Week 5… We met with just the elders this week because the middle school students were still on their spring break. There was a marked difference in the feeling of the space; quieter, deeper, more vulnerable. When the younger ones are there the energy level is higher and more vibratory. I noticed the level of calm and stillness that the group naturally gravitated to. We did dances of blind following, helping one another down to and up from the floor and dances of boundaries, conflict, borders and obstruction. We had a guest teacher in town for the week, Ronja Verkasalo from Finland, and she taught a segment of dancing names. We ended with Danielle, my teaching assistant, leading the group in creating a type of poem called a renga, first in partners then sharing with the whole group. There is a growing feeling of connection and closeness as we get to know each other better. Fears and gratitude all sitting side by side.