THE MOVEMENT RITES
a transformational committed Open Floor series
Facilitated by Henry Fowkes
“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it and join the dance.” Alan Watts
Traditionally a rite of passage is a community-led ritual marking an important threshold in a person’s life (i.e. birth, adulthood, eldership, death). In our modern western culture, many of us feel starved of community spaces to mark life’s significant moments and grapple with our place in the world. This loss has been exacerbated by our ever-busy, fast-paced lives.
This series is a modern-day movement-based rite of passage journey: a five-week transformative committed series supporting your becoming.
Perhaps you have a specific threshold you are crossing in your life that you want support to move through? Maybe your questions are of purpose and meaning? Perhaps you feel the loss of ritual and community? Maybe your soul is longing to be more creatively free? Or do you feel a hunger to be more intimately connected to your ever changing somatic experience?
In this movement-based series we use dance, artistic & reflective practices, and rituals to move with our inner terrain together. We use Open Floor - a free-form therapeutic movement practice - to become more aware, flexible and resilient. Our moving bodies are our main resource in this series, as we cultivate our ability to be with change from within.
Each week will include specific practical teachings to support you to deepen and move through a change process in a creative and embodied way. This series is tailored toward anyone feeling the call to dive into movement, ritual, and personal and group transformation in a supportive closed group container.
If you feel uncertain about your mental resilience or capacity to participate in this series, please contact Henry to discuss if it is appropriate for your needs.
The series has five weekly sessions on Monday evenings, a day-long workshop and an optional sweat lodge ritual facilitated by SOTEMS. An alternative ritual will be offered to those who don't wish to attend the sweat lodge ritual.
"The Movement Rites course has been an absolute blessing to be part of. Henry is such an authentic and grounded facilitator and the whole process has been fun, nourishing, supportive and filled with love."
~ Tessa, Helping Professional
SESSIONS
Monday 19/8 - evening session 6.30-9.30 pm
Monday 26/9 - evening session 6.30-9.30 pm
Monday 2/9 - evening session 6.30-9.30 pm
Saturday 7/9 - daylong session 10.30-5pm
Monday 9/9 - evening session 6.30-9.30 pm
Wednesday or Thursday 11-12/9 - Sweat Lodges at CERES 6.30-9pm (optional)
Monday 16/9 - evening session 6.30-9.30 pm
LOCATION
All Monday sessions are at the Abbotsford Convent, Oratory Space facilitated by Henry Fowkes
The Sweat Lodge is at Ceres Community Environment Park facilitated by a SOTEMS Facilitator
COST
Full price: $649 (inc GST)
Early bird discount: $549 (inc GST) (Ends August 6)
First in discount for the first 5 people: $499 (inc GST)
Returning Movers from previous Movement Rites are offered discount price at $449
If finances are holding you back from attending this series, please reach out to discuss this further, as there are potential work exchange opportunities.
BOOKINGS
To book or inquire email Henry at henry.fowkes@gmail.com
FACILITATOR / GUIDE
Henry Fowkes is an internationally accredited teacher of Open Floor Movement Practice, experienced group facilitator and Gestalt Psychotherapist. Henry is often described as energetic, down-to-earth, and warm. He engages groups with his relatable teachings, humour and legendary tunes. His approach is centred around what's alive in the moment and a deep trust in people's innate resilience.
Henry has been teaching Open Floor in Melbourne and Tasmania for the past decade. He is fascinated with rites of passage and change and has studied and worked with The Rites of Passage Institute in Australia and Melissa Michaels in her movement-based rites of passage work in the U.S. Many bodies of work have had a big influence on The Movement Rites, now offered for the 8th time.
OPEN FLOOR
Open Floor Movement Practice is a lively, life-affirming dance inquiry inviting us to track our thoughts, feelings, and habits and turn them into creative fuel. Using a foundation of mindfulness and universal movement resources such as breath, grounding and centering; our aim is to use our movement practice to be fully embodied – physically, emotionally, and mentally. This simply means being at home in our body for the beautiful ride of being alive - present for anything and everything.
Open Floor is a free-form dance space with no dance experience required or steps to follow; an explorative, drug and alcohol-free space to fully express yourself, dance wildly or gently, and connect with yourself and others.
SWEAT LODGE
A sweat lodge is a sacred purification ceremony most often associated with Native American traditions. However, there are many such practices throughout the world; in South America and Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, Siberia, Japan, Africa and Australia. Sweat lodges are a powerful ritual to connect to spirit. This soulful ritual has been a cherished part of our previous Movement Rites series, with the ceremony facilitated by a SOTEMS facilitator. Participation is optional, and for those who choose not to attend, we have created an alternative ritual to ensure everyone remains connected to the group experience.
For more info about SOTEMS ceremony click here.
A FEW MORE TESTIMONIALS FROM PREVIOUS MOVEMENT RITES
"Henry's spaces are always so held and safe for me. I always feel alive and brought into spheres where I can challenge myself and my edges in the body. His work is embodied and delightful."
~ Jessie, Artist"Bless you Henry for holding the space for a transformative experience, for me to move into eldership within community and experience the grief of what I must leave as well as the joy and excitement celebrating a new stage unfolding. A dance of love inviting my soul to bloom."
~ anonymous participant"The Movement Rites has been one of the most enriching, grounding and healing experiences I’ve had the pleasure of taking part in. Henry Fowkes’ gentle facilitation allowed us explore so many dimensions of experience and be witnessed with compassion, and I walk away with so many embodied learnings I’ll treasure for many years to come."
~ Dennis, Musician
