You are warmly invited to the upcoming Leader’s Gathering at Tauhara May 9-11 2025
This time we will be joined by two leaders from the UK who will be offering practices and Dances to develop magnetism and transmission. Jilani and Salik are both musicians and there will be at least one session for musicians.
Jilani says “I feel that any worthwhile dance leader training is really about training the self, to be more able to shine freely, with the light of the Original Blessing unencumbered by the veils and impressions of our human experience. We will focus on practices that develop magnetism and transmission – opening to being a clear channel for the light. When I work with Tassawuri and the Ancestors of the Dances it’s to that end – to develop our awareness of the illuminated souls who are in our lineage, so we can learn to think, feel and act as they would. So this work is really for anyone who is interested in developing their capacity to be really present, and to recognise all circumstances as our teachers, all faces as the Face of God. Naturally this development of the small self makes us better dance leaders, but also better teachers, parents, children, leaders in any field, and more fulfilled and happy humans.’
The weekend is subsidised and hosted by DUPANZ with the intention of supporting and encouraging Dance leaders and growing vibrancy in our community through our leaders.
All those who have ever walked the path of leadership or would like to in the future are welcome, along with those who are committed as musicians for the Dances of Universal Peace.
We are very blessed to have this opportunity, and to be able to meet and enjoy our connections and the beauty of Tauhara.
Please register with Wendy:hodderwendy@gmail.com 027 3766 599 and deposit the full amount or $100 into account 38-9017-0159916-02 with your name, DL May 25 as ref
If you are not a DUPANZ member please add $30 to the prices below
Annika has become a dear friend since we met at the German Unicorn Voice Camp some years ago. She is the most wonderful storyteller, with such a beautiful voice! This interview is in English. You can listen to it with subtitles on YouTube here:
Jilani and Salik are musicians, leaders and mentors of DUP. Using chant, movement and other practices, they facilitate circles of people to be more fully alive, to feel safe together, to share deep connection and to touch sense of the sacredness of all life. In this event they will share dances and chants as a way for people to strengthen their connection with Mother Earth and with each other.
There are spaces for 24 full-time residential participants in shared rooms or camping. To register please pay a deposit of $100 into account 38-9017-0159916-05
If you are not a DUPANZ member please add $30 to the costs below.
Shared Accommodation and simple vegetarian meals $390 BYO bedding and breakfasts
Camping and simple vegetarian meals $350 BYO breakfasts
Part-time and non-residential participants are welcome but we will be unable to provide meals – sorry. Please enquire for costs: Jena – jenatara@outlook.co.nz
Oh Thou, the breathing Life of all, Creator of the shimmering Sound that touches us! You create all that moves in Light…
A residential retreat in France (in French/English) to learn and practice the Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic, with chants and body prayers. This workshop is based on the work of Neil Douglas-Klotz, with whom I trained for three years nearly 20 years ago. Neil has spent over 35 years studying Jesus in the context of Middle Eastern spirituality, seeing him as a Middle Eastern prophet, and looking at his words in the language he actually spoke, Aramaic. Aramaic is a bridge between ancient Hebrew and modern day Hebrew and Arabic, and by studying the words of Jesus in this context we arrive at a very different way of understanding his message. Specifically, there is not one way to translate Aramaic into English, but many layers of meaning, which can be very helpful for us nowadays, especially if we have ever felt alienated or put off by traditional translations of the words of Jesus. I have led this work in many countries, and both practising Christians and people who have felt wounded and alienated by the Christian church have had profound and healing experiences with it.
The Aramaic Prayer is the Lord’s Prayer in as close as we can get to the original words spoken by Jesus. We will explore those words in Aramaic, and discover several possible ways to understand and relate to those words through some English translations.
Above all this work is experiential, and embodied. The emphasis is not so much on study and mental understanding as on gaining an embodied experience of the prayer. To this end we will be chanting each line many times, with simple melodies and movements. This makes it easier for us to learn the words and also to drop into a felt sense of what we are experiencing.
During the weekend we will explore each line of the prayer, with time for questions and learning. The culmination will consist of a full experience of the prayer including a part where we share juice and bread to deepen our understanding and connection with the experience. The emphasis will not be on ‘getting it right’, but on dropping deeply into the prayer as a ceremony and a way to connect with the original message of Jesus, which many people find quite profound and surprising.
An event organized by the Papillons Voyageurs association.
Papillons Voyageurs is a French association whose purpose is to open
spaces for sharing, learning and putting ourselves into action, through the
co-creation of transformative experiences at the service of life.
Based on the 7 petals of the permaculture flower, with a predilection for
agroecology, eco-construction and living together, we participate through
our light and colorful wingbeats in what we perceive as a global evolution of
humanity.
