Temple Dance- A Dance Form, A Way of Life

Well I've been inspired. Again. This time I was flooded with the ideas for a new dance form, or you could maybe even go as far as calling it a spirituality, a way of life. I call it Temple Dance, at least until my overly-inspired-and-now-exhausted mind comes up with something better. It is a Goddess-centered, in Her many aspects, ritualistic dance form. It brings out our inner priestess, our inner temple dancer. I don't know who besides myself would want to practice something like this in their lives but I hope to incorporate it into mine and to tell others about it.

I believe that who ever wants to practice Temple Dance should try and follow a more holistic, Earth-friendly, and self-friendly life style. That means preferably a vegetarian or vegan diet, and either limiting or no alcohol/smoking etc. Our body is a temple of the Goddess and we should treat it as such. We should limit toxins in our bodies by watching the foods we eat be they organic or animal-byproduct-free or holistic medicines instead of prescription/over the counter drugs if it can be helped.

Temple Dancers should also try and have some sort of work out schedule, be it a daily routine as a warm up/limber up or a full work out a few days a week. Not only is it healthy for our bodies but it will help keep you in shape for dancing.

**Please note that any dances can also be theatrical enactments that incorporate dance, such as mythology stories or Wheel of the Year stories.

Here is what I have thought of so far as what a Temple Dancer does (there is daily practices for every dancer, then other dances that are up to personal choice to do). They may change over time:

• Daily meditation/devotion(s)/offerings Ritual: morning, evening, or both; personal preference as what to do.
• Daily Dance: as short or long as you like- could substitute a moving meditation such as martial arts or yoga for either daily dance or meditation but must have a daily dance most days of the week. Can also be incorporated into your meditation/devotion/offering. It's up to you, do what feels right.
• Monthly Moon Time Dance: a dance of celebration of the onset of your moon blood. Can be done alone or accompanied with a personal ritual, such as gathering blood for your plants (a topic I'll cover in another post).
• Full Moon and/or New Moon dances (each month; known as Esbats, for you Wiccans/Pagans): may be accompanied with a ritual
• Solstices and the other Sabbats recognized by Wiccans/Pagans: usually a ritual with accompanying dance (i.e. A theatrical dance enactment of the Sabbat/Wheel of the Year story)
• Theatrical Dance Performances: tells a story or shows an aspect of the Goddess; most commonly used prop is masks
• Handfasting Dances: Wiccan/Pagan handfasting ceremony accompanied by dancers- can work with the couple to do a couple's dance
• Music: It is again not required but preferred that temple dancers also take up singing and/or a musical instrument. (For example, zills could count for belly dancers who already use them, but they may also want to take up Middle Eastern drumming).
• Coming of Age Ritual: may coordinate a girl's Coming of Age ritual; depending on the parent's preference on who comes up with the ritual/ceremony, temple dancer(s) would come up with the dances to be performed by the group, by the temple dancer(s), and/or the girl celebrating her First Blood.
• Fertility Dances: may be accompanied by a ritual
• Pregnancy Dances: may be for the temple dancer(s) to perform for the mother-to-be, or they may be asked to make a dance for the mother-to-be and anyone else she chooses to dance with her.

Temple Dancers should know how to use an array of props, or may choose to use only one or a few. It is up to personal preference. Here is a list of possible props that may be used in a dance:

• Live Snakes: not a "prop" but an honored and respected dance partner
• Fire: many different forms of "fire dance" props, including but not limited to- fans, staves, poi, candles, palm torches, orbs, swords, contact/eating wands, and others.
• Fans
• Isis wings
• Staves
• Masks
• Fae wings
• Veils
• Zills: more of an accompanying instrument then an actual "prop"
• 'Chains' or other props that would accompany a particular costume
• And many other dance props, especially those common to the different forms of Bellydance

If anyone is interesting in becoming a Temple Dancer or has tips/things to add to my growing list, please contact me by either e-mail or leaving a comment.