Maria Alda Gomez Otero
Embodied Therapy to Transform Your Life
01392 573776
Dance your life, change your life!
What you become aware of, you can change!
Dance of Awareness
Dance of Awareness is a therapeutic, self-development dance that aims at creating a safe space for you to revisit your stages of development and potential wounds, becoming aware of what is really happening with an aim to heal your past. For example, you have the feeling of not being supported by your family or your friends. While you are dancing, you will be invited to experiment with new ideas while dancing and gain awareness. For example, you will be invited to dance with another person/group and feel their support. You may realise that you are rejecting that support. A part of you possibly rejected that support to protect you from the hurt of it not being available. As you try out these new ideas in the dance, you can create new experiences that can result into new and healthier neuropathways. For example, you may decide to let yourself be supported and find yourself finding support in life when you couldn't feel it before. Dance of Awareness is a safe, transformative and playful way of changing your life with gentleness and ease, following the wisdom of your body. It can help you discover your habitual patterns (your "automatic pilot") and change it. Live new experiences in your body to create the life that you wish.
The music was fabulous and nourishing. I loved the piano - I think it was Einaudi, at the very beginning, and it was just brilliant to hear music from other cultures, and their instruments and rhythms. The music made for an experience that helped mend a sense in me of being closed down and withheld from the world, from COVID and lockdowns- the global nature of the music selection created a sense of delight in me at “being back” - connected, responsive to, and involved in the world, beyond within the workshop and my own journey in the time in the class.
(Emma from Devon)
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Influences
Dance of Awareness was created by Tim Brown and Clare Osbond, both body psychotherapists and group facilitators based in Hove, with many years of self-development and therapeutic dance experience. For more information about Dance of Awareness, visit their website: www.embodiedtherapy.org.uk. The main influences of Dance of Awareness are the following:
Five Rhythms
This is a moving meditation practice created by Gabrielle Roth in the late 70s.
Neo-Reichian Body Psychotherapy
Reich was a contemporary of Freud, and is considered by many as the father of body psychotherapy.
Authentic Movement
Authentic Movement is a moving practice that allows space for the body to express its inner wisdom.
Awareness
Being present and noticing what is happening moment-to-moment.
Dance Movement Therapy
This is a type of therapy that lets the body express what is holding inside.
Developmental Psychology
This studies the different stages of development of a child.
These influences create the seed of Dance of Awareness in the UK, but each facilitator is influenced by their own dance journey and life experiences. Alda's Dance of Awareness is also influenced by the following:
Biodanza
Alda attended many biodanza classes and workshops. Biodanza was originally created by a Chilean psychologist, Rolando Toro, to heal mental health issues, but soon was used as a self-development tool.
Qigong
Chinese exercise practice that stimulates the energy in the body for healing purposes.
Energy Psychotherapy
This is a type of therapy that uses knowledge about the meridians and the chakras to heal physical and mental conditions.
I loved the Dance of Awareness session with Alda. It was fun and enjoyable; a safe and relaxing place and I loved the music. The loose structure for the session that Alda suggested really worked for me; and within it I could dance my own dance and sometimes dance with others. I enjoyed experiencing parts of myself that surprised me, such as the part that wanted to dance alone sometimes. It was a relief for me to realise that that was OK. Thank you Alda, such a lovely opportunity.
(Anna S. Teignmouth)
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Phases of a dance session (wave)
The dance follows a wave of different energy charges. It has six parts, each one with different melodies, exercises, and experiences. Each part represents themes of human development from pre-birth to five years. When your developing years were impacted by difficulties, your life may reflect this as lack of confidence, insecurity, feelings of not belonging, low self-esteem, etc. The Dance of Awareness gives you a chance to dance those stages of development and change things.
It might surprise you to hear that 95% of your behaviour is unconscious, as if you were on "automatic pilot". Even more surprising is that your unconscious was possibly created between 0-6 years of age. If lack of attention, neglect, abuse or loss impacted those years of your life, that will be imprinted in your brain and your nervous system. It will manifest as difficulty in different areas of your life. As a child, you need a mature adult to show you what it means to be a mature adult. If that was not available, you would have created a child version of what it means to be an adult. If you find yourself acting in ways that remind you of that of a child, you are probably been taken over by the "automatic pilot" of your first development years.
Dance of Awareness gives you the opportunity to create new experiences by showing you your unconscious patterns, and helping the adult in you to change them.
Here are the six different parts of a Dance of Awareness wave:
1.
Sensing - Emphasis is on arriving to earth, being conceived and born. It is the right to exist. The focus is on physical sensation and the five senses.
2.
Grounding - From horizontal to vertical position, we ground ourselves on Earth, finding support in others.
3.
Expressing - Expressing whatever wants to emerge, letting our physical body guide our movements.
4.
Releasing - Any energy that was trapped in the body and you don't need anymore.
5.
