Nepalese Tantric Dance Master Rameshwor Maharjan and Dr. Martino Nicoletti, anthropologist and dance-therapy teacher, propose a unique residential retreat dedicated to the discovery of sacred dances and tantric spirituality of the Kathmandu Valley combined with Japanese Butoh dance.
This retreat is a unique opportunity to do in-depth work on body, mind and emotions with the aim of allowing you to know yourself in depth, to regenerate yourself completely and develop your creative potential under the guidance of high-level professionals in the field of dance and dynamic meditation. The direct contact with the natural and spiritual dimension of Nepal adds to this retreat an absolutely exceptional character.
Information: infos.martino@gmail.com
THE RETREAT:
- The Charya dance classes:
Having been transmitted for centuries in a Buddhist ritual and initiatory context, the Charya Nritya represent a true form of dynamic meditation (sadhana) and a profound yogic practice.
By integrating mudras, sacred movements, mental visualization and music, the aim of these dances is to allow the dancer to evoke in his own body a series of specific meditation divinities (yidam) in order to unify with them and concretely experience the pure and illuminated state of his own spirit.
In this context, the peaceful and wrathful deities invoked and « danced » during the ritual are considered as the concrete expression of the ultimate and non-dual dimension of phenomena, as well as a manifestation of the incessant creative energy that animates and vivifies the entire universe.
Having been kept secret until a few decades ago, the Charya dances have very recently been made accessible to a non-initiated audience, including those of Western origin.
Under the direct direction of Rameshwor Maharjan and his assistants, you will be initiated into the practice of the principal aspects of the Charya Nritya in their double aspect of dances of peaceful divinities (lasya) and fierce ones (tandava).
The work, carried out during daily morning sessions, will include learning the postures and symbolic gestures (mudras), the coordinated movements of the different parts of the body, the typical facial expressions and gazes, as well as the sacred meaning of the costumes and jewels and attire worn during the dances.
During the sessions you will specifically learn the dances of Sodasya Lasya, « The Sixteen Deities of the Offering » and the tantric protector Vajrapani.
- The Butoh dance classes:
The work of tantric dances will be equally integrated into an in-depth work directed by Dr. Martino Nicoletti and based on the practice of contemporary Japanese dance Butoh. Thanks to it highly introspective character, Butoh represents the most appropriate tool to allow the deep integration of tantric dances themselves.
In this context, the different classes proposed bring about the development of physical and « subtle » senses in their close relationship with the energies of nature and sacred sites of the Kathmandu valley, respiration, the development of interceptive and proprioceptive capacities of the person, the liberation of memories and emotional blocks through the dance, as well as the rebalancing of vital energy in the double polarity of « masculine » and « feminine ».
- Visit to the sacred places of the Kathmandu Valley and introduction to the philosophy of Tantra:
In order to allow you to « immerse yourself » as much as possible in the proposed work, the program also includes a series of lessons devoted to the philosophical and spiritual bases of tantrism: the tantric path of Vajrayana and other paths of inner realization; Buddhist and Hindu tantrism; the notion of energy or shakti as well as the union of the « masculine » and « feminine »; the physical, subtle and energetic body in tantra; the role of « pleasure » and « passions » in tantra; the notion of yidam or « meditation divinity »; the phases of « development » (kyerim) and « completion » (dzogrim) in the practice of tantric meditation; tantric path and heroic attitude; tantra and the sexual dimension…
The lessons will also be integrated by a series of visits to sacred places and magical power related to the tantric religion, including Kathmandu, Patan, Pashupatinath, Baudnath, the temple of Vajrayogini and others.
WHO IS THIS RETREAT FOR AND ITS IMPORTANCE?
This retreat has been designed with the aim of offering participants concrete tools for reconnecting with their own body and its subtle energies.
Combining the experience of Rameshwor Maharjan as a tantric dance teacher with that of Martino Nicoletti as a dance therapy teacher, the retreat is aimed at all those who have a sincere interest in deepening self-knowledge using the splendid tool that is the body and emotions. In addition, dancers, actors, professionals in the performing arts, teachers and practitioners of yoga and meditation will find fundamental complementary keys to their activity.
Beyond the psycho-physical practices that will be taught during the stay, the retreat also aims to offer participants the opportunity to develop a true « tantric attitude » capable of accompanying them at every moment of life and of illuminating their experience and their daily relationships. In this sense, it is the art of learning to live fully, with openness, total letting go, authenticity and energy; to savour it fully, without veils, without fears and without taboos; to face it with lightness and detachment by recognizing in each circumstance an initiatory experience and in each moment a precious opportunity for inner awakening.