GUIDES OF THE DANCES
J I L A N I C O R D E L I A P R E S C O T T
A dedicated musician and guide, she has been combining music, meditation, and Sufi practices
since 1997 to promote inner peace and healing. She organizes retreats and workshops at the Heart
Centre near Hebden Bridge, where she resides. With an approach that is both accessible and
grounded, she helps young and aspiring leaders realize their potential. Her work focuses on
personal and collective growth, bringing joy, unity, and deep connection to participants through
practices that celebrate life, music, and simplicity of heart.
>> https://www.jilanicordelia.com/ <<
M A L I K A E L E N A S A L A Z A R
Colombian by birth, initiated in the lineage of Sufi Ruhaniat International. With formal studies in
music, literature, transpersonal psychology and anthropology. She is certified in Kundalini Yoga,
Universal Peace Dances (DPU) mentor, flutist, performer and singer of sacred music from various
mystical philosophies. Malika leads meditation sessions with mantras and has explored a path to healing through her voice and transpersonal psychology.
>> Listen on Spotify <<
HOSTING PLACE
Les Damias is a hamlet in Éourres, a village of initiatives… a little remote, at the
end of a green valley, a haven of peace and nature! At an altitude of 1000m, the
winter is harsh, the spring late, the summer full of sun and the autumn is adorned
with a thousand colors. Each season has its charms: spring and autumn ideal for
hiking or relaxing stays, summer for welcoming families and seminars, and winter…
for rest.
Les Damias is a collective farm which cultivates, with minimal mechanization, its
own fruits and vegetables for personal consumption while offering a quality table
d’hôtes. It also practices conscious sourcing of foodstuffs not produced by the farm
and favors local producers (flour, cheese, beer, etc.). Food is one of the pillars of
Damias and we will have the pleasure of tasting the buffets prepared by their
kitchen team every day. The products, served generously, will be local, organic and
mostly from their vegetable garden, served generously!
LOGISTICS
By car
Via Lachau or Barret sur Méouge (Col d’Araud), direction Eourres. Do not go up to the village of
Eourres, follow the direction of Les Peyres/Les Damias. Cross the hamlet of Peyres and
continue the asphalt road to the end.
Public transportation
By Sisteron or Carpentras stations (shuttle from Aix TGV) or Laragne. From Carpentras, Sisteron
or Laragne, from Monday to Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., a Drôme taxi (Transdrôme
service) can pick you up and drop you off in Lachau where we will pick you up (Let us know in
advance, €5 contribution requested).
Accommodation and equipment list
A list of equipment will be sent to those registered at the beginning of August in order to make
their stay as pleasant as possible and to give them the latest practical information related to
the course.
Any other question ?
Please write us to ensemble@papillons-voyageurs.net and we will be pleased to answer you !
RESERVATION
60 places are available for this camp, taken in order of validated registrations. We have 20
campsite places and 40 lodge places. The food offered includes lunch/dinner and as often in
peace dances, breakfasts are freely managed by the participants.
CAMP PRICE – Package
The balance allowing the sustainability of the
event and the following ones
280,00€
ACCOMMODATION IN GITE- Per night 40,00€
Allow 5 nights on site. Shared rooms
CAMPING OR VEHICLE – Per night 10,00€ Allow 5 nights on site
Prepare your camping/truck equipment
FOOD – Per day 30,00€
Allow 5 days of camp
Organic/local buffet for lunch and dinner
Confirm your reservation
Places are limited to 60 people and will be allocated in order of registration. We ask you to pay
a deposit of €250 to reserve your place, regardless of the option you choose. Please make this
payment by check or bank transfer to the account of the PAPILLONS VOYAGEURS association:
Mail address : Papillons Voyageurs, 62 rue du Coulet, 04240 Annot
Any place confirmed by email will be held for 10 days, if payment of the deposit is not
made within this period, we will release this place again. In the event of cancellation by you
up to 1 month before the course, €200 will be refunded to you, less than 15 days before half
of your deposit, less than a week before we will keep your deposit. In the event of
cancellation due to Papillons Voyageurs, you will be refunded 100%.
There are many ways of living with ‘collapse acceptance’. My own approach doesn’t represent the best one. To acknowledge the diversity, and help us all learn from that, once in a while I ask a colleague or friend to share some thoughts on how they are responding. Katie Carr was a founding member of the Deep Adaptation Forum and teaches the ‘Leading Through Collapse’ course with me (online twice a year and for one time only in the States this October). I asked her to share why a dance camp is one of her most restorative activities of the year. I hope it inspires. Thx, Jem
By Katie Carr
I recently returned from rural Oxfordshire in the UK, where I joined around 300 people from across the country to dance in a circle while chanting songs and mantras from many different spiritual traditions. Sacred Arts Camp is an annual week-long community event, where we camp in small circles, sharing cooking, care, and connection. Every time I attend, I am reminded of the importance of this kind of embodied and joyful ritual, especially as the world and our day-to-day lives seem to become more precarious. I also remember how much my heart longs for the experience of community and belonging that are so difficult to imagine, let alone co-create, in the midst of industrialised consumer societies.
