Biodanza
Biodanza is a deep, yet joyful holistic personal, social and spiritual growth practice.
This unique somatic journey opens the heart, frees the body and expands consciousness.
Through regular weekly practice,
the integrative Biodanza process allows participants to resource themselves,
to reconnect to their natural state of joy, to harmonise their nervous system,
to awaken their desire and pleasure to be fully alive, to move through life with an undefended heart,
while being welcome by a loving community and supported in the safety of each session.
Biodanza is a simple, life-affirming and transformational therapeutic practice.
Everyone is welcome; no dance experience is necessary,
no need to learn any steps, nor any right or wrong way to move.
Also known as the Dance of Life, Biodanza combines carefully selected,
inspiring music from around the world with deeply moving heart opening exercices.
This somatic practice brings us more fully into the moment,
more connected to our emotions, and more into our natural state of embodied aliveness.
Referred to as The Poetry of Human Encounters,
Biodanza is a powerful, gentle and necessary medicine for our time.
Its regular practice transforms stress into vitality.
Through a rich variety of exercises,
participants are gently invited to get in touch with their authentic emotions,
recognize and embrace their need for tender touch, find their own inner strength, and awaken to their sensuality.
Each one is encouraged to discover and express their fullest and unique potentials
to recreate themselves and to find deeper meaning in their lives.
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Testimonials
"Biodanza is a superb movement and healing modality that helps foster genuine human connection. And Zora is an outstanding facilitator who helps bring a sense of safety, joy and depth to the practices. I highly recommend this work."
Jeffrey Ringold, Santa Cruz
“One of the biggest things Biodanza brings up for me is belonging. I struggle to feel belonging in a group. I am always second-guessing my worthiness, and questioning people’s desire to genuinely be in space with me. Biodanza provides moments of true belonging where I feel total understanding- we all understand each other‘s sadness, fear, joy, silliness, and connection to divinity. We are truly together- body and spirit soft, open and loving.
During such moments of belonging, I feel both ecstatic , calm; held, holding and safe.
I feel in my body “I am worthy of love! And these people love me!”
Then another part of myself creeps in, and does its best to question and dismantle the sense of safety and belonging.
I know this is a protective part. This part wants to make sure I don’t experience hurt and rejection, so I reject and remove myself before others can do it to me. Biodanza teaches me over and over that I do belong…and that in truth, I cannot be separate from any aspect of this universe. I will re-learn this lesson of love as many times as I need to.”
Martina Glaros, Berkeley
"Zora is a truly gifted being, who comes to greet you each time with a powerful promise shining in her eyes:
Yes! Life can be beautiful when we embrace the moment with joy and pleasure, come dance with me!"
Marta Delgado, Berkeley
Weekly classes
THURSDAYS
From 7:15 to 9:00 pm
Wildcat studio, 2525 8th St.
Berkeley
OPEN TO ALL
You are new to Biodanza or just want to drop in,
you're welcome to join our vibrant and loving group!
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MONDAYS
From 7:30 to 9:30pm
Finnish Hall, 1970 chestnut St.
Berkeley
DEEPENING GROUP
Are you ready to deepen your Biodanza
experience and integration?
Dancing weekly with the same group of people induces a deep integrative process.
If you are curious about the positive changes a regular Biodanza practice can have on your life, your relationships, your happiness, your creativity, your sense of aliveness and peace, join our deepening group.
You already have a good Biodanza experience,
understand the value of weekly practice
and are ready to dive deeper in the process,
our Monday class is welcoming you!
Please let me know if you want to integrate
our heart opened and diverse deepening group.
One session: $30
Monthly pass: $100 (4 weeks)
THE COURAGE OF THE HEART October 4-6th 2024 Gualala CA
"The mark of a wild heart is living out the paradox of love in our lives.
It's the ability to be tough and tender, excited and scared, brave and afraid-all in the same moment.
It's showing up in our vulnerability and our courage, being both fierce and kind."
Brene Brown
During this retreat I invite all of us to connect to our fearless heart, step in our power, find our voices and stand up for our values.
Together as a tribe we have the power to raise energy and ground in our strength while keeping our heart open and connected
to each other and all living beings.
Embodying the archetype of the Warrior of Love allows us to awaken our inner strength while staying in our heart.
Warriors of love respect life and are compassionate beings.
They develop the courage to put boundaries and to stand up for what they believe in.
”Anger is a catalyst.
It's an emotion that we need to transform into something life giving:
courage, love, change, compassion and justice."
