THE BEGINNINGS OF EARTH AND SKY
AN INTERGENERATIONAL CELEBRATION OF CREATIVITY AND THE CREATION
NOVEMBER 17-19, 2000
MARTI DIMOCK AND JUDITH-KATE FRIEDMAN
"O, The Great One gives us All, has given and will give me.
O, The Great One gives us All, has given and will give me.
Alleluia, ja, ja, has given and will give me"
--Brazilian Spiritual
The peoples who told stories around the campfire felt the wonder of creation on a regular basis, when looking at the starry night sky, hearing the cry of the wolf, or witnessing the naming of a baby. We, the people of electric lights and e-mail, will recapture in a joyful and playful way the wonder of our creaturehood.
Our weekend together will begin with an ancient story of the beginnings -- the creation of the gods, of earth and sky, of sun and moon, of the seas and their fishes, of the flying and creeping and running creatures, and of the first human beings.
Using this story, we will move, dance, sing, play instruments, make masks, paint, explore and experiment. Each person will choose a creature or element from the story to create and/or become. Like-minded creatures will gather in small groups. Family members may join the same or different groups as they wish. Activities will be for all ages with a balance of instruction, free form play, and individual creative expression.
Each group will create movements, dances, songs, melodies, stories, poetry and/or artwork expressing their chosen creatures. Later, we will gather around the campfire with simple folkdances, telling stories, and singing and laughing together. The next day, we will weave our distinct creations into a unified whole, celebrating our creatureness and praising the creative force. Our weekend together will end with a final chant and dance circle.
All levels of physical ability are welcome. The workshop site and format are accessible. Flexible childcare will be available. No expertise of any kind is necessary, only an open heart and mind.
Come one, come all for an active, imagination-filled weekend!
ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
Cost for the weekend is $130 per person. For families we offer a discounted fee of $70 per child 3 - 12, $85 per child 13 -18, and a maximum of $295 for a family sharing one room. Infants 2 and under are free. Additional scholarships are available, please ask if in need. We welcome support from those families which can afford to pay the full per person rate.
Fees include program, lodging, and food. You may arrive as early as 4:00 p.m. to register. The program begins with dinner around 6:00 on Friday. Participants share in kitchen chores before and after each meal. The weekend concludes about 2:30 p.m. after brunch, final cleanup, and closing worship on Sunday. Meals are vegetarian. Sleeping accommodations are assigned first-come first-served in the Orchard Lodge (semi-private rooms near the dining hall) and are based on when your registration is received. When the Orchard is full, we will begin assigning people to the Redwood Lodge (bunk rooms on the lower portion of the property). Some allowance may be made for persons with special needs. Wheelchair access is available. Bring a sleeping bag or sheets/blankets, pillow case, towel, soap, flashlight, and slippers for the Casa de Luz. NO PETS PLEASE. REFUND POLICY: Refund of all but $15 up to one week before the program.
For Friends traveling from a distance, inexpensive housing may be arranged the night before or after the program.
We will gladly assist participants needing to carpool or arriving by public transportation as best we can.
ABOUT THE LEADER:
MARTI DIMOCK has been involved with improvisational movement and dramatics for many years. Inspired by the work of M. Scott Peck, she studied Community Building with the Foundation for Community Encouragement. She has taught folkdance and improvisational dance for children and adults, performed in the East European folk ensemble Radost, and currently co-directs a Balkan women's choir. She teaches third grade in a Waldorf-methods public charter school in Nevada City, CA. This is her second time presenting at Quaker Center.
JUDITH-KATE FRIEDMAN sings, composes, records, performs and travels throughout the U.S. bringing interactive musical experiences into communities. A life-long singer, she believes that making music is every person's birthright and sees dissolving the line between performer and audience as essential to restoring health and balance to society. Her credits include four solo recordings; two others with Vocolot, the a cappella sextet with universal heart, Jewish soul and social conscience; concert, festival, radio and television appearances; and songwriting awards. A California Arts Council touring artist and grant recipient, she founded and directs Songwriting Works, which brings elders and youth together to compose original songs. She brings a background in folklore, poetry, improvisation and her most recent passion, dance, to this playshop. This is her third time teaching at Quaker Center.
