Mandala Dance Boundaries and Sexuality Policy
At Mandala Dance we strive to create a safe and sacred environment where all participants are able to trust they can express themselves without facing judgement. We ask everyone to take responsibility for their own experience, to honor their own individual needs and boundaries, while respecting others’ personal space and needs. When sexual energy arises, we request that you channel it into the dance, music, creative expression and meditation rather than into arousing intimate sexual exchanges. Our creative sexual energy is a gift of vital life force that strongly affects ourselves, environments and others. Expression arising out of this energy is most beneficial when done with care and consciousness for the well being of all.
If you have any questions, or need support arising out of anything happening in the context of Mandala Dance, please speak with one of our designated safety team members, or a member of our Core Group.
Thank you for honoring yourself and all others in the sacred space that we co-create together.
Guidelines For Children
Please discuss with your child what maintaining sacred space means before entering the Mandala Dance space. This will help us in making sure to maintain sacred space once it is created. Perhaps letting them know if they need a break and need to have a conversation, that you can both go down stairs.
Please be respectful of others within the sacred space. Some may be meditating, praying or working on art prayers.
Please be with your child and guide your child 100% of the time, this includes being downstairs in the break room area and cleaning up after your child. We do not want to have to track down parents during the middle of Mandala.
Please respect and teach that the sand art mandala is a place of sacred prayer through art and that the art materials are to be used as sacred tools. We’ve had issues lately where this has turned into a “sand box” kind of toy and that is not the intention of our Mandala, and it leaves no room for others to create their own prayers throughout the night. Once you create your art prayer, please move away from the Mandala so that others may have a turn.
We’ve asked that no running wildly through the dance crowd, which can be dangerous to both dancers and smaller children who can’t be seen.
Please be aware of your surroundings where safety is concerned. Down stairs candles are sometimes lit. Wood stoves, staircases, electrical cords and such, can make for dangerous situations and we have been asked to have a talk with parents on safety concerns.
When asked for moment of silence, please make sure your child knows how to maintain silence, or please leave the room so we can maintain focus.
Please note that our Mandala core group maintains the right to ask you to take your child out of the space.
We appreciate your support in helping to make Mandala a sacred and safe space to be in.
Please leave suggestions for us if you will at mandaladancers@gmail.com
Mandala Dance Guidelines:
1. We endeavor to cultivate a sacred environment. Please keep social and casual conversation outside the dance space. Feel free to remind others of this when they want to talk with you.
2. Be mindful of the available space around you and the need for each person’s sacred space.
You may need to adjust your dance to be safe. Please move interactions beyond focused movement to the side of the room for massage for example.
3. You are responsible for your own physical safety on the dance floor.
You are interacting with dancers of varied skill, ability and experience. Be aware of what is comfortable for your body while you dance. Communicate that to your dance partners and be attentive to what your partner(s) are expressing, which can happen all without words.
4. Listen to and respect your own boundaries.
The connection that we experience here is outside of societal norms for touch. Everyone has the right to break off contact with any body at any time without having to give a reason for why. Listen to yourself as much as possible and respect your own feelings. In addition, listen to your partner’s verbally or non-verbally expressed boundaries. We also ask that we consider the presence of children in the space and help to create a clear, safe environment for them.
5. The dance itself constantly changes and requires tuning in.
Observing the dance is a good way to participate in and support the space. It is also an excellent opportunity to learn. If you want to join a dance, watch and sense when or if there might be an opportunity to enter. You can always solo and switch partners as often as you wish. Remember, the floor is your first partner.
6. There is no right way to engage in Mandala Dance. It is a journey through self-expression into awakening! Explore and Co-Create! You can always ask one of the Mandala core team members for help.
More about the history of Mandala Dance:
The first Mandala Dance took place at the Greenfield Community Yoga in June 2012. We had about 25 dancers show up. Since then we have organized many Mandala Dances. The number of our participants and fans have grown since then.
As we continued expanding we have hosted many accomplished musicians that welcome our format as a fresh musical experience, different from their usual performances.
In September 2013, Mandala Dance received a grant from Ritual Arts Collective community to support our mission and to bring more experienced musicians to our events.
