The
Planetary Dance
A Community Event with Anna Halprin (assisted by Jamie McHugh)
June 10, 4 – 6 pm, Sarah P. Duke Gardens
view
the directions
We
dance not for ourselves, but for the life of our community.
– Zuni people
The
Planetary Dance, created by Anna Halprin, originated in Marin County,
California in 1981 as a response to a community tragedy. It has grown
over the years to become an annual tradition for peoples around the world.
The Planetary Dance is a participatory dance like the dances of indigenous
people rather than a theatrical performance. You participate at whatever
level is appropriate for you.
The Planetary Dance is a moving mandala, a simple dance of concentric circles based on running, walking, and standing still in the four directions. Each of these elemental movements represents a commitment to action and involvement: the urgency of running, the dignity of walking, and the recuperation of stillness.
We will begin to gather at 3:30 pm at
Duke Gardens. We will start promptly at 4 pm with an orientation to the
tradition and the intention of the event. Then, you will be guided in
simple warm-ups to prepare your body and acclimate to the environment
(space and peoples). We will demonstrate the form of the Planetary Dance,
and then everyone will join in. You pace yourself, choosing when you run,
walk or are still.
As we run and walk to the steady heartbeat of the drums, we become one
collective body. We dance for peace with each other and peace with the
earth, with each step a prayer for healing. Come and join us for this
unique community event spearheaded by one of the dance world’s leading
pioneers. Dress comfortably for movement and wear running shoes.
If you are interested in participating in the event, please arrive no later than 3:30 pm. You do not need to sign up to participate.
Anna Halprin's diverse career has spanned the field of dance since the late 1930s, creating revolutionary directions for the art form and inspiring fellow choreographers to take modern dance to new dimensions. At 85, Halprin continues to make revolutionary work exploring the beauty of the aging body and its relationship to nature.
Halprin Ph.D. (Hon.) co-founded the Tamalpa Institute. She is the author of Movement Ritual, Moving Toward Life, Five Decades of Transformational Dance, and Dance As A Healing Art/Returning to Health, and has numerous dance works documented on film. A recent work of Anna's included a workshop culminating in a filmed performance called "Seniors Rocking," that presented the seniors addressing their feelings around aging through dance and narration.
Ms. Halprin and her performance company have appeared at many international venues including at the Centre Pompidou in Paris in September 2004. In March 2006, she returned to France for a one-woman exhibit of her work at the Contemporary Museum of Modern Art in Lyon. www.annahalprin.org
For more information read the San Francisco Chronicle article.
Jamie McHugh is a longtime collaborator with Anna Halprin. He has taken the Planetary Dance to communities in the United States and Europe. www.somaticexpression.com
