Dance Connection is a movement form that gives pathways to the expression of our human life. The way we embody life helps us to feel more comfortable in our own skin and realise our full potential. Dance and music, married together can transport us in ways that are transformative , even miraculous. The language of dance existed before the written language, as seen on cave paintings - it is a universal language for all, with many gifts to offer.
Authenticity results from a congruence between your body, mind and spirit. Dance Connection supports us in connecting: to ourselves, others, the world at large. One of our intentions is to strengthen our sense of identity in its naturalness, alongside developing a sense of respect for the diversity and richness in the world. To these ends, the music is very eclectic, and explores music that has many cultural, and expressive variations.
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
Dance Connection supports the development and integration of the whole person. Physiological benefits of dance are well known - improving fitness, flexibility, physical resilience and stamina - improving overall health. What isn't very well known about dance is how it also can regulate, restore, balance and support the nervous system, through dances that are geared to decelerate, calm and relax. The sense of community that builds during a course of classes or a year dance journey is incomparable - imagine the understanding we have from the silent language of dance shared.
Dance Connection develops well-being, emotional resilience, and empathic connections between people - it is a universal language and we often express so much more without words - this is why some psychologists say body language contributes about 55% toward communication and the tone of the voice about 38%. Movement brings us into greater awareness of the way the body moves, expresses and connects us to our emotions, personality and life experience.
Dance Connection is geared to create balance - life exists in contrasting opposites: e.g. work and play; activity and rest; inner and outer; Yin and Yang. The dance sessions are developed to offer pathways to develop balance, deep listening to the body and expression. In life socially we need to traverse different experiences , so the sessions include individual dances, pair dances, small group dances and whole group dances to allow us to experience all that it is to be human.
About Julia Hope Brightwell, aka Jewell
Jewell's dancing background:
Julia Hope Brightwell has always loved dancing, from the days
as a teenager at discos through to the present day as a Didactic
teacher. Her background spans exploration through Ceroc
(Modern Jive), expressive dance, 5 Rhythms, Movement
Medicine, Biodanza and now Dance Connection.
"I love the way I can bring all of me to the dance", explains Jewell.
"I adore music and am amazed at how it can transport me into
so many different places. I believe a great amount of my
emotional resilience is down to the effects of regular dance
expression."
"For me Dance has transformed my life, it has freed me
from self-limiting conditioning and made me more confident
to just be myself - vulnerable, sensitive, expressive and with
a rediscovered humour and lightness of being".
What brought Julia Hope Brightwell
to create Dance Connection?
Jewell's motivation was to create something that was accessible to all, through a robust simple structure and an adaptability. This desire arose from a knowing of the benefits of dance: health and wellness, emotional resilience, the development of social intelligence, a place to celebrate in community and a pathway that opened people up to a life well lived.
After receiving a divine download on the 1st April 2020, Jewell approached Tracy Seed and together they bolted down the methodology - mid to late 2020. Founding members Sue James & Anita Scorer met on-line to add to the development in 2020-21.
Since then Jewell has been working independently on the material, running classes, workshops, and weekends where the material is grounded and developed through observation and embodied feedback..
Jewell has a psychology degree and was a Montessori teacher for 10 years and knows that we all have an innate potential, that if listened to, is a compass for unfoldment into living the life you were born to live. Jewell was a Biodanza Didactic Teacher and has utilised this experience - giving awareness to create a different movement form - informed by what Jewell had learnt did and didn't work in making dance accessible to as many people as possible..
Dance is a universal language, that has been participated in for centuries - why? It has a deep connection to our mind, body, heart and soul. It is a way of connecting : connecting with our body, our emotions, our spirit, our soul.
People often say - "I am not a dancer", "I have 2 left feet", "my body isn't a dancer's body" - yet everyone can dance whatever the movement level there is in the body if you consider dance to be moving and connecting to music and occasionally just yourself without music. There are no set steps in Dance Connection, just indicators and instructions to help get the most out of certain dances, but ultimately the partnership with your body and its response to the music is central.
Jewell wants to spread the benefits of Dance Connection far and wide. She sees the need for the beneficial effects of dancing to an eclectic array of music with others. Over five years, it is clear that regular Dance Connection practice is a resourcing factor in people's lives, which aids their resilience, but also brings joy, calm, a feeling of being part of something, friendships, and more.
In 2023 Laura Grace became a registered Dance Connection Teacher, and in Autumn/Winter 2025 two other teachers qualify - Dr Bryan McElroy and Katie Wilkinson.
How does Jewell spread Dance Connection further? Do you have a residential centre that could reasonably host weekends? Would you like to financially sponsor a young person from a city in the UK to qualify to become a Dance Connection teacher?
Dance Connection is unique in it being accessible to all - with no set steps, an ethos of self-connection central to explorations, invitations to help you broaden movement vocabulary, and ways of moving with others - it offers a movement practice that can spread far and wide. How far depends on people stepping forward to carry the mantle. Let us together make it happen.
Laura Grace is a Spiritual Guide, Shaman, and Dance Connection Teacher. Dedicated to guiding others on their transformative journey towards inner peace and well-being.
Website - http://www.lauragrace.org.uk/
email:Hello@lauragrace.org.uk
Laura Grace
Teacher
?
Next Member -
Will it be you?
Do you want to be a volunteer to help with Dance Connection?
Are you a patron who would like to help us with Dance Connection's own dance centre?
Would you like to become a Dance Connection teacher?