A Look At Earthdance Festival and Movement

Earthdance is an event that happens simultaniously in 100 global cities at once. Earthdance coordinates the annual Global Festival for Peace and multi-location charity event in alignment with the United Nations International Day of Peace on September 21. All events support local charities and participate in the synchronized Prayer for Peace, which unites participants in all locations – and hundreds of thousands more online – in a moment of shared intention. More than an entertainment event, Earthdance is an international network of communities coming together. Debbie Allen, a writer and music events manager went on the scene at Earthdance and brought back a raving review!

By Debbie Allen

As if I had been magically whisked away on my fantasy magic carpet, and transported to an exotic destination similar to a Moroccan Kasbah, I found myself surrounded by a whirlwind, the atmosphere buzzing with excitement and filled with interesting scents, sights, and sounds from far away places. The beats and pulsing lights were rhythmic with flashing strobes and bright neon necklaces and hula hoops of spinning circles of colored lights. A gypsy tambourine was one of the many sounds that emanated from an outdoor stage under a majestic tree. Elsewhere flames in motion as various fire dancers twirled and spun live fire lighting up the night as drummers held the beats on African and Indian tabla drums and more. People had been encouraged to bring drums. Belly dancers swayed on the stages as Tibetan flags flapped above the crowd in the expansive outdoor/backyard space creating a unique alluring atmosphere at the 7th Circuit Studios in Miami.

This Little Haiti based space is home of the Moksha Family Arts Collective. Ray Orraca owner of the versatile venue said it all began when members of the local community of artists and musicians joined together to produce an Audio visual art show in 2003, they combined their energies and efforts for the love of the arts. When everyone involved gave so much to make that first event succeed he knew he had to keep the momentum flowing. Now in their seventh year in the current location the facility houses a full service TV studio and event venue. Moksha Family Arts Collective keeps making these special community events come alive. This is the gathering place for south Florida’s conscious, meaningful events and people. There are visual surprises and delights everywhere you look a gallery of mystic art including an Indian elephant and an American Indian. New works of art were created during the event by talented artists painting live. Moksha is a Sanskrit word meaning liberation and enlightenment.

This fabulous event was called Earthdance Miami 2011 and had begun early in the day with workshops in a variety of practices such as Tai chi, Qigong, all kinds of yoga, drumming, didgeridoo sound healing and much more. As the sun set a special Synchronized Global Peace Prayer was activated along with over 350 locations in 60 countries worldwide! Multi-million selling musician and sound healer Steven Halpern www.innerpeacemusic.com , the original new wave artist, a jazz artist who created music for relaxing and healing flew in to be apart of this Miami event. Val Silidker and Eric Dez cofounders of Expand the Love www.expandthelove.com teamed up with Moksha to facilitate this extravaganza.   

Plenty to watch, participate in or give in to, such as massage chairs, healing tents, psychic readings, vendors of crafts, jewelry, food, samples of acai sorbet by Sambazon; purple and delicious. Dr. Lee Vickers ( bodiesoflight.net ) described his healing methods as a kind of acupuncture that you can learn to do yourself by directing your own thoughts and light. He said his clients include celebrities like Kelly Clarkson, Kim Cattrall, and Celine Dion all using this technique of thought directed healing energy. The flying yoga demonstrations that involved yoga ballet duets that went beyond Olympic gymnastic proportions and contortions.

One of the bars featured “Atmospheric water” served in reusable, refillable cups, no plastic bottles at this green and conscious event. The man serving it explained that the Purified water had been extracted from the air, filtered and had a perfect ph of 9.5. A Rastaman Vibrations tapestry hung on the wall behind him as onstage inside the Peladian lounge Miami Rastaman Johnny Dread www.johnnydreadmusic.com and his fabulous reggae musicians had the crowd dancing and grooving to original songs like Rootsman Dread, Shoo Be Do and Vision. On the dance floor a Venetian goddess with a bright red mask, trimmed in gold danced with a lithe muse crowned with a wreath of fresh flowers.

Live music continued with the band Elastic Bond www.elasticbond.com

Delivering their own special Miami blend of Latin, soul & tribal sounds combined with electronica. They had the exuberant audience dancing into the night. Lead singer songstress Sofy Encanto was adorned with a painted mask inspired by the Xingu Indian tribe from the Amazon. The tribal art had been painstakingly applied by the very talented painter Eva Ruiz  (evaruizart.com). Sofy explained “The red paint symbolizes strength, health, vitality and energy.” Sofy, originally from Honduras was touched by the plight of this tribe who live in harmony with nature, without electricity. Their very survival is threatened by land developers. Sofy had been looking for an opportunity to help shed some light on their plight. As the Earthdance Miami 2011 event was planned in alignment with the United Nations theme for 2011 - International Year of Forests – "Celebrating the Forests" and how we can protect them for generations to come, the timing and event were perfect.

 
The night continued into the morning hours as my magic carpet carried me safely back home from another Miami night to remember.