dance Archives - Emerging Women

Dear Friends,

In this modern world of innovative ideas, sophisticated thinking, complex systems and change, I find myself spending more and more time in my head. Meditation, yoga and spiritual practice all help to temper my overactive mind and bring in some space from which to witness the unfolding of my deepest self. But nothing feels as real to me as when my inner life comes alive through dance and movement.

I have been dancing my whole life, starting with ballet at age 4. By the time I was in my mid 20’s, I was fully committed to the rave scene. There was an incredible freedom in this kind of dance that I had not experienced in the more form oriented dance classes of my youth. I discovered the real sense of freedom that comes when we move our bodies unabashedly, without judgement, in community, and in the flow of the present moment.

I began to explore African, Latin and Rhythms classes. By my late 20’s I realized that dance for me was much more than performance – it was about feeling my emotions, connecting with my sensuality, and expressing my being in the fullest way possible.

“Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion.” ~ Martha Graham

I have been teaching dance “on the side” for the last 12 years: through a full-time job with lots of travel, through two births (and a few miscarriages), through traumas and joys, creativity and day-to-day routines, and now through my emergence as an entrepreneur. It has been my practice 2-4 times a week for well over a decade, and I feel like I am just scratching the surface of what I can learn about myself and others through this practice.

It is only natural that dance has become a metaphor for our unique expression within Emerging Women, and that movement has become such an important part of the Emerging Women Live event experience. What better way to connect with and practice powerful feminine principles than through dance?

I’d love to hear what you’ve discovered through your own relationship with dance – check out my 5 Reasons for Why I Dance and leave a comment!

Big love,

Chantal Pierrat

Founder, Emerging Women

Discover the Top 5 Reasons Why I Dance.

I cannot imagine finding the strength and alignment to launch Emerging Women without the power of dance. I recommend dance as a core practice for any emerging woman. If you need a reason to remember the possibilities dance has to offer, I’ll give you five! Feel free to add some of your own reasons in the comments below.

1) I dance for self-exploration and expression.

When I dance, my body takes over my attention and my mind follows, witnesses, receives. Aahh. My body goes to work moving energy, processing the day, delivering thoughts into physical signals, a language pattern all on its own. My spine does not lie. Neither do my legs or my shoulders. When I dance, my body talks to me – letting me know where I need to strengthen, where I need to let go.

We can learn so much when the body leads, allowing our mental constructs to make themselves known through our physical movement. Do we feel light, or heavy? Can we fully extend or are contractions feeling more aligned? Are we holding back from expression? Are we allowing for vulnerability or are we playing it safe? All of these cues help me to track my inner state and keep tabs on how I am going through my life.

2) I dance to stay grounded.

When I dance, my feet open up and I take in the earth. I become rooted in my pelvis in a stance of power and of receiving. It is from this place of foundation that I find the courage to lift my head and face challenges in the rest of my life. The weight of my body, the floor underneath my bare feet, my breath, my heart – the gross physical nature of my existence becomes a platform from which to jump and to which I return, time and time again.

3) I dance to feel feminine.

Dance is circular, chaotic and free. This awakens the feminine like no other movement form. I am learning how to tap into my own feminine power as I work to grow this Emerging Women movement, and dance has been a cornerstone of this emergence.

I also dance to feel sensual. Yes, the physical exercise helps to keep my energy up, but the sensual feeling of dance keeps my mojo going, know what I mean? 😉

4) I dance for connection.

Feeling connected to my body allows me to feel more connected to others. I am more aware of personal space, subtle body language, and the energy of others, and I find that if I enter a room with my heart and chest open, like when I dance, there is more chance for intimacy.

There is nothing like dancing in a community of people all there for the same reason, to feel the spirit of self-expression move through them and be fully expressed through the body. Everybody is vulnerable in dance – this is the great connector. The more vulnerable, the more juicy the dance!

Just watch this video from Alchemy of Movement, a studio that teaches the SoulSweat™ program I developed. I love connecting with these women!

5) I dance for ecstasy.

When we dance with freedom and allow ourselves to move from a place of unbridled passion, we become an open channel for spirit. When we are connected to this life force, we awaken our sensual and creative energies – we feel vital and alive!

This is the ultimate feeling of being in the flow. Once you have felt this through dance, you never doubt that you are connected to something bigger than yourself. And once you connect with the natural power of the universe, anything becomes possible. We can move mountains with this momentum.

Let’s dance our way into a new era of feminine power!