 Grant Smith and Tahya |
Boston percussionist-extraordinaire Grant Smith treks to eastern Pennsylvania to join Tahya in presenting our annual Drum & Dance Retreat at Lake Nockamixon, Upper Bucks County, PA. Per past successes, participants enjoy morning mudra musings, Grant introduces participants to frame drum rhythms and techniques and Tahya complements the program facilitating mentally, physically and spiritually invigorating dance and classes using sistrum. Movement sessions to live drumming awaken inner creativity via sacred and secular traditions of North Africa and the Middle and Far East.
The mission of this retreat is to afford participants the opportunity to redisover the communal and healing powers of drumming and dance and to reconnect with these traditions that date back to ancient civilizations' reverence of the Divine. The participants and facilitators enjoy a positive, upbeat (pun intended!) feeling ~ and we hope this positively impacts our lives rippling in a good vibration like a pebble in water out into the communities in which we live.
See below for photos and comments from 2007 retreat participants and click here for review of August '06 Retreat.
When asked if they would recommend this retreat to a friend, the unanimous response was an emphatic yes! Brian Simpson elaborated: "Absolutely, I think it is important for every person to reconnect with their inner self and escape from the blistering pace of today's society." Some of the participants requested that an additional day be added. We recommend this retreat to anyone who enjoys drumming and/or dance or who would like to learn about these art forms. Just see what other participants stated when asked "What worked for you?":
"This is my third retreat with you. Loved the Egyptian/Nubian dance. Everybody could do it. Simple, powerful and so joyful.
The sacred dance with mudras is so powerful and moving, bringing forth ancient memory and beauty. I carry it with me all year and come back for more." - Kitty Holzmer
"Dis-connecting from the fast-paced "electronic" world. Meeting people with same interests. Supportive setting!" - Brian Simpson
"Tahya does a fabulous morning warmup routine that warms you up, energizes and motivates you for the rest of the day. Grant is an excellent instructor... His class is fun for beginners, yet he challenges the advanced percussionists. Everything was wonderful. Thank you for this experience. This is the best retreat I've every attended." - Kay L. Kern
"I recommend this retreat as a good way of reconnecting with oneself celebrating the simple and important things in our daily life such as our breath, the elements, friendship, sharing all this! The most beneficial aspect of this Drum & Dance Weekend Retreat was spending time relaxing and learning something without pressure and joyfully... imagining going back in time and actually being in one of those amazing temples being blessed and enlightened by a Goddess like Hathor or Isis. I learned about the sistrum and a little more about Hathor and the best part was the drumming and circle dances and the bonfire by moonlight." - Samadhia
"Lessons with Grant were awesome...(and) I learned how interrelated dances are through history." - Nate Kane
"This event opened the door to the second half of my life." - Tanja Howard
"This retreat is a gift to give yourself time to relax and unwind ~ not to mention surrounding yourself with good company, nourishing food and inspirational instructors." - Amy Johnson
The weekend has been over for days now, but I still hear drums.
Through my mind, in my ears, I can still hear the African and Middle eastern beats, the rhythms, the hand claps.
I can still feel the hip movements, the sway and the jiggle.
I feel like my body has been set on fire by rhythm and it won't stop.
The energy that a committed, like-minded group of people can raise is just marvelous. - Marianne Sells
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