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Tag: healing through dance

How to Create a Rainbow Infused Shadow Dance Playground

My first experience with shadow dancing was at the Exploratorium in San Francisco in the early ’80s.  My favorite exhibit created my shadow with rainbow trails around my body as I moved.  It was, quite simply, pure magic.

Fast forward to Florida’s Orange Blossom Jubilee in 2021.   “Mike Three” had a large screen set up next to the band.  He was projecting his psychedelic oils onto it. (Video below).

I stepped up to dance between his light and the screen and my shadow dancing days were born.  It was an easy way to project my vibe and your joy to the audience in a special and entertaining way. The screen allowed the audience to see the dancers in a big way but removed us from seeing them as they watched.  It was an interesting dynamic that helped the participants to set their inner rainbows free.

I knew then that I wanted to create my own setup.  I had the inspiration.  Now all I needed was time, money, and a debut event. 

Ask and you shall receive. 

I purchased a simple 8 x 10 black collapsible metal frame (that came in a small bag), two color-changing LED spotlights, and a white polyester 8 x 8 backdrop.  I had a drum stand that I used for the spotlights.  I placed them at mid-torso height, approximately six feet back from the dancers.  I added an additional laser light to create simple two-tone patterns. The final touch was a bubble machine on the audience’s side.

I debuted it at a private party in a historical Hollywood mansion and it was a hit.  A large part of that was because of the particular group of people to whom I was presenting.  It was a Burner party, and as such, it was a super creative and supportive crowd. I had no lack of audience participation.  My first customer was (no joke) a unicorn wearing a rainbow skirt and a sequined top. Below is a slideshow of her and her shenanigans behind the screen.

Props were definitely key, as was the lighting. I had my two lights sources on one stand but I couldn’t get them synced up to shine the same color at the same time. They rotated through the rainbow color spectrum giving us trippy multicolor effects around the outlines of the shadows.  (Picture below.) It was serendipitous, especially considering my original inspiration.

My intention is to bring joy and healing into this dimension, particularly through dance.   To bring our visions to life is to live on purpose. We are, each of us, powerful creators.

I encourage you to dream often. 

Dream big.

Be Magnificent.

Manifest.

Ways To Heal Through Dance – Let Your Rainbow Love Light Shine

Dance has an innate ability to heal people. I am conscious of the power that dance has had and continues to have in my own healing. With dance as my guide, I discovered and continue to be reminded of my own Divinity.  Dance is my vehicle between the physical, spiritual and emotional realms. Dance, to me, is all these things and more.

Here are just a few ways I’ve tapped into its intrinsic healing powers:

  1. Chemically – Dancing has been scientifically shown to release endorphins, dopamine and serotonin which can help with depression.
  2. Physically – Dance improves flexibility, enhances coordination, and reduces body tension. I exercise, I bounce, I jump, I stretch, I wiggle, I work out the little aches and pains as I move through the music and as it moves through me.
  3. Emotionally – When what we are feeling is too deep for words, dance provides us with a way to express ourselves. Dance helps me work through and reduce my stress. Dancing is all about flow and flow is about letting the energy flow through you rather than holding it in. I envision the bad stuff going out and the good stuff coming in until the bad stuff turns into the good stuff! At some point, it all just becomes good stuff.
  4. Energetically – I can literally raise the vibration of a person or group of people to a higher place through my movement, mood, and intention.
  5. Mentally – Dance challenges my thinking skills through focus, creativity, awareness, memory, and attention.
  6. Communally – It offers me a way to connect with others . I step into their flow and try to mirror their movements as a way to show that I get them and that on some level, I understand.  This, in turn, lessens people’s feelings of isolation, which is so important with the imposition of social distancing and lack of human touch.
  7. Spiritually – When I dance I focus on shining my inner light out through my movements. It is a reminder to all that can see, that I am more than just this body.  There is something much greater than just each of our individual selves.  We are channels of energy that serve the vision of a Greater Being.
Performing in my Rainbow LED Cape (Isla Morada 02/21)

The comment that I get the most is that people are appreciative of the freedom I am able to access when I dance.  Lacking fear of being judged or evaluated is one of my superpowers.  This is my invitation to be me, and so… I be.

Awareness is the first step in starting to be able to utilize the powers of dance in your own healing.  Start paying attention to how it feels when you let go and let it flow. When you get inside your head and start feeling judged, just remember:  This is your invitation to be you – and you are perfect just exactly as you are! All you have to do is let your rainbow love light shine. Focus on that, and let the magic roll in.

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