Explore the joy of movement through dance, enjoy the luxury of being you
If the question is ‘Why dance?’, surely the answer is ‘Why not?’
“We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.” Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
Movement & Dance for Body & Soul
Belly Dance
Dance for Fun & Fitness
Guided Creative Movement for Meditation & Relaxation
Based in Melbourne, Dancessence unites dance and movement connecting body and soul for women of all ages. Through different dance styles and movement techniques you will explore and express your imagination and creativity.
Always highlighting individual experience, the sessions can also support experienced dancers to explore and extend their own Dancessence.
The Dancessence program is a safe space to rediscover a joy of movement to music or start on a new dance adventure. No prior experience is needed. Sessions are multilevel and can be designed for individual fitness, ability and interests.
Each session provides technique with opportunities for personal innovation in a safe dance space. Our aim is to experience the joy of movement for its own sake, drawing on familiar dance styles and, perhaps, discovering new ones.
Dancessence programs highlight
Relaxation
Fitness
Strength
Creativity
Coordination
Belly Dance
Belly dance is a generic term for dance styles from Raqs Sharqi (literally ‘dance of the east’)
Shimmy Shine uses moves from traditional and modern bellydance styles. With a focus on dancing for pleasure while building fitness, Shimmy Shine is suitable for the dance curious as well as experienced dancer in social, community, or professional styles.
Raqs Sharqi combines technique, choreography, and improvisation to explore traditional, modern community, and performance dance styles from the middle east. The Raqs Sharqi program is suitable for all dance levels and experience, and within a diversity of social and cultural contexts.
Dance for Fun & Fitness
Dance based movement to support strength, mobility, & coordination
Shake it Up hits the dance floor to move, groove, and work it to favourite dance songs. Be prepared to bring out your sassy and your sway, attitude and elegance, vivacity and verve. Don’t be surprised if your cardio fitness, coordination, and movement flexibility increases along the way. Suitable all fitness levels and dance experience.
Grown Up Grooves combines dance moves, gentle exercise and stretching with a lot of fun. Its low impact, dance based movement format is suitable for mature bodies and anyone who wants to keep moving and keep active in mind, body and spirit.
Guided Creative Movement for Meditation & Relaxation
Dance movement for fitness and self expression
Balance combines visualisation, music, and soundscapes with awareness of breath, body awareness, and gentle stretch. Balance aims to support a active meditation leading to a feeling of tranquility and repose.
Made to Move uses text, music, and stimulus from the world around us to guide creative movement and self-expression. Suitable or all ages and dance experience, Made to Move offers easy to follow movement combinations and space for improvisation.
Is Dancessence right for me?
Dancessence explores dance as it connects with music and song, building fitness, relaxation and self-expression. We know our own body and how it can speak for us. All Dancessence programs use a dance based format to enhance individual movement repertoire.
Dancessence is right for you if you love to move the music in your soul.
Dancing with others in a group is a shared experience like no other. It offers social connections as well as individual expression. It can be exhilarating but also seem daunting. You can find yourself and lose yourself at the same time. The Dancessence program of workshops and events is designed to support dance practice and to encourage curiosity. It supports creativity and fitness, whatever your age or dance background.
Every body has its own story; dance can speak to the luxury of its soul.
Dancessence supports the concepts and elements of dance rather than a technique based syllabus. Each Dancessence program is designed to engage every body, regardless of fitness level or experience – from absolute beginners and ‘non-dancers’ to the ‘dance curious, experienced dancers, and those returning to dance. Enquries are welcome for sessions tailored to individual needs, interests, and availability.
Who is Dancessence?
Isabel Jackson, Director of Dancessence, is passionate about dance and its value to life. She knows how daunting it can be to try out a new class, meet a new teacher or even think about going to a movement session, let alone a dance class. She also knows from her own experience and years of teaching, that the joys and exhilaration of moving can be like nothing else.
Isabel’s extensive experience of dance includes practice and performance in community and professional dance styles, supporting community groups and individuals to enhance and develop their dance technique. As well as decades of formal and informal dance training, Isabel has post-graduate qualifications in dance teaching that are enhanced by on-going professional development. Over this time, she has seen dance facilitate self-reflection and personal growth, and to support women surviving or at-risk of personal difficulties. The Dancessence programs come from her desire to offer a safe space for all to explore the sheer pleasure that can come from dancing individually and with others.
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