The first Beach Dance in June 2008.

Sometimes, it feels just like the first time.   Sometimes, watching people experience Beach Dance for the first time is more enjoyable than having my own dance.  I see expressions of utter joy and happiness.  I notice grand gestures and subtle movements.  I hear whoops of delight and cries of surrender.  And after five years of bringing this form of ecstatic dance into the world, I am still in awe of it all.

It’s hard to believe it’s been five years since Beach Dance began.  On a cool and cloudy day in Cannon Beach, Oregon, fifiteen hardy souls braved the weather and their own apprehensions and gave something new and different a go.  Looking back, despite my own doubts and fears, I just knew it was something I had to.  I had no idea (other than those fifteen friends of mine who came and danced with me that day) who would be interested. I had no idea how it would all unfold.  

When I moved to Maui last September, again I was faced with those initial doubts and fears.  Who would come and dance out in nature with me?  Who might venture out of their comfort zone and dance their own creation with no rules except for the ones they imposed on themselves?   Who would become a “fan” and return again and again?   I couldn’t have planned the unfolding of Beach Dance any better than it has done entirely on its own.

When you are compelled do something, whether it’s following a dream or helping a stranger, you must heed that call to serve.  Trust and faith and hope are intimately connected to one another.  We all want to have and experience these qualities in our lives.  When we allow ourselves to let go of our expectations and judgments and believe in the validity and goodness of our own experience, a spacious place is created for something magical to show up.  

At some point, one begins to realize everything unfolds exactly the way it’s meant to be.  I think that’s as good a definition of awe as any.   I hope you experience your own sense of awe every day.   I invite you to come and experience Beach Dance in Maui.  Perhaps you’ll be in awe of it all, too.  

A dance six years ago...before Beach Dance was created.

Recently I returned to Oregon for the first time since moving to Maui six months ago.  Incredibly, the one day I was back in Cannon Beach was sunny and dare I say, almost warm.   While I didn’t strip down to shorts and a t-shirt, I did take off my down jacket as I walked along the beach.  Inevitably, the walk turned into a dance as the music shifted from a slow rhythm to a faster beat.  Inevitably, a few moments after letting my body move the way it wanted to, tears began to fall.  

They were not tears of sadness nor were they tears of joy.  No doubt I was experiencing a myriad of emotions being back in the place I called home for a decade, but I didn’t expect to feel as content and complete as I did.  I think moments of complete contentment in life are fleeting and rare.  Moments of now-ness, wholeness and grace.  Moments of profound presence when nothing else matters and nothing else is needed.

Hello, Gratitude.  It’s lovely to feel you down deep.

Being with what is familiar is comforting.  Being with what is unknown not-so-much.  Being grateful for the memories and for the mystery simultaneously…yeah, that’s what those tears were for.  For all that was my life and for all that’s yet to be.  That’s a dance I could dance every day.  

This Friday afternoon at Keawakapu Beach, come dance all that has been and all that has yet to be in your life.  Come join in the fun of that!        

Just because it’s been quiet for awhile here on the website doesn’t mean it’s been quiet on the dance-front.   Au contraire!  Beach Dance has been happily humming along for the past two months in its new home turf (and surf) on Maui.   Lots of music, movement and merriment have been had since events began here in January.   Slowly, but surely more folks are attending and returning to dance again.  I know it will take some time to build a following here and I’m okay with that.     

Since moving to Hawaii five months ago, I’ve been following a path that’s been one-part mystery and one-part certainty.   I don’t know if I’ll live in Oregon again and I do know this move to Maui was the right one for me and for my husband.  I don’t know exactly how my work will evolve on this island and I do know this is exactly where I’m meant to be so I can do my best work.   I don’t know how long we’ll live here and I do know there’s no other place I’d rather be right now. 

Mystery and certainty.  Not knowing and knowing.  It’s the beauty of life and it’s the beauty of dance.  I’d much rather follow a path that meanders and has many destinations than one that marches steadily toward one expected outcome.   I’ve learned (and I’m still learning) that being patient is easier when one’s purpose is clear.  That doesn’t mean I don’t wish for Beach Dance to become a well-known experience and event here in Maui much sooner as opposed to later.  It just means I’m totally willing to wait for the time when that happens.  

So as I continue to meander, I’ve been inspired to create a four-week movement series called Passage.  Through the art of dance and conversation, this class will explore four particular themes of midlife and while I’ll be facilitating it, my middle-aged self will be fully participating in it as well.  If you live on Maui or if you’re going to be on the island for the month of March, check out the link above and let me know if you’d like to follow a passage or two of your own with us. 

