Dancing With Horses
2023 Programming Coming Soon!
This programming is facilitated by Jamila Jackson whose research is rooted in the connections between horses, authentic movement, and African-rooted community movement practices. Her work examines the potential of equine culture to teach us more deeply about connection, belonging, trauma-informed practice, and non-predatory leadership. Through working directly with horses, embodiments of spiritual and physical power, we will be engaging in relational inquiry around what it means to work responsibly with our own power, trauma, and creativity. Through integrating Authentic movement, poetry, and creative composition we will playfully, contemplatively, and lovingly engage our bodies in conversation to meet the horses where they are - in the realm of embodiment and presence. No dance or horse experience is required.
We work both in a movement studio and at the farm, building safety and community with one another and learning and moving directly from the horses. We will:
focus on connection.
work with creative movement and embodiment as a way to become integrated, congruent, and connected
learn from the horses and the land about honoring feeling.
engage in creative composition as both a practice of play and a framework for listening to the stories of the unconscious that are wanting to express.
acknowledge the stories of our ancestors that live and move within us
bring awareness to the rhythms of nature that cycle us through dimensions of our own feelings, perception, and perspectives.
slow down, practice the pause, and experience peace through togetherness.
We do not ride horses in this program. We work on the ground. No horse experience is necessary. Safety is our first priority.
Past Programming dates
This 13 week program will run between August 20th and November 19th, 2022.
We will be working in the studio in Northampton, MA and at the farm in North Brookfield, MA.
Studio times and location:
Our studio time will be at Carole's Dance Studio, Northampton Center for the Arts, 33 Hawley St. Northampton, MA 01060.
We will meet as a full group two Saturdays a month beginning August 20th and ending on November 19th.
Our studio times will be: Saturdays from 4-6 pm on these dates:
August 20th, 4-6 pm
September 3rd, 4-6 pm
September 17th, 4-6 pm
October 1st, 4-6 pm
October 15th, 4-6 pm
November 5th, 4-6 pm
November 19th, 4-6 pm
Farm times and location:
Our live work with the horses will take place at Ohana Farm, North Brookfield, Massachusetts (Please type this exact thing into your GPS as it gives the accurate directions to the farm. The street address directs people to the wrong side of the farm where there is no entrance)
You will be invited to schedule 1 -2 times a month to meet with me in smaller groups of 2-3 people at Ohana Farm in North Brookfield to do the live work with the horses. These smaller meetings will have more flexibilty to work with peoples schedules and negotiate with weather and farm issues that may come up. I have availability for these meetings on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Price:
Sliding Scale $900-$1500, payment plans are available. Space is limited.