Dance me to the end of love

The dance is not where we lose ourselves. But where we find ourselves.

— Gabrielle Roth

Before 5 Rhythms I was lucky if I danced once a year. That one time would be at the end of a week of aikido training, with close aikido friends, and the help of alcohol. I would bust out aikido moves and burn off a seemingly inextinguishable effusion of energy. Those dances were the highlight of my year. But most years I wouldn’t dance at all.

I couldn’t dance in front of people. Or even by myself for that matter. My mind was way too in control to give way to such abandon.

One night ten years ago, at a time when my life was crumbling around me, I had a dream. It was dark and cold and I came to a wooden shack. As I entered the house was cold, empty, and dark. I walked to the second room and found a fire, burning in the hearth, and a girl, about 6, in a yellow dress with bare feet, dancing furiously.

Tonight I danced 5 Rhythms at our new Memorial Hall — four years since my first awkward and gut wrenching 5 Rhythms class. My spirit twirled and blazed, my body stretched and stamped, my feelings were honoured and expressed, my mind explored and expanded. I even yelped. My wild spirit was free and my inner child came out to play.

If you and I are ever in the same city or town, I would love to see you on the dance floor at a 5 Rhythms class.

5 Rhythms is a conscious dance practice with no steps

— Naomi Lishman