Speaking of March, Beach Dance events, times and locations are now posted on the right-hand column of the website for this month.

Last but not least, I’ve added a new playlist to the music player that’s located on the home page.  Listen and groove to your heart’s content with that one and then get yourself to iTunes or Spotify  and you can check out the songs and artists that are listed below.  I made a promise to a few folks to post the playlist we listened to at the Beach Dance during Tribal Spirit and so here it is…Enjoy!

Planet Earth (Poem) ~ Michael Jackson
Conscious Unfolding ~ Saggio
Point of Awakening ~ Desert Dwellers
Offspring ~ Yeshe
The Cello Song ~ Steven Sharp Nelson
One World/Love is the Seventh Wave ~ Sting
Give Love ~ MC Yogi
One Love ~ Sara Tavares
Isole Marino de Rosas
Abundance ~ Lisbeth Scott

It’s been over a week now since the Spirit Body retreat at Studio Maui came to a loving and sweet close amongst the thirty participants.  The retreat may be over, but most certainly, the dance continues on as each of us move gently back into our lives. 

What often happens after immersing oneself in a deep experience of exploration and connection with others, the “ah-ha’s”- the true impact of what you were just a part of doesn’t really sink into your skin and bones until you’ve spent some time away from the place where all that goodness took place.   I’m not quite ready to share what I “got” from the ten days of dancing, but I did want to share how pleased I am to have had Beach Dance be a part of the experience.  

The delight and joy that was evident on people’s faces and in their bodies was just…it was just…trying to find the words to capture all the feelings is challenging.  Gosh dangit, it made me so freakin’ happy my cheeks started aching from smiling so much.   It made me feel alive, blissed out, and so, so thankful.  I felt so incredibly proud.  

I took pride in watching people experience what it was like to dance outdoors, and on a beautiful beach on Maui at that. I took pride in having been asked to be a part of the Spirit Body retreat (thank you, Amara) and being able to share my passion with others.  I took pride in seeing that what I’ve created is different and it really makes a difference.  I’m so proud to be a dancer and to be a part of such an amazing community of people around the planet who understand the transformative power dance has not just for inspiring change in ourselves, but in others and for the rest of the world.  And yes, I’m damn proud to be a teacher of conscious movement.   That is one of the takeaways I got from dancing for almost ten days straight.

Beach Dance is back on tomorrow afternoon at Baldwin Beach and at Keawakapu Beach on Friday.  I’m heading to the Big Island for five days on Saturday morning so there will be no event that day or on Wednesday, February 15.     Be sure to check out the rest of February’s schedule in the right-hand column of the website if you can’t attend this week’s events.  

Speaking of takeaways from the retreat…I’ll be stepping up my contribution to the world by offering a four week dance series beginning in March.  Details will be forthcoming later this week.  Here’s another takeaway…these are a few of my favorite photographs from Spirit Body’s Beach Dance.  If you want to see more, go to the Beach Dance Facebook page. Enjoy!  

Fellow dancer and dear friend, Elia Seely and I on Baldwin Beach.

 This past weekend I was a participant in a dance workshop here on Maui known as Tribal Spirit.   People came from all corners of the globe to dance deep and wide, to connect in heart-felt, spirit-filled ways with one another, and to hold the vision of a world that works for everyone…a world in which we, as conscious dancers, know is possible.  True transformation is made real through embodiment.  By being  FULLY in our bodies and being that which we wish to manifest, we are doing our part to help bring about the necessary changes our world needs.    

There’s so much more I could say.  There’s so much energy still swirling around in my body from this past weekend, I need more time to take it all in.  In short, it was a three-day gathering of love.  The longer story and what I’m inspired to do next will be revealed very soon. 

I’m heading to Hana first thing tomorrow to rest and ready for the next five days of dance that begins at the studio on Wednesday.   Because I’ll be participating in this next workshop known as Spirit Body, Beach Dance will not be happening this Wednesday (1/25) at Baldwin Beach or on Friday (1/27) at Keawakapu Beach.  It will be happening on Saturday morning and it’s a private event.  However…if you’re participating in the Spirit Body gathering, you’ll be a part of that very special dance.  

The next public Beach Dance will be at Baldwin Beach on Wednesday, February 1 at 4:30 p.m..  Check the right-hand column of the website for February’s schedule of events.  Come and join us!

Rose Gabriel dancing atop the rocks at Keawakapu Beach.

The first three events of Beach Dance in Maui were…exceptionally delightful and downright fun!   While I’m still basking in the goodness from last week, I’m looking forward to what happens this week on the beach.  Tomorrow (Wednesday afternoon) marks another day to move your mojo and shake your stuff outdoors.   Come join us!

