Pete & Julie Biodanza, Poole/Bournemouth, Dorset, UK

Pete & Julie Biodanza, UK

Biodanza classes in Poole, Dorset - with Pete & Julie

When: Tuesday evenings 7:45 (for 8:00 start) - 9:45 pm
Where: Buckholme Towers School, 18 Commercial Road, Parkstone, BH14 0JW
£8 per session (free for first-timers!)

What to wear? What to bring?

Most people at a Biodanza class wear loose comfortable clothing and dance barefoot. Equally, others choose to dance in jeans and soft shoes. Because Biodanza isn't a performance or about looking immaculate, what really matters is to wear something that you are comfortable in, that makes you feel good, that allows you to move and express yourself easily.
All you need bring is a bottle of water to drink, and an open heart.

Can't make Tuesday evenings?

You might like to dance with Julie on Thursday evenings in Wimborne. Or check out www.BiodanzaDorset.co.uk for details of other classes nearby, and www.BiodanzaPete.co.uk for enticing Biodanza opportunities in the UK and beyond.

To learn a little about Biodanza and about us (Julie and Pete Simpson), read on ...

Biodanza

Biodanza was created by Rolando Toro, a Chilean medical anthropologist. While working in a psychiatric hospital in the late 60’s, Rolando noticed that different types of music affected the patients in different ways. He went on to develop a series of exercises-to-music designed to improve their quality of life. This was so effective that the nursing staff and patients’ relatives asked if they could join in. Biodanza was born !

Rolando further extended his system to make it attractive to a wider public. Within a typical Biodanza class, we are invited to embark on an enjoyable exploration of our emotions. Dancing to a selection of inspiring music ranging from Bach to Beatles, and from fiery South American rhythms to wistful Celtic airs creates a decidedly “feelgood” effect. We dance barefoot or in soft dancing shoes, sometimes solo, at other times in 2’s, or in larger groups. Many participants report an increase in self-esteem and in that respect some might say it is a very pleasant and gentle form of dance therapy. Biodanza classes are open to all. It seems to appeal most to the 25-65 age group, although some more-experienced teachers do offer classes specifically for children, older people, and marginalised groups.

Today, Biodanza is practised in many countries of the world, and a network of training schools worldwide trains teachers to lead classes. Until his recent death at age 85, Rolando Toro regularly gave training sessions at these schools. In addition to local groups in many areas there are national and international gatherings: over 1300 people from all over the world danced together at the 8th World Congress held near Venice in 2008.

Although Biodanza has been slow to gain popularity in the UK, featuring in the 2005 BBC2 documentary “Making Slough Happy” helped to increase public awareness and the demand for classes. Most of the 40 or so active qualified teachers in the UK are members of the Association of Biodanza Teachers in the UK (ABTUK), whose website gives details about its members and class venues.

The facilitators

Pete and Julie Simpson are passionate about Biodanza, and have recently completed the formal part of the 3-year facilitator training (one weekend each month). Pete trained at and is being supervised by the School of Biodanza in Bourgogne, France; and Julie trained at and is being supervised by the School of Biodanza in Dublin, Ireland. We expect to complete our supervisions in spring 2010. We are members of ABTUK.

In our "day jobs", Julie is a complementary therapist after working as a nurse in the UK Health Service for many years, and Pete is nearing retirement as a technical consultant in the computer industry. We have lived in Wimborne in sunny Dorset since 1982, and have 3 grown-up children plus 2 grand-children.

Rolando Toro’s vision was to have the whole world dancing. Julie and Pete hope to bring that one step closer to reality by offering Biodanza classes in the Bournemouth / Poole / Wimborne area.