky, everything else is just the weather.” (Pema Chodron) I dance, again and again, to continue to see through the layers of the weather and return to myself. My body in motion sets me free from the restraints of my conditioning, my stories and my fears, allowing me to experience & know true self, interconnection, beauty and love. It brings me so much joy to provide opportunities for people to experience themselves in motion, a space where our movements and our dances are the elixirs to self acceptance, awareness, community building & healing. |
After a life time of dancing in my bedroom, forests, nightclubs, mountains, festivals and the discos of the Dominican Republic, in 2005 I discovered the 5Rhythms® movement practice and have been practicing and studying ever since. During my first class I made the declaration:
"Everybody deserves the right to dance and experience themselves through movement,
I am going to make this my mission!"
My offerings since 2005, in both public & outreach settings, led me to officially make that declaration a reality, in 2019 I founded Dance Your Ability Therapeutic Movement Foundation, a not-for-profit organization. Programs & Trainings, both online & in person, that bring movement & dance to those that would not normally attend public classes: children, elderly, at-risk youth, mixed abilities, trauma survivors, incarcerated and those in recovery.
"Everybody deserves the right to dance and experience themselves through movement,
I am going to make this my mission!"
My offerings since 2005, in both public & outreach settings, led me to officially make that declaration a reality, in 2019 I founded Dance Your Ability Therapeutic Movement Foundation, a not-for-profit organization. Programs & Trainings, both online & in person, that bring movement & dance to those that would not normally attend public classes: children, elderly, at-risk youth, mixed abilities, trauma survivors, incarcerated and those in recovery.
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CERTIFICATIONS & TRAININGS INCLUDE:
• kinSHIFT Elements of Truth: BEFORE RECONCILIATION (2021)
• Room 217: Care Through Music Level I (2020) • Kim Barthel: Trauma Informed Practice (2019) •Yoga Outreach CoreTraining™ (2014) • 5Rhythms® Certified Teacher (2010/11) • Zumba Instructor (2008) • Level I & II Ski Instructor CSIA (1989 & 1991) • BA in Latin American Studies/Spanish (1996) -with a Direct Studies on the Merengue Dance • and over 20 years as a Parent. |
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Gratitude...
I live and work on the unceded Hul’qumi’num Coast Salish Traditional Territory.
I would not be here without the guiding hand of so many teachers:
First I would like to thank my Mom, who dances with me each week, and my step father for brewing me in a very powerful cup of music. Their album collection and selection of music has impacted me in a way that, I believe, allows me to be with and play music for a large variety of human beings. Through out my childhood I had many solid friendships, these unions taught me trust. The mountains of my youth taught me that I am a part of the bigger picture, rather than the star of the show, they continue to teach me humility. I will forever be grateful to the thousands of dance partners that asked me to dance durning my years living in the Dominican Republic, those dances gave me the permission to embrace & surrender to my deep desire to dance. My three children have been my greatest teachers, offering the many ongoing lessons of unconditional love. The conscious dance world offers me countless teachers each time I step onto the dance floor. All of those souls that witnessed and moved with me, I am so grateful that you are a part of my biography, often without even knowing each other's names. At this time in my life I am blessed to have a loving partner & two stepsons; I am offered love in a manner I had no idea existed. And lastly, to all of the beautiful and brave humans that dance with me each and every week, thank you, you give meaning & joy to my work.
My work has been shaped by so many teachers, namely: Banafsheh Sayyad, Gabrielle Roth, Kathy Altman, Lori Saltzman, Jonathan Horan, Bettina Rothe and Joanne Winstanley.
I am constantly inspired by the offerings of Clarissa Pinkola Estés, John O'Donohue, Joy Harjo, Julia Alvarez, Alice Walker, Rumi, V formerly Eve Ensler, Toni Morrison, Jaiya John and Kae Tempest.
Above all I am both held and inspired by the Moon, the Sea, the Trees, the Sky and Mama Earth.
I live and work on the unceded Hul’qumi’num Coast Salish Traditional Territory.
I would not be here without the guiding hand of so many teachers:
First I would like to thank my Mom, who dances with me each week, and my step father for brewing me in a very powerful cup of music. Their album collection and selection of music has impacted me in a way that, I believe, allows me to be with and play music for a large variety of human beings. Through out my childhood I had many solid friendships, these unions taught me trust. The mountains of my youth taught me that I am a part of the bigger picture, rather than the star of the show, they continue to teach me humility. I will forever be grateful to the thousands of dance partners that asked me to dance durning my years living in the Dominican Republic, those dances gave me the permission to embrace & surrender to my deep desire to dance. My three children have been my greatest teachers, offering the many ongoing lessons of unconditional love. The conscious dance world offers me countless teachers each time I step onto the dance floor. All of those souls that witnessed and moved with me, I am so grateful that you are a part of my biography, often without even knowing each other's names. At this time in my life I am blessed to have a loving partner & two stepsons; I am offered love in a manner I had no idea existed. And lastly, to all of the beautiful and brave humans that dance with me each and every week, thank you, you give meaning & joy to my work.
My work has been shaped by so many teachers, namely: Banafsheh Sayyad, Gabrielle Roth, Kathy Altman, Lori Saltzman, Jonathan Horan, Bettina Rothe and Joanne Winstanley.
I am constantly inspired by the offerings of Clarissa Pinkola Estés, John O'Donohue, Joy Harjo, Julia Alvarez, Alice Walker, Rumi, V formerly Eve Ensler, Toni Morrison, Jaiya John and Kae Tempest.
Above all I am both held and inspired by the Moon, the Sea, the Trees, the Sky and Mama Earth.
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
~Shauna
The Dance by Robert Mirabel
When there is doubt, there is hope
When there is fear, there is love
When there is hate, there is peace
When there is suffering, there is the dance
A dance a dance a dance of hope
A dance a dance a dance of love
I dance to dance a dance of peace
I dance to dance I dance the dance
When there is doubt, there is hope
When there is fear, there is love
When there is hate, there is peace
When there is suffering, there is the dance
(Translation of Tiwa chant)
Dance all women
Dance all of you
Dance all you men
Dance all of you
Dance all women
Dance all you men
I dance to dance a dance of peace
I dance to dance
I dance the dance
When there is doubt, there is hope
When there is fear, there is love
When there is hate, there is peace
When there is suffering, there is the dance
A dance a dance a dance of hope
A dance a dance a dance of love
I dance to dance a dance of peace
I dance to dance I dance the dance
When there is doubt, there is hope
When there is fear, there is love
When there is hate, there is peace
When there is suffering, there is the dance
(Translation of Tiwa chant)
Dance all women
Dance all of you
Dance all you men
Dance all of you
Dance all women
Dance all you men
I dance to dance a dance of peace
I dance to dance
I dance the dance
