Join us for this interactive workshop that will introduce basic concepts of improvisational tribal bellydance and provide opportunity for positive physical self-expression and personal empowerment in a non-performance-based setting. Through discussion about personal archetypes, and exploration of posture and movement; participants will enjoy a guided bellydance experience, learn a bit of history, and have a chance to explore of the art and its emotional, physical, and spiritual benefits. 


With an added focus on flexibility and alignment, Samantha introduces bellydance as a practice that is not only fantastic exercise, but a great way to find comfort in your own body. This ancient feminine art is known for its ability to strengthen core muscles, and improve spine strength and flexibility as well as for being a mysterious and powerful expression of the feminine divine. 


Instructor: Samantha McCulloch, LMT
Please wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move. 
Flowing skirts and jingling jewelry encouraged!

*This workshop will meet in the Pavilion, but will move to the grassy open space nearby once attendees have gathered*

The bullwhip's combination of stiffness and flexibility make it an almost ideal object to translate the movement of your own body into a larger expression. The point of the crack is your intention to bridge movement from your body, through another object, and to an exact point in the environment. Although the crack could be considered a violent conclusion to your body's flow of energy, it actually doesn't have to be the end of that flow. Just as your body can turn, twist and change directions, so too can the whip follow and translate this, with each sonic boom serving as the exclamation point to your intentions.

In this class, a basic understanding of the bullwhip will be learned, including the basic mechanics that allow the whip to crack, and how the whip is uniquely designed to transfer and amplify the flow of energy. We will first go over the two ways a whip can crack, which form the basis of all complex cracking routines.  We'll start with the simple "cattleman's crack," "reverse cattleman's crack" and "forward crack," and if time allows, a few more difficult moves.

Protective eyewear is necessary (glasses or regular sunglasses are fine), and at least some clothing is recommended to protect skin.

A limited number of whips will be on hand for practicing with. Students are welcome to bring their own.

A small community fire will be held at Bardic Circle while ZenQuest is happening. We would encourage the focus of this fire to be on the meditative/trance dance aspect.

ZenFest officially begins at noon on Thursday. If you arrived early, please make your wall down to Phoenix Hall at this time to register and/or check-in for the festival. After this point, without an armband will be sent down to registration by ZenStaff.

ZenQuest will begin in the Pavilion at promptly 8pm.  Cyricxand Viollca will be your guides, starting the group off with adiscussion/intro. We will then embark as a group on a "pilgrimage"through the back trails and fields of Gaea, stopping for workshops along theway. We will travel to First Field, then Hermitage, down Blood Trail, and thento the Beach.

This will be a 4-5 hour experience!

We will be walking the back fields of Gaea, and hiking Blood Trail (aptlynamed) in the dark. Please arrive sober, already fed, and dressed properly fora nighttime hike in the woods - wear sturdy shoes, cover yourself in bugspray, etc. Bring a refillable water bottle (there will be water coolers alongthe way), a flashlight or glow stick, and something small to sit on, ifdesired. Please use the restroom BEFORE embarking on the ZenQuest, as there willonly be one bathroom stop along the way.

If you have a medical condition that makes it difficult to walk for longdistances or over rough terrain, you'll probably want to pass on this workshop.

All workshop times from here on out are approximate, and will start wheneverthe group arrives. Please see individual workshop descriptions for informationon what we will be doing along the way.