THE PROGRAM OF THE RETREAT
April 1st
Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer from the Airport to the Tibetan quarter of Baudhnath.
April 2nd
Morning: Visit of the Tibetan quarter of Baudhnath and its sacred monuments as the Great Stupa. Class of introduction to Charya dance and Tantric religion with Rameshwor Maharjan. The principal movements and steps of Charya and their symbolic meaning.
Afternoon: Introduction to the Tantric philosophy and religions of the Kathmandu Valley with Dr. Martino Nicoletti. Class of Butoh dance: what is Butoh and why it can be considered as a deep form of dynamic meditation?
April 3nd
Morning: Class of Charya dance with Rameshwor Maharjan and his assistants: learning “mudras” or sacred gestures. Learning the peaceful dance of Sodasya Lasya, or the “Eighteen Offering deities” (first part).
Class on Tantric philosophy and religion with Dr. Martino Nicoletti: the tantric path of Vajrayana and other paths of inner realization; Buddhist and Hindu tantrism; the notion of energy or shakti as well as the union of the « masculine » and « feminine ».
Afternoon: Visit of the old city of Kathmandu with its sacred tantric temples with Dr. Martino Nicoletti; visit of the sacred hill of Swayambhunath, the “self-created” god.
April 4th
Morning: Class of Charya dance with Rameshwor Maharjan and his assistants: learning the peaceful dance of Sodasya Lasya, or the “Eighteen Offering deities” and its relationship with sacred music (second part).
Afternoon: Visit of the old Newar city of Patan with Dr. Martino Nicoletti; visit to the Art museum of Patan in its relationship with Tantric art. Class of Butoh dance with Dr. Martino Nicoletti: Feeling our body and emotions thanks to our physical and subtle senses.
April 5th
Morning: Class of Charya dance with Rameshwor Maharjan and his assistants: to get in contact with our inner wrathful sacred energy through tantric Charya dance;
Afternoon: Visit of the sacred site of Pashupatinath devoted to the great Tantric god Shiva, with Dr. Martino Nicoletti. Class of Butoh dance with Dr. Martino Nicoletti: How to combine breath, movement and inner vital energy through Butoh dance.
April 6th
Morning: Class of Charya dance with Rameshwor Maharjan and his assistants: learning the wrathful tantric dance of Vajrapani, the protector of Buddhsith secret teachings (first part).
Class on Tantric philosophy with Dr. Martino Nicoletti: the physical, subtle and energetic body in tantra; the role of « pleasure » and « passions » in tantra; the notion of yidam or « meditation divinity »; the phases of « development » (kyerim) and « completion » (dzogrim) in the practice of tantric meditation; tantric path and heroic attitude; tantra and the sexual dimension…
Afternoon: Class of Butoh dance in nature with Dr. Martino Nicoletti: opening our senses to surrounding nature so as to get in contact with subtle energy of the universe.
April 7th
Morning: Class of Charya dance with Rameshwor Maharjan and his assistants: learning the wrathful tantric dance of Vajrapani, the protector of Buddhsith secret teachings (second part).
Afternoon: Visit to the sacred temple of the tantric Buddhist deity Vajrayogini, with Dr. Martino Nicoletti. Class of Butoh and Butoh philosophy with Dr. Martino Nicoletti: Butoh dance and Himalyan shamanism: the notions of sacred trance and bodily trance; how use our dance to get in contact with the subtle aspect of the reality; how to feel our body as a “mandala” and a mirror of the universe.
April 8th
Morning: Class of Charya dance with Rameshwor Maharjan and his assistants: learning the meaning of costumes, jewels, colours and ritual items in Charya dance.
Afternoon: Class of Butoh with Dr. Martino Nicoletti: how to use Butoh dance, feeling and mental visualisation to re-awakening our deep memories and to liberate them thanks to the sacred power of movement.
April 9th
Morning: class of Charya dance with Rameshwor Maharjan and his assistants: integration of peaceful and wrathful inner energies in Charya tantric dances.
Afternoon: class of Butoh with Dr. Martino Nicoletti: male and female energies in Butoh dance; how to awake and balance our inner polarities.
