Looking for a dynamic new way to exercise both your mind and body? The Gallery at Mercer County Community College (1200 Old Trenton Rd., West Windsor, NJ) recently announced that they will be hosting a 5Rhythms dance meditation experience. The event will be facilitated by Megan Kelley, a Trenton-based visual and performance artist, expressive arts psychotherapist, and accredited 5Ryhthms teacher. Bill Nobes, Creative Director at House of Robots, has been tasked with setting the space. The Gallery at MCCC will be transformed via light installation and soundscape to help foster connection and fluidity in the space.
All individuals aged 15 or older are welcome to participate in this transformative experience. Anyone is invited to participate regardless of experience or physical ability. Pre-registration is required, so please be sure to enroll as soon as possible if you’re interested in attending. Registration as well as additional event details are available here: Eventbrite – Capital Connection.
Attendees are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and bring a full bottle of water. Participants are welcome to either go barefoot or wear soft-sole dance shoes, but street shoes and socks are not permitted. This is an unplugged event, so live cell phones and recordings are not permitted. To respect others in the workshop, please also refrain from wearing any strong fragrances and respect the boundaries of the participants around you.
The music will kick off at 7:15 pm, so it’s recommended participants arrive a few minutes early to stretch and prepare. After a 30-minute warmup, there will be a brief talk and demo. Afterward, it’s time to dive into the evening’s main event!
5Rhythms is a dynamic practice, utilizing techniques from both meditation and dance to create a unique physical and emotional experience. The 5 rhythms are broken into the following categories:
- Flowing: a state of fluidity in the body; following the flow of one’s own energy to connect with our inner self.
- Staccato: rooted in masculine energy, this is a percussive experience designed to connect the participant to their inner warrior.
- Chaos: chaos is grounded in a full release, letting go and letting your body move. This practice is meant to ground the dancer in the present, liberating them to live in the moment.
- Lyrical: this movement represents rebirth, teaching us to break out of damaging patterns and surrender to fluidity.
- Stillness: the final rhythm, stillness, is a slow-motion movement designed to induce a state of meditation. Distinct from doing nothing, stillness is a medium through which our bodies can transform our experiences into true wisdom.
According to Gabrielle Roth, founder of 5Rhythms, “dancing the 5Rhythms is about waking up to your most essential nature, stretching your intuition and imagination as surely as your body. It’s a formless form, one that expands your range of physical and emotional expression and introduces you to forgotten parts of yourself.” Beyond just a workout, this experience is a safe space where participants can shed their egos and awaken something new within us.
This experience comes on the heels of Capital Connection, MCCC’s latest exhibit in the gallery. This exhibit highlights the College’s connection with Trenton, our Capital City. The artists featured in this exhibit live and work in our great city, further demonstrating that Trenton is the place to be for up-and-coming artists. The college hopes to utilize this exhibit to encourage current students to pursue a life in the arts right here in the city.
If you’re interested in participating in the workshop, please be sure to register at your earliest convenience. Slots are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you want to read more about the 5Rhythms experience, you can check out their website here: 5Rhythms – Home. Whether you’re a dancer or just curious about the process, all are welcome for an evening of creativity, connection, and community.
