Cedar and Fir Studio
Yoga Pilates Dance
Body Habitat Workshop: March 19-21, Manzanita, OR
Come join us for a BodyHabitat workshop at the Oregon coast designed to cajole us into
deep physical presence and a global awareness of our place on the planet. We will work
both indoors and outdoors, moving our bodies in relationship to ourselves, each other, and
the oceanic landscape of water, plants, sand, stones, shells, and coastal forest.

Soul's Dance: Mondays 6:00-7:30pm, begins January 11th
In this class we will dive deep following the pace and journey of the embodied soul as it
dialogues with the self, with other dancers, and with the divine.  This class is inspired by
Lisa's studies in Soul Motion, 5 Rhythms, DanceAbility, and Improvisational Movement
forms. There will be music, exercises and guidance but no steps to follows.  A safe
container is created where your own movement exploration can be found and followed.   
This class is available on your Cedar and Fir Studio card or $14 for a drop in.


Contact Improvisation,  Sundays 4-6pm Jam
Indescribable fun and a phenomenal workout while playing with gravity, balance, and touch.
 Unchoregraphed improvisational movement.  We are always excited to have newcomers
join us. We are always willing to teach newcomers.  We often, but not always, have
musicians jamming with us.  Interested musicians are welcome too. Curious?  give me a call
and let's talk: 231-6091.    $5 to $10 donation requested, no one turned away for lack of
funds!


Boogie (Barefoot or Shod), 2nd and 4th Saturdays, 7:30-9:30pm
ODD FELLOWS HALL
The Boogie outgrew Cedar and Fir Studio!  You'll find us dancng now at the Odd Fellows
Hall on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month from7:30-9:30 pm.   Eclectic music
chosen to move your feet, your bones, and your soul. No partner needed.  $5 to $10
donation requested, no one turned away for lack of funds!
Cedar and Fir Studio, a space for yoga, pilates and dance
3204 NW Grant Avenue, Corvallis, OR
Southwest corner of Grant Ave and 32nd St
Entry on 32nd by the tall flags

    A dance story, by Lisa

    Our family spent a year on the small island Cyprus.  Cyprus is in the Eastern Med, just south
    a Greek speaking independent nation. The two nations have been at war for 35 years and
    Nicosia, the capital, is the last divided city, complete with a UN peace force occupying a
    neutral border zone, "the green line."  The border was opened, for the first time in 32 years,
    while we were there.

     Jay was on a Fulbright Fellowship and I didn't have a work Visa.  I had a year off from my
    life.  I studied.  I practiced.   I danced.  Every day, well every week day, when the boys went
    off to school, I got out my yoga mat, turned on some tunes, and I danced and did my yoga
    practice.  I danced twice a week with a group of improv dancers.  I went to an occasional
    power yoga class.  But mainly I practiced by myself, for myself, because its what I do.  

    I also studied Islam and Eastern Orthodoxy.  I met with a small group of women, a Cypriot, a
    Palestinian, a Norwegian, and I got together weekly to talk about culture, life, religion, sex,
    anything else that interested us.  I interviewed Greek Cypriots about living in a Eastern
    Orthodox Democracy (theocracy?) and Turkish Cypriots about living in Secular Islam. It was
    fascinating to hear the differences and the similarities of life viewpoints.  It changed me.  It
    made me appreciate being an American. I will never doubt my identity as an American after
    these experiences.

    Back to dance, by a convoluted route.   I heard about an enclave in Lefke,  Northern Cyprus,
    where Sheik Nazim lived with a community of Sufis.  Sheik Nazi traces his lineage back to the
    Prophet Mohammad and is the last living Dervish Sufi Sheik.  I spent a couple days in the
    enclave.  It was like stepping back in time at least a few hundred years.  The first thing that
    happened when I arrived is that the women covered me up with scarves and drapes.  My
    most conservative clothing was still too suggestive for the community.  The women and the
    men are kept separate during the day, although they return to their family homes at night.  
    Throughout the day instructions were forwarded to me from the Sheik "You should help with
    the vegetables now."  "Now you can come over to the main house and help with the wheat."  
    (We spent hours separated the chaff from the grain for one of the sheiks favorite dishes.)  
    "Now it is lunch time, you should sit here."

    After lunch was cleaned up there was a brief period of rest, and then Sheik Nazim came into
    the women's quarters to lead zikr (prayer, chanting the names of God).  After zikr he blessed
    individuals and gave candy to the children.  The women pressed me to step forward.  I felt a
    bit shy, but they made sure I was at the front of the queue for blessings.  Sheik Nazim, in his
    bright green turban and robe, looked at me a bit quizzically, slipped gracefully from Turkish
    into English and asked "What do you do?"  I stuttered for an answer.  I didn't have an easy
    answer to that question, in the best of circumstances.  As I stuttered he reached out his hand
    and hit me hard on the side of the head and said "Dance" and then he walked away.

    So I guess it is that obvious.  I'm supposed to be dancing.  And I want you to dance with me.