In a world marked by social upheaval, war and environmental crises, and a growing sense of isolation for many people, the Dances of Universal Peace offer a gentle path toward reconnection, rejuvenation and healing. I have learned that the simple, meditative, and joyous circle dances – rooted in the spiritual traditions of humanity – have a profound capacity to foster a sense of community, facilitate collective resilience and respect, and engender a deep connection with humanity, the planet, and the divine. As we navigate the complexities and challenges of a world in turmoil and breakdown, these dances demonstrate the ongoing power of collective movement and shared spiritual experience.
The Dances of Universal Peace were conceived in the late 1960s by Samuel L. Lewis, a Sufi teacher and Zen master who envisioned a form of spiritual practice that would transcend religious boundaries. Lewis sought to create a space where people from all walks of life could come together to experience the unity of all spiritual paths. Drawing on sacred phrases, chants, music, and movements from various world traditions – including Sufi, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Native American, and others – Lewis crafted dances and embodied prayers that celebrate the universal truths found within each tradition. Since their inception in the United States, these dances have spread across the globe, touching countless lives and communities with their message of peace and unity.
In an era where many feel disconnected from others and from themselves, these dances provide a sacred space where individuals can come together, bringing awareness to how our attachment to judgement and competition keep us separated and entangled in our stories of the ‘Other’. The simple act of joining hands in a circle, moving rhythmically to the sounds of sacred music, creates an immediate and tangible sense of belonging. Participants often report feeling an instant connection with those around them, regardless of their background or beliefs. This sense of community is not superficial; it is rooted in the shared intention of peace and the mutual recognition of our shared humanity.
I have benefited from an instant sense of belonging when joining circles in different locations with different people. That’s why I am looking forward to joining a circle in California later this year, when I visit to co-teach (with Jem Bendell) the Leading Through Collapse course. It’s rare we get our students participating in circle dance, although it has happened upon occasion. We will see what our students are up for in the run up to October – but I’m excited about the prospect of bringing the spirit of these dances to our training in the region where Samuel Lewis first introduced the practice.
So much learning is limited to the intellectual and ignores the emotional and somatic dimensions of engaging in topics as troubling as societal collapse, and as complex as what our future role on that might involve. I have experienced that in the safety of the circle, we can have a direct experience of our fundamental connectedness. We can feel the sense of embodied relief that comes from knowing we’re held in a larger, more resilient, collective nervous system. We can allow the movements and music to guide us towards feeling safe enough to release the burdens that come from trying to hold and process ‘bigger-than-self’ emotions on our own. The repetitive, meditative nature of the dances helps to quiet the mind and open the heart, creating a space where difficult emotions can be acknowledged and released. In a world where many are grappling with anxiety, grief, and stress, the dances offer a gentle yet profound way to process and transform these emotions.
Most significantly for many, the Dances of Universal Peace can facilitate a deep connection with the whole of humanity, the planet, and the divine. That is because the dances are inherently inclusive, celebrating the wisdom and beauty of diverse spiritual traditions while emphasizing the unity underlying them all. Through the dances, participants can experience a sense of oneness with all of creation, feeling connected to the earth beneath their feet, the sky above, and the divine presence within and around them. This holistic sense of connection is deeply nourishing, reminding us of our place within the greater web of life and inspiring us to seek to live in harmony with ourselves, each other, and the natural world, no matter how difficult situations may become. Many dancers I know are activists, their activism grounded in, and nourished by, their spiritual practice.
So much more happens during the week of Sacred Arts Camp, as part of this community gathering. For the last three years, I’ve coordinated the ‘Green Space’, which is a programme of discussions, sharing spaces and workshops that explore ways in which we can contribute to systemic change towards living regeneratively and in harmony with the rest of the natural world. There are also grief rituals, coming-of-age celebrations, practices that cultivate deep listening and conflict transformation, drumming, singing…as well as much laughing, crying, and a slow rhythm of life surrounded by nature.
Our contemporary world is rife with division and conflict, and many people feel overwhelmed by the scale of the problems we face. I am no different. I feel fortunate to have discovered and been welcomed into this way of coming together with others in a spirit of love and unity. The emotional release facilitated through the dances enables us to move through our personal and collective pain, transforming it into compassion and resilience. And the deep connection with humanity, the planet, and the divine that the dances engender reminds us of our interdependence and inspires us to act with greater care and responsibility.
