"Spirituality of the Body" with Charmaine Warren and guests, December 1

As curator for Gibney’s upcoming Arts + Action Talk: Spirituality of the Body (Tuesday, December 1, 7pm on Zoom), I’m truly excited to hear from a panel of artists whose work illuminates spiritual ideas and values, where the body is the site of spiritual expression and practice. We will welcome Laurel Atwell, Shamar Wayne Watt, Ogemdi Ude, and iele paloumpis, along with moderator Charmaine Warren, for a conversation that I hope will be the first of many--in Gibney’s digital space and beyond--exploring this rich topic. I spoke with Warren--a beloved veteran dancer and creator/host of the popular YouTube series, Black Dance Stories--about her experiences with spirituality and her hopes for the evening’s get-together.

Eva Yaa Asantewaa: How have you experienced dance as a means of expressing or practicing spirituality?

Charmaine Warren:  Many years ago, I was introduced to Ashtanga yoga, and this young dancer would run to a full day of rehearsal after my early morning yoga class. Someone pointed out the difference in my dancing, and then I started to pay attention. The light of acknowledgement doesn't go off right away but, with time, as I grew old and began to "own" my practice, I knew that it was the inner reckoning; my opening to spirit that brought my two loves together. Later, too, learning more about my Jamaican tradition and spirit in the African way has further helped me wake each morning and give time to my own spirit before I share the day with anyone else.

Eva Yaa Asantewaa: As you see it, especially as a dancer, what is spiritual about the body? Or what is the role of embodiment in spiritual practice?

Charmaine Warren:  Again, I have to acknowledge growing older and experiencing life as the answer. I dance now because I feel ready inside, and being ready inside means that I am one with my spirit. I work to be one with those around me before we "move" together. I work to be one with the space that I will "move" in. That may mean holding hands, doing sun salutations or taking time to breath together--and, now, land acknowledgements!

Eva Yaa Asantewaa: What do you hope for this gathering of artists?

Charmaine Warren: Mostly that we have an audience that will be willing to listen, but that we will share tools that we all use to stay connected to spirit during these trying times.

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Come join us!

RSVP now for Arts + Action Talk: Spirituality of the Body here. It’s FREE!

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DISCLAIMER: In addition to my work on InfiniteBody, I serve, at Gibney, as Senior Director of Artist Development and Curation and Editorial Director. The postings on this site are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views, strategies or opinions of Gibney.

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Esoterico Collective open house supports social justice

A number of my good friends and Tarot students from the arts community are involved in this effort to support the new anti-racism movement for social justice. Please read the following notice, and give your consideration to joining this timely effort.

Thanks!

Eva

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Esoterico Collective Open House

Saturday, December 20, 1-5pm

Esoterico Collective

67 West Street (4th Floor, Suite 402), Brooklyn

(map/directions)

Book your session: 

http://esotericobrooklyn.setmore.com/

The Esoterico Collective stands in solidarity with the families of Eric Garner, Akai Gurley, Aiyana Stanley-Jones, Duanna Johnson, Mike Brown, Rekia Boyd, Tamir Rice and too many others whose lives have been cut short and impacted by police brutality. This open house event will take place on the Saturday just before the Winter Solstice, raising much needed monetary support for organizations doing work around issues of anti-Black racism and anti-police repression.

We will be offering our services as healers and intuitive counselors to all who seek it out. We are asking for donations of $25 and up for each 20 minute session. The services we will provide include Tarot, Reiki, Ayurvedic Consultation and I Ching readings (other modalities TBA). 100% of proceeds from those who book in advance (prior to December 18th) will be donated to Healing Justice For Black Lives Matter (https://www.facebook.com/events/728881563862374) and Equality for Flatbush : E4F

Book a session with iele paloumpis, Bobby Abate, Jasmine Spacher, Regina Rocke or Robyn Olds (other member offerings TBA) @http://esotericobrooklyn.setmore.com/ 

You will receive an email with information on how to donate to the causes above.

Generally speaking our open houses are intended to help Esoterico keep its doors open, so we will be accepting separate donations for the space on December 20th as well.

There are many ways to contribute to this movement - healing justice, self and community care are all vital components toward movement building. Our services will be free to organizers who need to take time to self reflect so that their work can sustainably continue, contact esotericobrooklyn@gmail.com. Our intention is to help create more space for healing to happen.

We are sending energy to the protesters out in the streets and activists organizing against state violence, moving us toward racial justice and all forms of social change. We hope that you will add your energy and voices in whatever ways you can. We hope we can support you on your path toward self reflection and healing in this time when community care is so needed.

Wicca as somatic healing with dance artist iele paloumpis

New York Live Arts

presents

Shared Practice 

with 

iele paloumpis

Witchcraft – A Corporeal Practice

March 16 (1:30-3:30pm)

Third Floor Studios 

In Shared Practice workshops, Live Arts season artists share the physical and creative practices behind their work. Each process-focused session provides participants an opportunity to recharge their own artistry by experiencing different approaches to making and moving with similarly-motivated professionals. All classes are held on Saturdays throughout the season at New York Live Arts.

Witchcraft -- A Corporeal Practice

Over the past several months, changes in my health and body have shifted the ways I approach dance and daily life. Without concrete answers from doctors and various bodyworkers, I’ve been looking to Wiccan ritual as a somatic practice of integration, acceptance and healing. I’ve also been thinking a lot about how all bodies - whether elderly, disabled, or otherwise "different" - can enter into dance. For this Shared Practice, we will look to magical herbs, astrology and the lunar calendar, as well as our own unique and defiant bodies, to generate restorative movement. Come with an awareness of something you might like to shed, heal and/or embrace.

--iele paloumpis 

$15/class. Class size is limited. Advance purchase is recommended to guarantee a spot. Click here.

New York Live Arts
219 West 19th Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues), Manhattan
(map/directions)