Chani
New member
Hello,
I have been asked to dance for a mother-to-be at her mother's Blessing which is such an honour and wanted some advice.
For those that don't know this is a ritual borrowed from the Navajo tribal people that Western women have adopted and modified - the original ritual is called a Blessing Way and can only be led by an official Navajo tribe member - the Western version is referred to as a Mother's Blessing rather than the original name out of respect.
It is very different from a Baby Shower - there is no alcohol, no presents but the guests will bring poems and other written words to empower the mother, no men (although young boys who are still by their mother's sides always are permitted), sharing of food, sharing of birth stories, affirmations for the mother, sometimes birth art, often a bead is brought by each guest that has meaning and a birth necklace is made for the mother to wear, hold or hang in her birthspace, candles are often made or bought and handed out for the guests to light when labour begins, sometimes the mother likes to have flowers braided in her hair, foot massage, henna on her belly....the mother can tailor the day to her personality.
Anyhoo, bellydance is very popular a these events and seems to fit the bill just so. I've danced at them before but as a fairly new dancer those times I stuck to music and choreography that I had already learned and felt sure to be able to perform even with big nervousness. To be honest I didn't take the care to match the music/words to the event.
Now, I am interseted to work out a dance, or more specifically music to dance to, that is more specific to childbirth because I feel I now have the confidence to handle doing an improvised dance which seems to me to be more in keeping with the idea of the gathering - somethign heartfelt rather than devised.
I am wondering if any BDF members have any ideas about appropriate music. I have been reading Salomes article about her attending a birth, so moving, but I cant find any songs that are just about a new baby or birth or similar.
I knew this is the place to ask because if it's out there somebody here is sure to know.
Perhaps if there is no song exactly on the topic there might be one about being a woman of power or similar.
Fingers crossed somebody has an idea about this for me. I"m very interested to hear anything to do with this dance and female-centric rituals.
Thanks
Chani
I have been asked to dance for a mother-to-be at her mother's Blessing which is such an honour and wanted some advice.
For those that don't know this is a ritual borrowed from the Navajo tribal people that Western women have adopted and modified - the original ritual is called a Blessing Way and can only be led by an official Navajo tribe member - the Western version is referred to as a Mother's Blessing rather than the original name out of respect.
It is very different from a Baby Shower - there is no alcohol, no presents but the guests will bring poems and other written words to empower the mother, no men (although young boys who are still by their mother's sides always are permitted), sharing of food, sharing of birth stories, affirmations for the mother, sometimes birth art, often a bead is brought by each guest that has meaning and a birth necklace is made for the mother to wear, hold or hang in her birthspace, candles are often made or bought and handed out for the guests to light when labour begins, sometimes the mother likes to have flowers braided in her hair, foot massage, henna on her belly....the mother can tailor the day to her personality.
Anyhoo, bellydance is very popular a these events and seems to fit the bill just so. I've danced at them before but as a fairly new dancer those times I stuck to music and choreography that I had already learned and felt sure to be able to perform even with big nervousness. To be honest I didn't take the care to match the music/words to the event.
Now, I am interseted to work out a dance, or more specifically music to dance to, that is more specific to childbirth because I feel I now have the confidence to handle doing an improvised dance which seems to me to be more in keeping with the idea of the gathering - somethign heartfelt rather than devised.
I am wondering if any BDF members have any ideas about appropriate music. I have been reading Salomes article about her attending a birth, so moving, but I cant find any songs that are just about a new baby or birth or similar.
I knew this is the place to ask because if it's out there somebody here is sure to know.
Perhaps if there is no song exactly on the topic there might be one about being a woman of power or similar.
Fingers crossed somebody has an idea about this for me. I"m very interested to hear anything to do with this dance and female-centric rituals.
Thanks
Chani
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