Dance
Catch a dance class with me!
I teach regularly at Alchemy of Movement in Boulder, CO.
Alchemy’s classes are in-person as well as virtual, so you can enjoy them, no matter where you live!
No dance experience is needed to attend these classes, just a love of music and movement, and a desire to explore your internal rhythm and stirrings.
We explore freedom in dance, organically, and use breath and the elements (fire, air, earth, water, metal) to energize, strengthen, detoxify, harmonize, and ground.
Photo by Angie Rodriguez
SoulSweat
SoulSweat is a dance fitness class that includes creative movement and lots of heart within structured choreography.
There is opportunity to adjust movement based on energy and fitness level as well as inspirations! Music ranges from pop, classical, tribal, hip hop, international, electronic, etc.
When:
Sundays at 11 AM, Tuesday at 9 AM, and Wednesdays at 5:30 PM
“To access creativity, connecting with physical movement is integrative and supportive, no matter how you express your unique creativity!”
WildBeat
WildBeat is creative, free-form movement in a non-judgmental, welcoming space. Through rhythm, freedom, and dance, we find connection to ourselves and, if you choose, with each other. Participants are invited to contribute music to the group experience.
When:
Sundays at 12:15 PM
Photo by Angie Rodriguez
Dance as Meditation
Dance as Meditation is coming into conscious presence and accessing primal energy through rhythm and breath in a safe space.
To access creativity, connecting with physical movement is integrative and supportive, no matter how you express your unique creativity.
Most stages of the Dance as Meditation process have the option of being completely unstructured (free dance).
However, I will always hold a structured option for you to follow if you’d like to follow it at any time.
Many folks like to go back and forth (from free form to following a structure, as it accesses different parts of them).
Dance as Meditation stages...
1) Coming into the Body
2) Waking up the Dance
3) Connecting to Primal Rhythm
4) Entering Heart Space/Moving Energy
5) Creating from Open Expansion
6) Disruption/Disarray
7) Softening and Grounding back to Center
After the stages are complete, we will have an optional short-seated meditation
When:
The next Dance as Meditation workshop will be in early 2025.
Private Dance as Meditation workshops can be scheduled by emailing me.
Photo by Angie Rodriguez
Creative Choreography
Creative Choreography is a playful rich collaborative space where dancers create and work on their own dance ideas together in community!
This space is open to anyone, and no experience is needed, just a love of music and dance.
I co-facilitate this fun workshop with Ashley Patchen, the owner of Alchemy of Movement, and it happens regularly, so check the schedule at Alchemy, but the next couple of workshops are listed below. Find more details here.
next workshops:
Saturday, January 18, 2 PM to 4 PM
Dance To Be Free
I am passionate about Dance To Be Free, an organization that takes dance into prisons that my dear friend, Lucy Wallace, started in 2015.
Dance To Be Free’s mission is to reduce anxiety and depression for people in prison through the healing power of movement.
Learn more here about Dance To Be Free!
When:
The Avalon, Tango Room - Wednesdays 10am and Saturdays 11am
Testimonials
“
After some tough years with little dance in my life, I came with a friend to Maria's SoulSweat class and had a 'Coming Back to Life' experience.
Maria, after naming a theme, cued up rich, rhythmic music that awoke a fountain of colors in my mind's eye. Energized, my sixty-six-year-old body stepped out, reached, and grooved with the happy tribe of dancers as
Maria led us with an inspiring passion for creative, expressive movement. Primal magic animated my limbs, my spirit sang, and I felt the years falling away!
I loved the warm connection with the other dancers as we shared our exuberance. Such a gift!!
Now I go weekly to dance-journey earthy, soulful themes, and there's a strong new spring in my legs, new length, and poetry in my arms and body.
After class — exhilarated, taller, and more attuned to my vitality, I go out into the world with this life-giving energy to dance my day!
— Kelly, SoulSweat
“
Dance As Meditation was a rewilding experience for me.
Maria creates a safe container for you to go deep into your own body's movement and natural rhythms. The music was varied, expressive, and inspirational. This workshop helped me find my movement voice.
— Sue, Dance as Meditation Deep Dive
“
Deep Dive with Maria was the best thing I have done for myself in a very long time. After the intensity of this year, I was feeling disconnected and shut down.
Through Maria's intuitive and loving facilitation, that spark of life force inside of me was reignited. Not only did deep dive provide a safe space for exploration and processing, it enabled me to access joy. Deep Dive is pure medicine for the soul.
— Lauren, Dance as Meditation Deep Dive