Brene Brown
Peaceful and powerful warriors develop the ability to transmute anger into creativity to preserve and defend life itself.
They put their strength to the service of the Biocentric principles
to create a better world for all and stand in solidarity with all living beings.
Their life becomes a dance of the heart!
Residential retreat from Friday 5:00pm to Sunday 5:30pm
Camping included in a beautiful retreat center surrounded by nature.
Indoor sleeping options available for an extra fee.
We will all bring food and prepare delicious and healthy meals together.
Cost: $ 350 before September 1st, $395 after.
Register by bringing a non-refundable $100 deposit to your weekly class.
Some Biodanza experience is recommended to fully benefit from the depth of this workshop.
Zora
My personal journey started in France.
After completing a Master of Fine Arts,
I started to travel around the world.
In my early twenties, I discovered Vipassana meditation in India, practiced for about twelve years,
sitting and serving many retreats worldwide.
Later on, my traveling and dancing feet brought me
to California and the transformative world
of conscious dance.
For the last fifteen years I have been creating
safe and sacred space for people to transform
their experience of life
through the integrative practice of Biodanza;
a deep personal, social and spiritual growth practice
using conscious dance and community.
On my path toward even more freedom and healing,
I encountered and worked with several powerful
plant teachers and deepened the exploration
of my inner landscapes.
As a certified Mind Body Therapy practitioner
and a Process Art facilitator,
I offer individual and group sessions
using art and mind body awareness
as a gateway to the unconscious.
With creativity, sensitivity, care and passion,
I will guide you on your healing journey toward more integration, wholeness and freedom.
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Education and Credentials
Master of Fine Arts, Rennes (France)
and Pondichery (India) Universities
Biodanza Facilitator
and Didactic Teacher Trainer,
certified by IBF
Counselor,
certified by the Interchange Institute
Psych-K practitioner
Process Art facilitator,
trained by the Painting Experience
Mind Body Therapy Practitioner,
certified by the Embodied Philosophy School
Art Therapy
Where Art meets Mind Body Spirit Therapy
Art is a mirror reflecting back who we truly are.
Most of us are afraid to take a look...
but when we finally find the courage,
we can see right in the depth of the unconscious.
Are you looking for a gentle and safe way to express and release emotions that lay right under the surface
of your conscious mind?
Beyond talk therapy and creative expression,
I hold space and guide you with care and sensitivity.
No art experience necessary!
Process Art is a holistic and effective practice
that can help you shed light on unconscious content, support you to release deep buried emotions
and accompany you on your path to integration
and wholeness.
By quietening down the judging mind,
one can awake the intuitive, unconscious,
active imagination.
By allowing oneself to be in the flow, let go of control, follow the energy, magic happens on the paper.
Painting for the process and not for the product,
will reveal to you a new way to let your emotions,
feelings and unconscious guide your brush.
Find the freedom to express what lives beyond the mind and surprise yourself with your own unlimited creativity!
This process is deeply therapeutic and transformative whether you're an artist
or haven't touched a brush since first grade!
For artists experiencing a creative block,
this practice can support you to unleash your creativity and give you permission to paint
like you've never dared before!
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Testimonials
"My experience with Process Art has been very special,
I like to connect with that space where there is no mind, look at the colors and just follow my senses,
I feel that it is like a way to explore myself and see what there is, sometimes I can feel that I have expressed emotions or feelings that were repressed or that I find it difficult to accept, as well as I have learned that sometimes it is just a way to express my energy.
For me it is a way to channel energy through art and translate it into something tangible.
Thank you Zora for your guidance and your acceptance."
Romina Mori, Peru.
"Joining the art process class with Zora, I didn't know what to expect and was surprised to find myself in front of a big white paper; human's biggest fear!
What came next was an experience I never had before - "random" color, "random" strokes of the brush and a painting started getting a life of its own as hidden emotions of my heart reveled themselves to me.
With gentle, mature and wise guidance, Zora was able to guide me through those new exposed emotions, in a safe container held by all that witnessed.
This was not a random case, every session I joined had stripped another layer, and the personal transformation in return is tremendous.
I'm beyond grateful for this unique practice and the sacred way Zora guides the process."
Meyrav Daon, Israel
"The art process with Zora has been priceless. It gradually allowed me to travel beyond my own borders into emotional, psychological and artistic realms I would have never have imagined. If you yearn for expansion and honoring your own process this is your ticket beyond talk therapy and artistic expression. Zora will be your honest and sensitive guide."
Mirjam Krohne,
Biodanza facilitator and Education Specialist, California