Long Dance 2010
December 4th-5th, 2010 - calendar
Led by TBA, Dance Chief
The Long Dance is a Visionary Ceremonial dance which takes place at night. Night is the time to bring forth associations that lie in the subconscious mind. The dance can bring them up to conscious levels of awareness. Once we dance these subconscious associations to the conscious levels, we can dance them, own them, and release them during the Dance.
The Long Dance is a powerful vehicle of change. Your intention provides the nature and direction of the power of the Dance:
- cleansing/forgiveness
- spiritual power
- physical endurance;
- surrender
- personal vision
- fellowship in the dance
- removal of blocks or limitations
- marking a juncture in life
- opening to new possibilities
We will dance in a circle in a sacred precinct with a ceremonial fire outside and with the Medicine Shield Banner of each dancer displayed around the periphery. Within the circle we will dance. While each will hold his or her own intent, the unity of dancing together will empower that intent. The Dance will continue through the night.
"In the Long Dance of life. . .
every step forward awakens three opportunities for the human:
one: placement in eternity,
two: purification of past forms, and
three: new opportunities for adventure;
for in the instance of eternal time the new always refreshes and cleanses."~ Beautiful Painted Arrow
(Joseph Rael, Beautiful Painted Arrow, who introduced the Long Dance to the people around the world, is a mystic, poet, artist, and visionary of Southern Ute and Picuris Pueblo decent. Pursuing a vision which he experienced many years ago, he has taken his teaching around the world and has inspired the development of some 60 Peace Chambers around the world. Upon his retirement, he appointed dance chiefs to continue the dances.)
For the Long Dance, dress in layers of clothing for easy adjustment to changing temperatures during the night. Bring your banner; a bed roll and pillow for resting after the dance; a flashlight; a change of clothing; clothing and a towel for the sweat lodge before the dance; food to share for the breakfast feast; an item for the give away; and any gifts you wish to give to drummers, fire tenders, fellow dancers, or the dance chiefs.
Medicine Shield Banner
Participants in the Long Dance will need to prepare a personal banner, approximately 2 feet by 4 feet. Banners usually reflect what each dancer wants to manifest as his or her reality. With your banner and your dance, you are creating your future. What does that look like? The past is past. The only moment that exists is now. This is the time of creation. Visualize it, create it, dance it into being.
Since 2008 this dance has been offered on a donation ("give-away") basis. Please read Perry's comments about what this really means.
Weekend Schedule for the Long Dance
(held each year on the first Saturday in December)
Saturday
Registration: 11 am until noon
Long Dance Preparations
Sweat Lodge
Sharing Medicine Shield Banner
Long Dance (through the night)
Sunday
Rest Time, after Dance ends
Feasting and sharing
Give-away
Farewells by approximately noon