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

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.  If  you haven’t found it yet, keep looking.  Don’t settle.  As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”   ~ Steve Jobs

Were it not for Steve being true to loving the work he did, perhaps I would have not found mine.  Beach Dance may never have been created were it not for Steve’s invention of the iPod and iTunes.  Thank you for the many contributions you gave to all of us who use your technologies and products. 

Thank you, Steve for playing life full out.

“Whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.”
~Max Ehrmann

It was only eleven days ago.   It was a significant ending and a sweet beginning.  After calling Cannon Beach, Oregon home for the last ten years and living in that state for the past thirty-four years, I moved to an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with my husband, my cat, and dreams of new adventures in the sun.   While there are many unknowns about what’s next, I do know I’m where I’m supposed to be.  The words of Max Ehrmann provide me comfort whenever I find myself trying to understand and figure everything out about life RIGHT NOW.

Right now…I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who participated in Beach Dance this summer.  Those who were new to the dance and those who have danced on the shores with me many times before, you all inspired me in ways I grasp to find words for.  Your courage to try something different.  Your willingness to share your experience with others.  Your delight and your depth that was visibly apparent as you danced.   These are the things I took with me on the plane ride to Maui.  These are the things that are now safely kept within my heart to be taken out again if I get scared as Beach Dance begins again in a new place.     

Right now…I wonder how the eight of you who were a part of the Native Retreat are doing and when we’ll see each other again.  All weekend long, your honesty and transparency were beautiful to behold.   Our laughter and our tears filled me up and fulfilled all my wishes for what I envisioned the retreat could be.  So many sweet moments to remember.  So many memories to encourage me on.  Like the sanddollars in the sand, we are never broken.  We are given many opportunities in life to be broken open and this retreat did just that for me.   Thank you Ceit, Dinah, Jenny D.  Jenny N., Joe, Margo, Sandy and Tayna.  With your big love and support that weekend, the sadness of leaving was made okay having been witnessed by all of you.

Right now…as I finish writing this post, it’s raining HARD (and it’s warm).   This rain, like my recent move to Maui, washes over me and reminds me that endings are beginnings and beginnings are endings.  Even though I’d like to think it’s a long, winding road I’m on with plenty of detours, it’s a circular path that continues on and on.   I left home to find myself here…at home again…listening to it rain.     

Somehow I know what’s next will turn out to be a very good thing.

And then there was one weekend left to participate in Beach Dance in Oregon.  

Actually, there are two more weekends of dance happening  in Cannon Beach.   Three Beach Dance events will take place over Labor Day weekend and then three + days of dancing goodness will happen next Thursday evening through Sunday afternoon when the Native Retreat will be going on.   These are the last chances to dance where Beach Dance was born before it heads further west toward sunnier shores.    

While the upcoming holiday weekend is typically considered the end of summer because the kids are going back to school, the Oregon coast typically begins its summer-like weather in September.  I can’t assure you we’ll be dancing under blue skies and sunshine, but there’s a better chance than at any other time in the last three months that warmth and yellow rays of goodness will prevail.  Whether you’ve been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the “right” time to try it or you’ve been a fan of Beach Dance for awhile, I’d love to dance with you for the first time or the last time before I move myself and my work to Maui. 

This weekend’s music will offer up body-shaking, groove-making, soul-soaring songs.  I promise they’ll make you move and I hope they’ll move you in a way you’ll never forget.  That’s a tall order for a playlist to deliver, but when the theme all weekend long is LOVE, you can count on the dance being an extra delicious experience. 

In three weeks, I’ll be on a one-way ticket traveling to Hawaii and to who-knows-what’s-next.   I do know this.  Right now, as I pack up my home and prepare to go on this crazy-good/crazy-scary adventure, all I want to do is dance.  I’d love to dance with you before I go.  If coming to a Beach Dance this weekend or attending next week’s Native Retreat is a crazy-good/crazy-scary thing for you, call me or send me an email.  It may very well be our last chance to dance…unless, of course, you’re already planning your trip to Maui.