Christine's experience of the workshop
23/10/06 09:34
Dear Amigos
I have just returned from a wonderful week in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains in Spain where I attended a course called Dancing Inside Out - The Four Elements run by Fiona and Rebecca, two inspirational teachers.
I set out on Saturday and after all the queuing/security checks at Manchester got to Malaga and within a miraculous 20 minutes was outside
the airport and hopping on a bus to the bus station to catch my connection. The subsequent 4 hour journey round the winding roads was a bit too much for me so I arrived rather the worst for wear at Lanjaron, a small spa town in the mountains. Met up with two other course members at a very nice hotel and on Sunday had a day of sight seeing before being picked up in the evening to be taken to the course venue.
Lanjaron is a long main street with one end catering to tourists with hotels, shops selling wickerware and the Spa Baths for those taking the waters. In this very dry and dusty place there is always the sound of running water from the many Fuenta, pipes dispensing drinkable water into concrete troughs, along the main street. There was an amazing ruined arab castle just south of the town sitting atop a pinnacle of rock.
We were picked up and drove for about 20 minutes along a winding mountain track. At the end of the road was the Heaven and Earth Centre! What an appropriate name. Surrounded by mountains, looking southwards down on the market town of Orgiva and then to the sea, eastwards and upwards was the village of Canar but despite these reminders of civilisation it felt so peaceful, quiet and removed from everyday existence. The first morning saw the valley below full of mist reminding me of photographs of the Himalayas.
On the top terrace there was the farmhouse where Richard the owner lived. The next level down was the vegetable garden tended by WWOF-ers. Not only was irrigation essential but an electric fence to keep out the wild boar who come down the mountains to have a midnight feast. Below this was a beautiful yurt which had a small pool and fountain in the middle and a small patch of real grass outside. Across the path were four comfortable twin-bedded wooden chalets, each with its own veranda. There were outside toilet/shower facilities with flush toilets and solar-heated showers. Toward the edge of the property was the covered wooden stage with views into the valley and across the mountains. On the next level down was the cassita with two bedrooms (where I slept), a bathroom, kitchen/lounge and outside eating area. Next door was the swimming pool and space for sunbathing and lounging.
The course explored the four elements so we spent a day on each element and a day consolidating what we had explored. On Thursday we went to the market in Orgiva and then to the beach to swim (me to paddle) and picnic.
Fiona and Rebecca had a varied array of techniques and ideas for exploring feelings, emotions and thoughts about the elements. There was free dance, dance/movement games, authentic movement, contact improvisation, team choreography, massage, poetry and writing, ritual, artwork using a wide range of media. We worked alone, in pairs or small groups and also as a whole group. One of the highlights for me was the work in the pool which was quite challenging as I'm not keen on getting in the water. The group split in half and each developed a choreographed piece about water which was performed. I always find this type of team work really creative and exciting and it was worth getting wet for! The artwork and creative elements of the course are really good for me as the time-limit in which to create a piece means I bypass the dithering/uncertain part of my brain and plunge straight into it - and it works! For fire we created something which floated and could carry a nightlight. Our varied craft were launched into the swimming pool in the dwindling evening light - magical.
Amongst all this activity there was time for siesta, lounging in hammocks, walking, reading and relaxing. Jenni came everyday to make us a delicious vegetarian lunch and dinner. On the last night we had a meal in Lanjaron.
I will remember the tinkling of bells as the flock of goats passed by; dancing to live drumming; the excitement of dancing and creating; the fox caught in the headlights of the landrover; the peace and quiet; the company of the group; Fiona singing and playing guitar in the evening; wide expansive views of the mountains; the gecko in my room - there is a lot more that I can't put into words but is remembered in my body and mind.
And then it was all over. A time looked forward to for months, which lasted for an age, which was over in a flash - was it a dream or is here and now a dream?
It was back to Lanjaron where I stayed in another, slightly more downmarket but comfortable, hotel for the night. If my Spanish translation is correct my room was called the Fountain of Cold Sores! I wandered around Lanjaron exploring the little alleyways and back streets. Then next day a different route home via Granada which was much less of a trial than the outward journey. Back to Manchester Airport and two cancelled trains meant that I really was back home!
