After the Dance | Dance For All People

Kindly Caring For Yourself After The Dance

You have tasted what is real and possible in your life. Whether this is your first dance or your tenth, it may be easy or challenging right now. For some it can be a bumpy process as old habits — some of which keep us disconnected — reassert themselves in the familiar environment of our everyday lives. For others, they could be on cloud nine.

Here are some time-tested suggestions to help you ground and digest your experience after dancing from afar:

You may experience great clarity (or mental fog to rival San Francisco) after the dance; let the energy of the dance integrate for a week or two before making any big decisions.
You may experience unusual mood swings or big emotions. Make space for them to settle. Be kind and gentle with yourself and others.
If you are driving and start to feel out-of-body, PULL OVER. Get grounded and take care of yourself. A few ways to do this are — drink water; turn your attention to slow and even breathing; get outside the car and stretch, or sit on the ground; get in present time; put your back to a tree if you can.
Sit with your vision arrow daily or when you can, especially when staying connected is a challenge. Shift the challenges into gratitude!
Let your sacred items remind you of your experience at the dance. If you feel called and don’t already have one, create an altar for yourself. Learn how to smudge yourself off.
YOU are still in the dance! Our lovely and deep time together from afar was just the beginning. Our dance was one or two days; your dance is the rest of the year. How will you walk your prayers and visions?
Returning and first-time dancers, contact your buddy and/or intention guide for a check in.
Say thank you. Did an elder or dancer help or inspire you in some way? Tell them, they will be ever so grateful.

Video: Clyde Hall & Rosette Royale — After The Dance

The next step beyond Dancing From Afar is Connecting From Afar, to creatively connect with each other in meaningful ways that bridge the gaps no matter where we are.

About Connecting From Afar

Finding Support

Seek out one of our many pipe holders in our communities. They would be honored to sit and pray on your behalf.
Ask to join the Google Groups Prayer List (open to dancers only). Online since 2001, you may request prayers on behalf of yourself, your beloveds, and friends. READ MORE about asking for prayers.
Reach out to other dancers. There is a large dancer community on Facebook, and a wonderful NCPC Facebook page.
The time to prepare for returning to everyday life is before the dance. Former dancer Trebbe Johnson has written a wonderful Parabola Magazine article that underscores the importance of the return journey . In the article Trebbe draws upon mythic tales from many cultures, and offers her “equipment list” to assist in the process. READ >>
We have eight dances around the country that have all reinvented themselves. Check out the Dance Calendar

Giving Support

Reach out to other dancers in loving kindness. As Clyde has told us, if you bump into a dancer in your journeys — online or in your travels — take a moment to greet them and say hello. We are all family around the Tree.
Please consider financially supporting the NCPC, which helps to fund the Dance For All People as well as the elders, youth, culture and sacred sites of the Great Basin Plateau. Visit the NCPC Donate Page for more info. Subscribe to the NCPC Newsletter.