Speaking of what happened on the beach last week…I thought I’d tell a story or two and let a few photos from the events show you the rest.  There were a dozen people who showed up at the first dance.  Most of them were expected, but there were a couple surprises.   Before I tell any tales, I want to thank Karen, Jan, Rose, Ivy, Bob, Brad, C., Laura and Katarina as well as Jada and Marcus, for being a part of last Wednesday’s event.  It meant a lot to me to have each of you there.  I continue to be blown away by seeing the beauty of bodies dancing in and with nature.  It is creative and authentic expression showing up in a most exquisite form. 

One person dancing alone on the beach makes heads turn.  Twelve people dancing on the beach creates a bit of a scene.  And I can assure you, it’s a very good one at that.  As people walk on by, they can’t help but notice something is unusual and different is happening in front of their eyes, something they normally wouldn’t see on their daily stroll or swim at the beach.  Most of the passerbys are just that.  They pass on by us dancers without their walk or run being disrupted, but sometimes a glance or two is had and sometimes an acknowledgement of sorts is given our way and if we, the dancers, happen to be looking their way, we get the chance to take it in. 

As the facilitator, I’ll admit it can sometimes be challenging to dance my dance while at the same time holding space for others.   When I ”check in” to witness the other dancers, often I see what’s occurring around them and truly, it is fascinating to observe how people respond and react to what they see before them.  Thank you to the dancers that showed up on Friday and Saturday…Amon, Elia, Rosebud, Victoria, Rose, Amon, Lynne, and Davica…your presence and passion was so evident and palpable.  Thank you.  

So…onto the tales from the first week of Beach Dance in Maui.

Story 1…There was a man who danced despite not hearing the music we were listening to.  Perhaps he was listening to his own sweet music inside him and we inspired him to move to it.  I can’t remember his name (it was unique and beautiful) but I do have a photo of him and I (see below) and he joined our group without hesitation.  I love that!

A dancer who didn't need to hear the music to dance, but wanted to.

Story 2…One of our dancers gave an additional iPod to a man named Marcus who danced as though it was the very thing he needed in that moment of his life.   I thanked him for joining us and the expression on his face and his words paid me in millions.  

Marcus.

Story 3… People walking by are inspired to take pictures and post them on Facebook.  Sah….weeet!!!  

Thank You, Chandra!

Story 4…I meet a man named Amon on the beach a couple of weeks ago and we become instant friends and fellow dancers.  He not only dances with us on Friday afternoon, he takes photos of our event and emails me every single one of them.  Thank you, Amon.

Rose and Lisa at Sunset. Photo by Amon.

Story 5…Two teenagers young adults appear to be playing a game of tug of war.  It looks like the boy wants to play and the girl absolutely does not.  He tugs at her hands.  She resists and yet a smile remains on her face.  I witness what’s occurring and interject.  I say to the girl, “What’s he trying to make you do?”  She says, “Dance!”  And that’s all it took for me to offer up iPods to the two of them and suddenly she changed her answer to “yes!” and off they went dancing together for a couple of songs.  I can’t recall your names but I remember they both started with the letter J….thank you.  

Story 6…A man walks right into the space where the six of us dancers were moving about on the beach.  He does not choose to walk around us.  He chooses to walk directly in front of us, amongst us and…as he walks on by he puts his hand up across his face and says something I cannot hear.  In my opinion, he looks nervous.  Mad.  Scared.  It was odd to witness his experience of us and it was odd to try and understand what his non-verbal cues were and what they might have meant.  Really.  

Story 7...Beach Dance is a free event now that it’s located  in Maui.  I have a very lovely feeling that because of this it will become bigger and better than I’ve ever imagined it to be.  When you get paid in glances and words of praise, in sweet moments of recognition and beautiful photographs, and in delicious jars of honey…oh my, oh my, oh my.    

The real story of Beach Dance is just beginning.

Beach Dance begins in Maui in just one more week!   If you like to dance, groove on good music and love spending time out in nature, this is one of the best ways to enjoy those three things all at once.  I believe Charlotte, Jenny and Sophia Gale (the three lovely women in the photo above) would agree with me.  

You’re invited to come experience the movement and merriment of free-form dance outdoors next week when the first three events kick off a new beginning for Beach Dance in Maui.   Take a look at the event dates, times and locations in the right-hand column and see what would be best for you.  All you need to do is let Lisa know which event you’d like to participate in and as long as there is still space available, you’re in!  

After your spot has been reserved, what do you need to do on the day of the event? 

