Embodied Alchemy

Ella Mesma Company

Dispora Dance Theatre

Ella Mesma Company

Ella Mesma Company offer a movement class which they call an Embodied Alchemy: MMMM Movement Meditation Mudra Mantra. This class marries Graham and Dunham contemporary techniques with elements of yoga and Cuban Contemporary, Afro Cuban, Afro Brazilian and other folkloric styles. The sequences (when not in lockdown) tend to move seamlessly in and out of the floor and can often be grounded, fluid and energetic. This is a movement class which is designed to move through the Orixás/Orishas/archetypes/chakras to release the emotions and stress and wake up our creativity. We describe the class as a morning movement ritual or mantra.

Technique Classes: Movement Meditation Mudra and Mantra

Embodied Alchemy MMMM Session with Ella Mesma: Movement, Meditation, Mudra and Mantra by Maya Gandaia

“As above, so below, as within, so without, as the universe, so the soul…”

Maya Gandaia is about Moving from Illusion to Joy, and this session is designed to move through the archetypes to release the emotions and stories no longer serving us through motion and into our highest self.

This session starts with a chakra alignment to ground in ourselves, to connect to our genius and to open up to a deeper level of creativity, followed by a meditative flow to move to a place of heart, to limber up the hips and spine and to breathe into the infinite universe.

This session is a physical and meditative flow to move to a place of heart. The class focuses on shifting and articulating the whole body with a focus on breath.

This class uses the floor and draws origins from contemporary dance, yoga and Brazilian and Cuban dance practises, whilst also allowing room for flow and individual experimentation.

“I had a wonderful time, you are absolutely a joy to watch and your class is a true reflection of our beautiful culture”. Ana Terra Carvalho, Brazilian Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa

To read about the dance styles our company dancers teach and practise, click here

Series

Under my umbrella as Maya Gandaia, I have been developing a series of workshops to facilitate the telling of Ella Mesma Company performers stories. It can be hard to deal with all the stuff that comes up in the studio in a way that is healing and affirming and helps the dancers access the beautiful place of vulnerability where all magic happens.

I have developed 7 workshops that are themed around grounding, boundaries, creativity, connection and communication which are at the core of my work with the company. They also combine the styles we work with: the dances of the Orishas, Afro Brazilian and Afro Cuban styles, Hip Hop styles, yoga (in particular the chakras) and contemporary dance. The workshops are:

HOME | MULADHARA | ROOT CHAKRA | GROUNDING AND FOUNDATION

“The ache for home lives in all of us: the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned”

WOMB | SVADISTHANA | SACRAL CHAKRA | PLEASURE AND SHADOWS

“I live in a queendom, ruled by a womb-iverse.”

CREATE | MANIPURA | NAVAL CHAKRA | CONFIDENCE AND RESPONSIBILITY

“The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.”

HEART | ANAHATA | HEART CHAKRA | GIVE AND RECEIVE

“The more love we feel in our hearts, the more it will be brought to us”

SING | VISHUDDHI | THROAT CHAKRA | SELF EXPRESSION

“Reclaim your potent voice, filling in the past silences”

FLY | AJNA | THIRD EYE CHAKRA |INTUITION

“Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances. ”

SPACE | SAHASRARA | CROWN CHAKRA |INTERGALACTIC CONNECTION

“I am connected to everyone through all time and space”

At Maya Gandaia I offer these workshops either as 3 hour sessions or as a full retreat as deeper work for those interested, and I work with elements of these principles at Ella Mesma Company to aid the creative process and invite a more supportive environment.

“It was such a wonderful experience attending the HOME workshop, as a dancer I felt totally immersed in the movement. HOME provided me with an opportunity to dance many styles, including my own and to meditate towards healing. Throughout the session I was guided through movement meditations; learning new dance vocabulary and improvising in my own flow – a wonderful synergy”. Dani Byars, Leeds