Contemplative Dance Practice

Offered periodically at various locations on Kauai

Contemplative Dance Practice (CDP) was developed by Barbara Dilley at Naropa Institute in the late 70’s at the request of Tibetan Mystic, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche as a way to bring the teachings into embodiment in daily life. CDP can be a space in ones life for process, integration, practicing authenticity, play, community weaving, and more.

“If you bring the fullness of your attention to the most ordinary gesture, it becomes extraordinary.”
- Barbara Dilley

“The practice brings contemporary dance and Tibetan Buddhist practice together to create a simple but strong container to work both artistically and creatively with the art of living.” - Bernadette Divilly

“Contemplative dance practice is a time and space to hold and to evolve personal and group awareness of body/mind.” - Barbara Dilley

The 3 phases of CDP: 

Stillness Practice - approximately 20 minutes in any body position.

Personal Practice - “Kinesthetic Delight” - approximately 25 minutes of following one's personal interests… stretching, moving in the space, stillness, going out to be in nature…what brings one pleasure moment to moment, authentic expression just for you while in the shared field.

Open Space - approximately 50 minutes of shared Movement Practice. A structured openness for emergent personal or relational movement and witnessing. We start together witnessing each other and ourselves. When someone is inspired to move they bow in and do so. Others may also start to move or they may continue to observe. At any point those who have been moving can return to observing, and vice versa as many times as emerges. Consensual physical contact is welcome. We are generally not conversing with words though there may be spontaneous sounds, poetry, or music.

After being oriented by the facilitator, the practice itself is not led except for the ringing of bells to indicate the shift between phases. There will be a brief opening and closing circle.