A Weekend of Sword Magick
YOU are powerful.
You ARE powerful.
You are POWERFUL.
You *do* get to tune into the rhythms of the planet and you *do* get to be fierce and beautiful at the same time, and you *are* creative and you *can* dance.
Did you know?
- I do not have what most would consider "a dancer's body"
- I am what most would consider "middle aged"
- I cannot do the splits, backbends, or somersaults.
- I was working through a hip AND foot injury when the above photo was shot
- My low back needs a lot (and I mean A LOT) of TLC just for regular life, let alone dance
There is so much to dancing that you do NOT need to be an acrobat or have extreme flexibility to bring power and intention to your dance. You can absolutely have all of those things, but really all you need to add power and dynamics to your dance is YOU. EVERYTHING else can be modified to fit you where YOU are right now.
If this interests you, perhaps you would be interested in coming to my weekend immersion
in Sacramento Sept. 23 -24.
Just in time for the Equinox, we are going to get SUPER witchy.
(TICKETS AVAILABLE 9/9 at 11:11am) CLICK ME TO GO TO REGISTRATION (continue reading if you would like more details!)
Where we'll meet
Hoi Polloi Fusion Dance
(In Person Only)
5660 Main Avenue, Orangevale, CA
Do you need a place to stay? Recommendations from our host:
1: Lake Natoma Inn (I stayed here last time I came to Hoi Polloi, and it was lovely)
What we'll learn
In A Weekend of Sword Magick, we are going to:
- Dig into some basic sword technique.
- Layer intention and magick over our sword technique.
- Perform a ritual together honoring the equinox in our world and in ourselves
- Students will get to learn how I come up with some of my movement, AND you get a chance to start making something of your own (don't worry! This is super low pressure. I will guide you every step of the way)!
Join me! Register Here! (TICKETS AVAILABLE 9/9 at 11:11am)
SATURDAY 9/23:
11am-1pm - Steel and Bone
Learn some basic concepts and foundational sword dance movement by delving into Shannon's magical world of sword dance: Forge a deeper connection to your sword and yourself as you learn to layer magick over solid sword technique and drills, and begin to dance with your sword as if it were an Athame.
1-2 - LUNCH
2-4 - Sword Magick: Equinox
Layer magick and intention over the movement we learned earlier. Bring your journal and your sword as we explore what needs to be carved away using two mighty tools: the pen and the sword. Let the sun in Libra help guide us toward balance in our personal lives and in the world around us.
We will delve into the magickal movements of carving away and calling in, sharpening and honing our goals and intentions for the coming season, and letting go of that which no longer serves us.
6-8(ish) - Fall Equinox Ritual and Potluck
Join us at a lovely and exclusive location to celebrate and honor the Fall Equinox. Taking the skills and information we learned in the SM: Equinox workshop, we will perform a ritual together honoring the energetic balance of light and dark on our planet and within ourselves. Allowing ourselves the chance to tune in deeply to our purpose here on Earth, in this body, in this lifetime, and what needs to be balanced in ourselves in order to move forward as well as giving gratitude for the abundance in our lives. Following this ritual will be a potluck feast and celebration of the Fall Equinox!
SUNDAY 9/24:
11-12:30 - Put a Sword On it (tm)
Learn the game that started it all! Begin to make YOUR own sword movement! We will open class with some sword technique review and some foundational fusion bellydance movement. From there, through a series of prompts, students will be invited to layer, change, and challenge themselves to create their own short phrases and combinations.
12:30-1 - LUNCH
1-2:30 - Sword Magick: Spirit
Putting it all together and diving into creation! Create your own ritual dance utilizing all the skills we learned over the weekend - perhaps a seed for a bigger work later on! In this workshop, I will share some of the techniques I use to put together a piece of work - whether it is structured improv or choreography.
Students are invited to:
- Bring a work in progress to fine tune
- Bring a previously finished piece to re-work
- Begin from, well, the beginning- and make a start at creating something new.
- Experiment and play! No pressure!
Your Teacher
Shannon Burla is an international performer and teacher hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area, California. Shannon is inspired by the seasons and by change...by the crossroads, mist and wildflowers. She is a certified Bohemian Bellydance Foundations Instructor, and director of her own theatrical dark fusion company, The Dancers of Nyx.
Philosophy
The definition of Sword Magick is: A pattern of movement in which a sword is used as an athame in conjunction with dance to build and direct energy and intention toward a specific task or goal.
Definition of Athame: A ceremonial blade used to direct energy and draw boundaries.
Usually, a sword is seen as an elemental tool of air or of fire, depending on one's system of beliefs. In Sword Magick, the sword is used to represent all five elements:
Earth: Steel and Bone - mastering the foundational movement of your practice
Air: Wisdom, logic and thought - Strategically choosing movements to suit your goals
Fire: Passion and creativity - Adding the unexpected, bringing the power, and learning to smoulder as well as ignite!
Water: Carving of dreams, expression of emotion and liquid quick movement - smooth transitions linking the lyrics of your movement together.
The final spark, the charge of electricity that is Spirit can come only from one place: You. The minute you pick up your sword with intention, You are the final element that brings the magic to life. You, and only you.
Pricing
The full weekend experience is $250 with payment plans available.
(If you don't see a plan that works for you, shoot me a message and we will find something that will work for you!)
BIPOC, LGBTQIA, and MENAHT dancers receive a special discount! Just use the discount code STARFIRE to receive $100 off. This is in reparation and support of those who have faced (and continue to face) systemic racism, oppression and marginalization, as well as a repayment to those from whose cultures this fusion dance form borrows.
Join me! Register Here! (TICKETS AVAILABLE 9/9 at 11:11am)