I attended the Soul Dance event on October 6th, 2005. It was a benefit to raise funds for hurricane relief. That got my interest right there. The event was sponsored by Peace Labyrinth & Gardens and the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSIA).
Soul Dance usually takes place the first Thursday of the each month at Peace Labyrinth & Gardens in Los Angeles; but on October 6th it was held at 2101 Wilshire in Santa Monica and included live musicians there to support the hurricane relief effort.
Soul Dance is led by Alisha Hayes and the purpose is to provide a place where dance lovers can dance in a healthy, positive environment. You know, without alcohol or smoking — just Souls dancing.
Alisha acts as the “DJ” and plays lots of “spun” music (CDs). She has also added another element to the class: we pause at times and she invites us to connect with our Selves, our Souls, and to God inwardly — as we are moving; so we become a room full of people who are certainly moving (or rockin’ in some cases) to our Spirit’s inner awareness.
The Soul Dance benefit was attended by lots of people: the regular dance lovers, music lovers, and people who love to serve. The event was free, but there was an invitation to make a donation of any amount, with all proceeds going to the Red Cross Hurricane Relief fund.
Most were dancin’ and “rockin’ to the music, while some folks stayed outside handling registration and taking donations, or manning the refreshment table. Of course, participants wandered in and out of the main room to schmooze with each other.
I love music and this event had a collection of some amazing musicians. They gathered on stage to form a “band” and mostly improvised. Wow. What music they created on the spot! It was like being at the Jazz Bakery with some dancing thrown in. They were led by a cello player dubbed Mystic Pete. He plays cello in a unique way and sometimes combines a kind of chanting. He made that cello sing. I had to check sometimes to see if the rich voice I was hearing was his cello or Joanna St. Claire Ward, an amazing singer who was also part of the band. It was the cello.
And then there’s Joanna’s rich voice. She sang, improvising with the band’s sound which I will call “New Age Jazz.” I sometimes had to check to see if the rich, interesting sound I was hearing was an instrument — or her voice. It was her voice — which is certainly an instrument. Joanna also sang some of her original songs and that is a treat that will send sounds through your heart and out the other side.
Rob Whitesides-Woo, Erik Raleigh Albrecht, Don Ward, Mark Samuel and Terry Tooley were other awesome musicians performing together that night. I have never enjoyed listening to guitar accompaniment as much as I did that night. The sounds that came from this ensemble were so interesting, weaving into harmonious but unusual places, and still coming together in resolution! I hope they recorded it. Brad Pie was the live mixer and had a big big hand in that exquisite sound.
As a music lover, I had to just sit and listen at times — and forget the dancing. I have to mention another “musician” and band member: the sound engineer. I absolutely marveled at the sound engineering he produced. I have never ever heard such clear sounds. I heard each note from the guitar accompaniment, for example, in ways I have never heard before. Each note from each instrument expressed so clearly, yet didn’t drown out the other instruments. I told Greg Fritz, the sound engineer, that I have never heard such clear, definite sound at professional concerts! I can’t tell you how excited I was at this! Greg smiled and said, “Somebody noticed!” “Yeah! You’re darn right I noticed!” (Sorry, guys, but we’ve got to have more music in this building!)
At one point during the evening, John Morton, MSIA’s spiritual director, was invited to place a blessing on the donations that were received. John graciously accepted and the group circled together. As John spoke his blessing, we sent our Light and love to all those affected by the hurricane and to those in need of these blessings. MSIA’s founder, beloved John-Roger joined us for a time, too.
Alisha also played “spun” music that night — so the musicians could take a break and the dancer types could rock out. Okay, even I got up there and jumped around. When a couple favorite songs were played, I let loose and let my Soul’s expression move me as much as my “bod” would allow. I enjoyed watching the many beautiful ways people express and move their bodies — and their joy.
Towards the end of the evening, the live musicians took the stage once again coordinating their inner sounds and instruments with each other and produced more haunting, lilting, Soulful music that sounded as if it had been composed and rehearsed. The music became slower and slower and there were fewer folks dancing. People meandered to the floor or to a chair and listened quietly to this transcendent music. Finally Alisha Hayes closed the evening with a prayer.
I send so much thanks and appreciation to all who participated to create this evening. $3,550.00 dollars was raised that night for hurricane relief and I send so much love and blessings to those wonderful people who will be on the receiving end of this assistance.
God bless us all.
Upcoming Soul Dance Dates and Artists:
Thursday Nov 3, 7:30-9:00 PM–Move to Karen Hassett’s soulful, whimsical, and rhythmic Grand Piano. Then dance out to spirited spun music.
Thursdays Jan 5 and Feb 2, 7:30-9:00 PM–Spun Music & Spiritual Interludes
Thursday Mar 2, 7:30-10:00 PM–The Traveler’s Band—Live. Don’t miss Erik Raleigh Albrecht, Phil Danza, James Hassett, Mark Samuel, and Karen Hassett.
Cost: Free! (donations welcomed)
All the above at Peace Labyrinth and Gardens, 3500 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018.
Email Alisha Hayes (akhayes@charter.net) for more info. Or call MSIA at 323-737-4055.
Visit our website for many more opportunities to visit Peace Labyrinth and Gardens.