If you know of a group that is gathering in the Bay Area in October, I’d be delighted to hear from you. Alternatively, if you have an appetite for a more (but definitely not solely!) intellectual approach to developing your leadership in these times, please consider joining me for the 4-day course in Oakland.
Come and immerse yourself in the beautiful Welsh countryside and ‘the Sacred Manuscript of Nature, the only book which can enlighten the reader’ (in the words of Hazrat Inayat Khan, the Sufi mystic). For these days we will live together close to the land and deepen our connection to Mother Earth through many different practices, culminating in a beautiful co-created ceremony to honour and bless the Earth.
In the afternoons there will be training sessions for dance leaders – circles where new or more experienced dancers, dance leaders and musicians can explore the dance leading journey, with guidance and supporting practices held by Jilani, who is a very experienced mentor and trainer of dance leaders.
Rissa and Sky of Yew Tree Camps have this to say about the site:
‘Meadow Ground overlooks the gorgeous Welsh Valleys and enjoys dramatic views and spectacular skies from its position on the hillside. The Stone Circle is a formation of English and Welsh stones, which came together serendipitously to create a deep and mystical place for the dances. We are immersed in nature amongst the hedgehogs, owls, buzzards, bluebells, orchids and new and old trees.
The land has been lovingly tended to and developed to create the beautiful and magical setting for these camps. We are blessed by the full range of weather that Wales provides; beautiful sunny days, misty rainy days and everything in between – it is therefore good to pack for all seasons!
We have various sheltered spaces for workshops, lovely compost loos (including a new accessible compost toilet) and a mains water supply for drinking, hand washing, cooking, and basic off-grid showering and bathing. We will maintain an open fire which marks the centre of our camping circle.
Please ask us about alternative accommodation and any other access needs you may require. Our field may not be suitable for everyone as the ground is uneven in places, but we would love to accommodate you as much as we can. We have options available to help you attend more comfortably if you aren’t able to camp or don’t wish to. If you need to travel light, we can help with some basic supplies like tents or bedding, however these are limited.
We have three cats who love the freedom of the field. Therefore we are not able to accommodate other peoples pets on the field. We also have an older cat and a small dog who live down at the house.’
This exciting new event is designed to be affordable, and please do enquire if you need further help to be able to attend. Conversely, if you find the price is reasonable or cheap for the value which is being offered, please consider offering a donation to subsidise those who are less well off.
Bring your own plate/bowl/mug and cutlery, plus everything you need for a vegetarian breakfast. You might also like to bring teas/coffees and delicious snacks to share. Our main meals will be suitable for vegetarians with vegan and gluten free options, and are included in the price you pay. We will all offer our karma yoga services in turn to chop wood and vegetables, wash up and clear away.
Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment! Contact Jilani with any questions prior to booking.
A Day of Dances of Universal Peace at the Spring Equinox, 23 March 2024, with Jilani and Robert
Cilgerran Village Hall, High Street, Cilgerran, Cardigan, Wales SA43 2SQ
‘In between the pillars of the Day and the Night, we walk through the doorway from the Dark to the Light: the Light of Renewal, the Light of Rebirth – Light of the Earth!’
The Spring Equinox is the time of the transition from the dark of winter to the lighter half of the year. It is also the time of new birth, when daffodils bloom and the earth warms with hope for a new season of growth as tender green shoots begin to appear.
We will dance with our focus on our own tender shoots, and on how best to support and nourish our growth at this time, calling on the Light of Renewal, the Divine Light, to sustain us and guide us as we grow.
Jilani Cordelia and Robert Salik lead dance events and retreats around the UK, across Europe and beyond. Their workshops are always a safely held space to explore more of who you really are, supported and enchanted by beautiful live music and gentle, meditative movement. Both Jilani Cordelia and Robert Salik are dance leaders certified in the Leaders Guild of Dances of Universal Peace International. Jilani is also a dance mentor, and a guide in the Sufi Ruhaniat International. Jilani and Salik are delighted to be returning once again to Wales, to a land and a community very close to their hearts. We are looking forward to dancing with you!
£30 full day (£25 if paid before 16 February) £16 half day (ask if you’d need a concession)
Please bring vegetarian food to share for lunch. Teas will be provided. Tasty snacks are welcome too!
Jilani will also lead a Sufi Zikr on Friday evening at 7.30pm, at a venue near Newport, for an additional donation
(we suggest around £10, but according to your means). Numbers are limited so booking is essential.
If you would like to join us for the Zikr, please contact
‘You don’t need to have any experience of this type of group to enjoy it and feel uplifted…The movement and singing is spiritual and peaceful.’ – Lorraine
“Their events that I have experienced are really uplifting and thoughtful and make me feel like I’ve found a soul family.” – Claire
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