April 10th
Morning: Class of Charya dance with Rameshwor Maharjan and his assistants: how to integrate Charya dance into our daily experience and life.
Afternoon: Class of Butoh with Dr. Martino Nicoletti: How to integrate Butoh dance into our life. How to allow Butoh to illuminating our experience and our daily relationships. How can Butoh teach us the art of learning to live fully, with openness, total letting go, authenticity and energy; to savour it fully, without veils, without fears and without taboos; to face it with lightness and detachment by recognizing in each circumstance an initiatory experience and in each moment a precious opportunity for inner awakening.
Evening: Show of Charya professional dancers.
April 11th
Departure form Kathmandu.
THE TEACHERS
Rameshwor Maharjan, Master percussionist and Charya dance teacher, Rameshwor comes from a deep-rooted musical family belonging to the Newar ethnic group of the Kathmandu Valley. Ramesh regularly teaches Charya dance in Nepal. He also delivered some intensive workshops in Italy, Spain and France. Thanks to his deep knowledge of music and performing art of the Kathmandu Valley, Ramesh also collaborated to the creation of several musical CDs devoted to traditional music of Nepal and and Charya dance.
Dr. Martino Nicoletti (PhD in Anthropology of the Himalayas – Italy; Practice-based PhD in Arts – UK) anthropologist and teacher of dance-therapy and Butoh dance, has been engaged for over twenty-five years in ethnography of the Himalayas with a special focus on shamanism.
His work combines fluidly Martino’s long-term professional experience in the field of anthropology and arts with his deep personal engagement in the framework of Japanese Butoh dance, dance-therapy and body awareness.
He is the author of numerous works devoted to the religions and spirituality of the Himalayas, travel books, artist’s books and literary works, published in various languages.
TESTIMONALS:
“Before this retreat I thought that mediation just meant to sit on your cushion, to breath and to observe your mind. Thanks to this retreat with Ramesh and Martino I discovered that meditation is definitively much more that that! It is experience of feeling the LIFE ENERGY OF THE UNIVERSE flowing inside you opening the doors of your physical senses and deep feelings, as well as to an indescribable sense of openness, joy and liberation!”
Eugenia (Italy)
“This was a unique experience combining the visit to the most beautiful and sacred places of the Kathmandu Valley with a deep work on dance, meditation and body!”
Corinne (France)
“At the beginning I was sceptical and a little afraid to approach meditation in a such a physical way. I had never done something before, but thanks to the caring presence of the teachers and of the group, this retreat was for me a unique opportunity to release myself from old emotional and mental burdens: something giving me access to an inexpressible sense of lightness, freedom and openness!!!”
Molly (UK)
“This a true tantric experience! Nothing can be much more powerful than tis work to know your inner potential of tasting life and the divine abiding in you!”
Cécile (France)
“I sincerely appreciated both tantric dances with Ramesh and Butoh classes with Martino. Both have been full of attention, care and sensibility in carrying out their work with the and with a special attention to the specific personality and level of practice of each participant.”
Lushi (UK)
“This was to me an experience to repeat again and again: a wonderful work developed thanks to the unique energy of Nepal and two highly qualified teachers!”
Mary (UK)
“I attended to this retreat a few weeks ago. Ramesh and Martino working together! Uaooo! I really experienced the perfect balance between their approaches to dance allowing me to discover my inner energy and beauty! Simply wonderful!”
Robby (Italy)
“Thank you, Martino and Ramesh, you really allowed me to finally get access to unknown parts of my spirit, thanks to the powerful tools of dance and inner listening. I hadn’t ever experienced before something so deep and beautiful at the same time! Thanks! Thanks!”
Yumi (Japan)
“This is a retreat highly recommended to both professional dancers and yoga practitioner as well as to any beginners wanting to find a direct way to get in contact with a unique form of dynamic meditation!”
Piera (Italy)
“A magical retreat delivered with great human warmth and care for participants. It has been for me an initiatory journey where the combined work on body, mind and inner energies allows everyone to descend in oneself and to evolve on his/her own path of life. Many thanks Martino and Ramesh for being the creators of this magic!”
Véronique (France)
“As a yoga teacher I warmly recommend this retreat carried out by two authentic professionals in Tantric and in Butoh dances.”
Karine (France)
“Simply: dare to do this retreat on Butoh and Tantric dances of Nepal! Powerful, revitalising and relaxing at the same time.”
Anne (Holland)
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