I love vocal music and movement, and encourage each dance or song that I lead to invite and embrace the divine. I am always seeking to go further; to expand the container.
I am a certified dance leader and mentor. For the past 15 years I have led dance retreats and worked on the staff of dance camps from Colorado to Venezuela to Russia.
Dancing in beautiful outdoor settings is also a love of mine, and inspires me to lead regular retreats in places like Utah’s Canyonlands and on the beach in Puerto Morelos, Mexico. My friends have humorously dubbed my bi-annual dance of peace weekend “Bernstock”. Bernstock is a three day camping retreat that happens on my own property in rural Colorado.
There is always room for another new dance in my repertoire; I like to keep the dances fresh and offer new ones regularly.
Many of the dances I offer come from the wonderful leaders who I meet in my travels around the world. I also enjoy adapting and arraigning my favorite sacred chants and songs into new dances.
I have been practicing meditation for over 40 years and currently a form of Kriya Meditation is my path. My retreats often incorporate time for meditation and introspection. Laughter and playfulness is a great compliment to both the dance community and meditation so as a certified leader of Laughter Yoga, there’s always time for HO HO HO, HA HA HA! Guest leaders also bring a wide range of things to share at retreats, like hand drumming, poetry writing and permaculture lessons.
The past years have been an extremely creative time for me, writing many songs, chants, and dances. I have been working with Sanskrit mantras including the Gayatri Mantra for invoking light and spiritual assistance. You can see me leading the Gayatri here. I have recorded 9 albums of chants and songs and an instructional DVD for those interested in learning to lead dances themselves. Some of my albums have free downloadable attachments with the words, guitar chords and dance instructions. Here’s an example from the album: “Songs, Prayers and Chants.”
If you would like me to lead a dance of peace in your community please contact me.
Also be sure to check my events page for upcoming dances and retreats.
– Bernie Heideman
Dances of Universal Peace Leader
“Don’t worry about saving these songs!
And if one of our instruments breaks,
it doesn’t matter.We have fallen into the place
where everything is music.”
-Rumi