Besos
Christine
I have just returned from a wonderful week in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains in Spain where I attended a course called Dancing Inside Out - The Four Elements run by Fiona and Rebecca, two inspirational teachers.
I set out on Saturday and after all the queuing/security checks at Manchester got to Malaga and within a miraculous 20 minutes was outside
the airport and hopping on a bus to the bus station to catch my connection. The subsequent 4 hour journey round the winding roads was a bit too much for me so I arrived rather the worst for wear at Lanjaron, a small spa town in the mountains. Met up with two other course members at a very nice hotel and on Sunday had a day of sight seeing before being picked up in the evening to be taken to the course venue.
Lanjaron is a long main street with one end catering to tourists with hotels, shops selling wickerware and the Spa Baths for those taking the waters. In this very dry and dusty place there is always the sound of running water from the many Fuenta, pipes dispensing drinkable water into concrete troughs, along the main street. There was an amazing ruined arab castle just south of the town sitting atop a pinnacle of rock.
We were picked up and drove for about 20 minutes along a winding mountain track. At the end of the road was the Heaven and Earth Centre! What an appropriate name. Surrounded by mountains, looking southwards down on the market town of Orgiva and then to the sea, eastwards and upwards was the village of Canar but despite these reminders of civilisation it felt so peaceful, quiet and removed from everyday existence. The first morning saw the valley below full of mist reminding me of photographs of the Himalayas.
On the top terrace there was the farmhouse where Richard the owner lived. The next level down was the vegetable garden tended by WWOF-ers. Not only was irrigation essential but an electric fence to keep out the wild boar who come down the mountains to have a midnight feast. Below this was a beautiful yurt which had a small pool and fountain in the middle and a small patch of real grass outside. Across the path were four comfortable twin-bedded wooden chalets, each with its own veranda. There were outside toilet/shower facilities with flush toilets and solar-heated showers. Toward the edge of the property was the covered wooden stage with views into the valley and across the mountains. On the next level down was the cassita with two bedrooms (where I slept), a bathroom, kitchen/lounge and outside eating area. Next door was the swimming pool and space for sunbathing and lounging.
The course explored the four elements so we spent a day on each element and a day consolidating what we had explored. On Thursday we went to the market in Orgiva and then to the beach to swim (me to paddle) and picnic.
Fiona and Rebecca had a varied array of techniques and ideas for exploring feelings, emotions and thoughts about the elements. There was free dance, dance/movement games, authentic movement, contact improvisation, team choreography, massage, poetry and writing, ritual, artwork using a wide range of media. We worked alone, in pairs or small groups and also as a whole group. One of the highlights for me was the work in the pool which was quite challenging as I'm not keen on getting in the water. The group split in half and each developed a choreographed piece about water which was performed. I always find this type of team work really creative and exciting and it was worth getting wet for! The artwork and creative elements of the course are really good for me as the time-limit in which to create a piece means I bypass the dithering/uncertain part of my brain and plunge straight into it - and it works! For fire we created something which floated and could carry a nightlight. Our varied craft were launched into the swimming pool in the dwindling evening light - magical.
Amongst all this activity there was time for siesta, lounging in hammocks, walking, reading and relaxing. Jenni came everyday to make us a delicious vegetarian lunch and dinner. On the last night we had a meal in Lanjaron.
I will remember the tinkling of bells as the flock of goats passed by; dancing to live drumming; the excitement of dancing and creating; the fox caught in the headlights of the landrover; the peace and quiet; the company of the group; Fiona singing and playing guitar in the evening; wide expansive views of the mountains; the gecko in my room - there is a lot more that I can't put into words but is remembered in my body and mind.
And then it was all over. A time looked forward to for months, which lasted for an age, which was over in a flash - was it a dream or is here and now a dream?
It was back to Lanjaron where I stayed in another, slightly more downmarket but comfortable, hotel for the night. If my Spanish translation is correct my room was called the Fountain of Cold Sores! I wandered around Lanjaron exploring the little alleyways and back streets. Then next day a different route home via Granada which was much less of a trial than the outward journey. Back to Manchester Airport and two cancelled trains meant that I really was back home!
Besos
Christine
