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Last Updated
March 8, 2010
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“We realise in the movements … that one can collect one’s attention; that one can be awake at times and have an overall sensation of oneself; that a quietness of mind, an awareness of body and an interest of feeling can be brought together and that this results in a more complete state of attentiveness in which the life force is felt and one is sensitive to higher influences. Thus, one has a taste of how life can be lived differently.”
—Jessmin Howarth, "It's Up To Ourselves: A Mother & Daughter Memoir"
GURDJIEFF DANCE
In Gurdjieff Dance the "doer" participates in creative work.
The Action of attention
Through a twofold action of attention, energies are released, collected, and blended in accordance with fundamental laws. An accumulation of simple yet profound actions brings to life the dance. Reciprocally, when the dance (an ideal outside of time) becomes actual (real in the doer), new energies are present for the work to proceed. Each seminar carries this re-search further along in our ongoing work with the action of attention.
THE INtention of GURDJIEFF DANCE
Used and preserved today within a living tradition, Gurdjieff Dance and the active attention exercises — exercises that Gurdjieff transmitted and which Bennett further developed — make available, to today's seeker, unique opportunities for creative work. In an ongoing search for imperishable being — necessary for continuous human development — this is the right and obligation of those who begin to understand the necessity of work-on-oneself. In the work of our seminars we invite others to participate in this necessity.
Historical
Background
A “teacher of dance,” GI Gurdjieff introduced a large body of dances to his students. Some are from the regions of North Africa through Central Asia (and possibly as far as Tibet); many are of his own creation.
Gurdjieff died in 1949 having influenced the lives of many people. After his death,
some went their own way while others organized themselves formally.
All continued to work with what they received from him and to pass on
their understanding. Today few
of Gurdjieff’s personal students are alive, while the numbers of
their students and their students’ students continue to increase.
Among the “grandchildren” of Gurdjieff is a new generation
born of his influence, grown, and taking responsibility for what
they received. Our work is a meeting of this responsibilty.
GURDJIEFF / DE HARTMANN Music
Working with Russian composer Thomas de Hartmann and inspired by ancient music he heard and learned during his travels, Gurdjieff created a body of musical work designed to harmonize the human psyche and make possible a higher emotional experience. Normally our thinking, feeling and moving "brains" are disharmonic — the Gurdjieff / De Hartmann Music assists in their reharmonization.
This work with music is an integral part of our work and is present in the seminars.
ALL Seminars and WORKSHOPs WILL OFFER
residential seminars and workshops will also offer:
- early morning introductory and advanced group sittings
- practical work
and meal preparation — to compliment the inner work and to meet the communal needs of the
seminar.
- silence in nature and
in the society of others — to deepen and assimilate our practice.
- evening practices — from Buddhist and Sufi traditions.
- evening concerts of the Gurdjieff / de Hartmann music.
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