• Show up 10-15 minutes before the event start time begins.
• Bring your water bottle and sunscreen.
• Bring your own headphones if you’d like.  I provide them, but you might like yours better. 
• Wear your swimsuit underneath your dance attire (just in case you want to splash about in the ocean after the dance).   

If you have questions about Beach Dance that you haven’t found the answers to after perusing the website, please don’t hesitate to use the contact form to send Lisa an email or you can call her at 503.860.7711.   If you’d like to see what dancing on a beautiful beach in the sand, surf, and sun looks like, check out this video from an event that was held on Baldwin Beach outside of Paia this past January.  

Beach Dance on Maui January 2011

It’s fitting that the first public event of 2012 is taking place at the very same beach where Beach Dance had its beginnings on Maui last year.  I do hope you’ll join us.  I look forward to dancing with you!  

This is Gabriel’s mom, Margo.   Today is her son’s celebration of life.  Gabriel passed from this world to what’s beyond on Saturday, December 3.   Today is a day of remembrance and love.  Today is a day I’ll dance for the young man who touched my heart and spirit in a way that will remain with me forever.   

I met Margo and Gabriel this past summer.   Margo asked me if her son could join us for a Sunday morning dance.  Unaware of her son’s age, I asked how old he was and when she said he was twenty-one, I said yes.   She continued, saying he had a few disabilities and asked again if it would be okay if he were to join us. I said yes again.  I didn’t know what his disabilities were and it didn’t matter.  I just somehow knew everything would be fine. 

It was more than fine.  It was divine in every sense of that word.  Meeting and dancing with Gabriel was a sacred, God-like experience.   He was present in each and every moment.  He expressed joy and delight in the most simple and beautiful of ways.  He often repeated the very things I said to him immediately back to me.  It was like hearing an echo of my own voice outloud. 

“It’s nice to meet you.” 
“It’s nice to meet you.”  

During a dance when I reached for his hand, he asked me, “What are you doing?” to which I replied, “I’m dancing with you.”  Without a moment’s hesitation, he said with a beautiful smile, “I’m dancing with you.”   That moment broke my heart wide open.   

We danced many Sunday mornings together; Margo, Gabriel and I.  We danced in the sun under blue skies.  We danced in the light rain amongst the gray.  At the end of our dances, Gabriel would always carry my bag back up the trail from the beach.   At the end of our dances, I would always walk home with a smile on my face.  Perhaps more than anyone else I’ve ever danced with, Gabriel reminded me we are all one.  We are all God.

Like Gabriel, John O’ Donohue passed on from our world much too soon.  John was an Irish teacher and writer and his book, “To Bless the Space Between Us” contains many beautiful poems.  The following poem could not be more fitting to honor Gabriel and this day.

On the Death of the Beloved

Though we need to weep your loss,
You dwell in that safe place in our hearts
Where no storm or night or pain can reach you.

Your love was like the dawn
Brightening over our lives,
Awakening beneath the dark
A further adventure of color.

The sound of your voice
Found for us
A new music
That brightened everything.

Whatever you enfolded in your gaze
Quickened in the joy of its being;
You placed smiles like flowers
On the altar of the heart.
Your mind always sparkled
With wonder at things.

Though your days here were brief,
Your spirit was alive, awake, complete.

We look toward each other no longer
From the old distance of our names;
Now you dwell inside the rhythm of breath,
As close to us as we are to ourselves.

Though we cannot see you with outward eyes,
We know our soul’s gaze is upon your face,
Smiling back at us from within everything
To which we bring our best refinement.

Let us not look for you only in memory,
Where we would grow lonely without you.
You would want us to find you in presence,
Beside us when beauty brightens,
When kindness glows
And music echoes eternal tones.

When orchids brighten the earth,
Darkest winter has turned to spring;
May this dark grief flower with hope
In every heart that loves you.

May you continue to inspire us:
To enter each day with a generous heart.
To serve the call of courage and love
Until we see your beautiful face again
In that land where there is no more separation,
Where all tears will be wiped from our mind,
And where we will never lose you again.

I’ll be holding Margo, her husband Michael, and their son Lujack in my heart today.  In honor of their son and brother, today I dance for Gabriel Desautel.     

Scroll down to the end of this post if you just want the details about why Beach Dance events are now free.  The first Beach Dance event on Maui is Wednesday, January 4, 2012!

When one starts a business, one of the hopes most entrepreneurs have is for the business to be successful.  One of the ways in which success is measured is whether the business makes money.   Ultimately, I believe how successful a business is depends largely in part by how success is being defined by the business owner.   As the founder, owner and facilitator of Beach Dance, my definition of success for my business is as follows: 

If it makes me feel alive, contributes to the greater good of others, and helps to make the world a better place…it’s a success.  If it honors my passion, fulfills a purpose, and does no harm…it’s a success.  If it is promoted and recommended by others, receives recognition from the community it serves, and creates curiosity and admiration from strangers…it’s a success.  If it gives me the opportunity to share my talents, time and love with others…it’s a success.  If it fosters authentic communication, creative expression, and collaborative effort…it’s a success.  