Connecting - Deeper with our sense of self and with others into the world, finding our tribe.
6.
Completing - Completing the journey and returning to nothingness.
Your Facilitator, Alda
Dancing has always been one of my passions. Being a very shy person most of my young life, dancing was the one thing I could do without being shy. I could move around, express myself, let myself be seen. Dancing is what makes me feel more myself and more joyful. I am also an experienced therapist and qigong instructor.
The dance of awareness is a barefoot type of dance with therapeutic effects. You will be able to dance your life and there is potential for transformation.
I've danced many types of these dances over the years and experienced incredible changes in my life as a result of being supported by the groups.
Qualifications
Dance of Awareness Facilitator - Licensed by Tim Brown and Clare Osbond.
Over 15 years dancing in self-development groups.
Tai Chi & Qigong Instructor - Tai Chi Centre (Level 3) - Master Liming Yue.
Health Qigong Instructor - Qualified by the British Health Qigong Association.
MA in Psychotherapy.
Accredited Certified EFT Practitioner.
Trauma trained.
When Can I Start?
In 2022, I will start a 5-week fortnightly class in Holcombe Village Hall on Friday evenings at 5.30pm. Book your space or come to check it out. THE FIRST CLASS IS FREE. (Only for those who haven't done the taster). The dates for the fortnightly classes are as follows:
21 January - New Year, New Me
4 February - Heavy and Light
18 February - Exploring Opacity
4 March - Lengthening & Boundaries
18 March - Goodbye
The classes can be enjoyed as a once-off event or in a cluster of 5 classes. Please see below for prices. You will need to contact Alda at info@aldacounselling.com to book your space and to get details of payment. Numbers are limited to 12 +2 (12 people and 2 on the waiting list in case of cancellations) so please book asap.
Structure - The wave will look something like this:
Opening Circle (15 min)
Supporters Mini Circle (5 min)
Dancing/Moving during the 6 stages of Dance of Awareness (1h15 - 1h30)
Supporters Mini Circle (5 min)
Closing Circle (5 min)
Venue: Joan Copp Room (small room at the back, entrance to the side), Holcombe Village Hall, 60 Holcombe Rd, Holcombe, Dawlish EX7 0JB
Time: 5:30-7:30pm
Cost: Scroll down to see different options for prices.
Prices
£15
Drop-In session
£60
5 2h sessions
Early Bird
(till 10 Jan)
£70
5 2h sessions
After 10 January
Covid Guidelines
I am aware of the growing uncertainty regarding Covid. I am committed to minimising the risks involved to you while delivering the classes. To do so, I will be taking a lateral flow test before the start of the training; please do the same. I will need evidence of your negative test. This is to ensure that everyone feels safe during the dance.
I cannot guarantee complete safety. The nature of the work requires facial expressions to be visible, so we will be working without a face covering, although you’re welcome to wear one on arrival and departure.
I will cancel the group sessions if I have Covid-19 or symptoms of Covid followed by a positive test. If I contract the virus I’ll endeavour to let you know immediately.
Hygiene precautions:
I will clean all fabric surfaces and high touch surfaces with anti-bacterial wipes or spray
I will ventilate the session room and some of the windows will remain open.
I will provide hand gel and bactericidal soap in the toilet.
Please:
Not to attend if you have tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 7 days, or have symptoms of Covid followed by a positive test.
Not to attend if anyone you have been in close contact with has tested positive for Covid-19, or has had Covid-19 symptoms in the last 10 days, unless you have subsequently tested negative with a PCR test.
These guidelines will be updated following the government regulations.
Other Testimonials
At first I was very nervous at joining a group of strangers to join in a totally new (to me) dancing experience. However, Alda's clear, warm and friendly manner and the structured approach to the dancing meant that I was soon moving from dancing alone in a small space to moving all around the room and feeling part of a supportive group/movement. By the end of the class I felt very relaxed and comfortable, and that feeling stayed with me for several days. Indeed, throughout the rest of the week my mind kept floating back to that dance session, leaving me with a warm, comfortable feeling, happy that I did something new and different, and really enjoyed it. Alda is a great teacher, whose warmth, kindness and enthusiasm shine through. Thank you, Alda. (Gill from Devon)
There is a power in self expression achieved through Alda's facilitated Dance of Awareness that can be surprisingly insightful, revealing and healing. (Sally W., Dawlish)
The world seems a better place after any class with Alda. (Sonia T., Poole)
Alda has unique and special qualities as a teacher, she always adds light, sensitivity and warmth to whatever she teaches - I feel a glow of calm and positivity after her classes. (Paula F., Dawlish)
If you have ever wondered how it might be possible to combine the joy of free dance to good music, along with a deeper personal journey, in a supported environment, then dance of awareness with Alda might be your answer. It’s great that something so enjoyable can also be therapeutic - try it and see! (Kerry C. from Devon)