Announcements

A non-residential retreat with Murshid Allaudin Ottinger

‘Spirituality is not necessarily intellectuality, nor orthodoxy, nor asceticism… If there can be a definition of spirituality, it is the tuning of the heart.’ (Hazrat Inayat Khan)

At this time when humanity is faced by growing challenges and divisions, this retreat invites you to the sacred work of tuning the heart – aligning with harmony and inner peace. Together, we seek to awaken a deeper connection that can raise us above the distinctions and differences that divide, fostering unity and healing within ourselves and the world.

This retreat will run from Friday morning until Sunday afternoon, and our journey towards heart awakening together will include a delightful and powerful mixture of Sufi teachings, Dances of Universal Peace, breathing practices, chants, walking meditations, and of course, Zikr.

Murshid Allaudin Ottinger originates from Kansas City, Missouri. He is an internationally renowned leader of the Dances of Universal Peace and has facilitated camps and retreats around the world since 1979. With great thanks to his teachers, Allaudin continues to travel the world and share the Universal Sufi message of spiritual liberty. As a senior Dance mentor and teacher in the Sufi Ruhaniat Order “…his exceptional musicianship, creativity and spontaneity are the seeds of ecstatic experiences…”. And as a consummate musician, Allaudin has recorded several albums of Sufi music, jazz, and poetry over many years, and brings to all he does a great quality of heart.

Cost: £240 – includes 3 lunches and 2 suppers, with delicious vegan food cooked on the premises.

Gluten free options available. A small number of discounted places are available on request.

For further information, or to make a booking, contact Robert Salik Orange:

robertorange19@gmail.com or 07870 213884

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

Prices/accommodation options: 

Shared Bunkroom 320

solo bunkroom  340  

Self contained shared 370     

self contained solo 415    

Caravan 320 (only 2 places) 

Camping 290  powered site 300

non residential with meals 265

non residential no meals 140

additional costs –

byo bedding or +$25

special diets  – gluten free +$40 or vegan +$35

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

A Ceremony of Sound and Light

with Jilani

‘Abwoon d’bashmaya’ 

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.

Loving the Beloved

Dance in Spain, by the sea, with Muiz and Jilani

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 

Dilwara: lucyjotucker@yahoo.co.uk 07890 248857 (WhatsApp best) or 01239 613641.

For bookings and practical information about the Saturday workshop including the venue, please contact 

Sally Davies: saldavies@hotmail.com or 07766 213606 

For information about the content of the workshops, please contact 

Jilani: jilanicordelia@gmail.com  or 07966 451534

  ‘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

A ceremony of Sound and Light, with Jilani

with thanks to Neil Douglas Klotz

Book before 17th March to receive the Early Bird discount!

Sunday 7 April  10am – 4pm

Om Yoga Works, Springfield Mills, Bagley Lane, Farsley, LS28 5LY

‘Abwoon d’Bashmaya’

‘Oh Thou, the Breathing Life of All, Creator of the Shimmering Sound that Touches Us! You Create All that Moves in Light…’ 

Simple Chants and Body Prayers, led by Jilani Cordelia Prescott, 

with live music from Jilani and Salik, on Viola, Guitar and Drum.  

All welcome! Everything will be taught on the day – no prior knowledge or experience necessary.

‘Who danceth not, knows not what is being done.’ (Hymn of Jesus)

Cost: £45 Early Bird if paid before 17th March, £60 thereafter

Please contact Jilani, and pay in advance to reserve your place.

Please bring vegetarian food to share for lunch.

For bookings or further information, contact Jilani on +44 7966 451534

or email jilanicordelia@gmail.com