There is no money in my definition of success because money has never been what’s motivated me to do my work.   Were that the case, I probably would have chosen a much different career path than a movement artist and life coach and there’s a good chance Beach Dance would never have been born.  I do believe it’s important to be valued for the work one does and be paid well for it.  

Payment, of course, can appear in many different forms.  And yes, like most folks, I enjoy receiving money as a form of  payment.  However, money is not what stirs me from my sleep in the morning.  Money is not what I dream of or believe is the key to happiness or is something I think will solve all the world’s problems.  

Possibility and mystery get me out of bed most days before light in the sky has begun.  I dream of doing things that will make a difference and being courageous in spite of my fears.  I believe what makes people most happy is feeling free.  I think  know when we help others and are of service to one another, it makes us feel valued and loved and the world becomes a better place.

For the past four years when Beach Dance was based in Oregon, events were $15-20 per person and a free beverage was given to all participants.   There were no permits required for the events nor did the events create any damage to public property or disrupt other beach-goers.  The initial purchase of twenty iPods and plenty of advertising kept Beach Dance in the red for the first three years.  Just as Beach Dance was changing its color and becoming profitable financially-wise, the decision to move to Maui was made. 

Having spent a considerable amount of time researching Hawaii’s land use laws, Maui county’s rules, and the Department of Land and Natural Resources regulations, I understand things are quite different in Hawaii than in Oregon when it comes to conducting commercial activities on the beach.   I knew before I moved to Maui, Beach Dance would have to be free.  After some initial whining and frustration, I realized this might be the best way for Beach Dance to become even bigger than I had envisioned it to be six years ago when I first came up with the idea.

Beach Dance events are now free not only because they have to be so as not to break any rules or being heavily fined by the state, but because Beach Dance is my gift to the world and gifts should always be free.   

I offer other events and experiences held off the beach that will generate different forms of payment for me.  I also trust the unknown enough to know new ways in which to bring my work into the world will avail themselves.  The forms of payment I receive from Beach Dance are simple, but profound ones;  time and love.   It’s time for me, for you, and for the entire world to give more of those things to each other.      

Have a listen to MC Yogi’s song, Give Your Love Away and consider what you can give to another.

“Love is life and life is living.
Living is love and love is giving.
Well, we live for love it gives life meaning.
Well, we live to give love.  There’s no greater feeling.
This feeling of kindness and love’s inside us
nobody can sell this or try to buy this.
Cuz love is priceless and it guides us,
lifts us up and ignites us.
Love can bind us and remind us
love has no limit cuz love is timeless.
Hate and fear will try to blind us,
but love unites us. Nobody can fight this.
Cuz love is righteous and it must just
save the whole world from this global crisis.
So throw your hands up if you know what the time is.
Open up your heart and let it shine the brightest.”      

Always remember…what we give is what we get.

I’ve been on Maui a little over a month now.  It’s been an interesting time of settling in, letting go, and moving on. Reflection.  Rumination.  Gestation.  Preparation.  Anticipation.  It’s been a time to experience all of these states of being and it’s been a time to practice patience.   I am thankful for the dance…for it allows me to be with and move through all the myriad of emotions and feelings in my body.  I can’t imagine sitting still and letting my head run rampant and rule the day.  No way.  

As hundreds, perhaps thousands of protests take place around the world, I find my place in the sand and in the surf.  And as I dance on the beach, alone for now, I feel a sense of aliveness and connection to all of it.   As people walk on by, some people smile, some people stare, and then there are those that seemingly can’t bear to look my way.   I wonder how we’ll all come together, how it will all turn out, and how our lives will be impacted by our actions and our words.  These are my thoughts about Beach Dance in Maui and these are my thoughts about the world.      

What follows are the lyrics and a link to the video of a song I danced to today.  I encourage you to watch it, listen to it, but most importantly, dance it.
May it make you feel alive.    

I know that real change
will take our time to rearrange.
There’s no need to preach.
Your worries will be out of reach.
Don’t waste your time.
Let go of all them every day crimes.
We seem to live.
Forget to give.
We have to learn how to forgive.
Nothing’s going to be bad if you’re up to something good.
But if it’s going to be bad, we’ll turn it into something good.
I just want you to feel alive.

Jean Elan on YouTube