Arts, Theatre and Dance
Attracting so many people from the arts as well as large numbers of people who
just love to celebrate, Osho Leela was predestined to be home to dancers, singers,
theatre enthusiasts and artists. In fact, within the first year of opening we had
already started using artistic expression as a major component in our groups and
workshops. Nowadays many Leela weekends feature Dance Workshops, 'Find Your Voice'
groups, Zen Theatre and Tao of Comedy workshops. Beginning
3 years ago, these forms of expression have all featured as 7 day camps in our summer
'Month in Paradise'.
Dance
Dance is probably the most regular and popular activity at Leela.
Even at weekends which are centered on completely non-dance areas, dance manages to
find its way on to the schedule. Over the past few years we have had many dance
weekends including: 5 Rhythms, Gurdjieff Sacred Dances and Ecstasy Free Movement
Dance as well as the Dance week workshops featuring Samba, Salsa, Bollywood, African
Dance, Biodanza, Makalele, Jive, Lindy Hop and many others. A typical day during a
dance weekend would have 2-2.5 hours dance sessions in the morning and afternoon and,
depending on the dance form, it may feature a third session in the evening.
Optional meditations are offered through the day as well, depending on who is running
the weekend.
Song
We are blessed to have one of our directors, Tarisha, running the Music Department.
Besides being an accomplished musician (flute, guitar, keyboards and drums)
Tarisha loves to share her voice and her songs. She regularly runs 'Find Your Voice'
weekend workshops in which she encourages participants (some of whom complain of
having a terrible voice) to open up and sing their hearts out. Her other talent,
song writing, is also shared with workshop participants who find themselves composing
beautiful pieces that often take them by surprise. (Did I write that?!) Singing,
celebrating through voice, is standard at Leela and sets an atmosphere in which
everyone is encouraged to explore their hidden talents. A typical day on a song
weekend would be similar to that described for Dance above.
Theatre
In this area too, Leela has been fortunate to attract some truly accomplished
'Awareness in Theatre' teachers. Prasadam hails from Germany, Priya from Taiwan
and John Cremer from England. John Cremer runs his 'Heart
of Laughter' improvisational comedy workhsops several times a year. Again a
typical day would feature 2-2.5 sessions in the morning, afternoon and
evenings too.
Art
For many years we had the pleasure and honour of having Michael Vincent as our Artist
in Residence. He ran groups called 'Created in Meditation' and coordinated the
bi-annual art exhibition in the house as part of Dorset Arts Week. For a few years
now he has been running his own centre on Glastonbury High St, called the Ashtat
Centre which takes up all his time.
During festival time we often invite an artist to run an art space in the far marquee
which people can go to and paint or draw in their own time. During the last May
festival Rupert Record coordinated the art space and added a new dimension by making
a chill-out drawing space in the dining room during the evening parties. It was
popular and definitely something we will repeat.
> Read what past participants
say
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