Cosmic and Sacred Dance

Choreocosmos, the School of Cosmic and Sacred Dance teaches the cosmic dances of the four elements, the seven planets, and the twelve signs of the zodiac. These twenty-three cosmic dances embody a path following the archetype taught in the Middle Ages at the School of Chartres in France. There the pupils were instructed in the mysteries of the elements relating to Mother Earth, then the mysteries of the planets having to do with the Cosmic Soul, and finally the mysteries of the zodiac pertaining to the World Spirit. These three macrocosmic levels correspond to “body, soul, and spirit” on the microcosmic level of the human being. The introductory courses of the School of Cosmic and Sacred Dance are concerned with outlining a path of experience – through music and movement – to these three levels, with the intention of aligning ourselves harmoniously with the cosmic world. This activity is a metamorphosis of the ancient temple dances in which human beings sought to connect with the cosmic forces of the planets and stars through movement.
Cosmic dance is “meditation in movement”. In the cosmic dances the four elements, the seven planets, and the twelve signs of the zodiac are practiced together with their corresponding gestures and sounds. On the basis of a spiritual understanding of the elements, planets and zodiacal signs, new choreographic forms have been developed by Robert Powell, the founder of the Choreocosmos School. These forms, which are danced in a circle, are accompanied by live music from the classical tradition, usually piano or violin. The music is chosen in order to bring to expression the nature of the elements, the planets, and the signs of the zodiac. As the music of the great composers essentially mirrors the “harmony of the spheres”, it is well-suited – through the correspondence between the musical keys and the zodiacal signs – to enable a living connection with the cosmos to take place.
At the advanced level there are the cosmic dances of the “planets in the signs”. Working with the passage of the seven classical planets through the twelve signs of the zodiac yields a total of eighty-four cosmic dances (“Sun in Aries”, “Venus in Taurus”, “Mars in Gemini”, etc.). These cosmic dances encompass a learning process through movement, leading to an inner knowing or “gnosis” through the experience of these cosmic configurations in dynamic movement.

Lastly, a few words about the spiritual ideal of the Choreocosmos School. There is a continual exchange of divine energy between the Cosmos, the Sun and the Earth. The way to enter into contact with this is through love. Divine Love is the fire that ignites everything. It is everywhere in the universe, and it is also in us. Cultivating love is the spiritual ideal of the School of Cosmic and Sacred Dance. In doing the cosmic and sacred dances we seek to connect our hearts and minds with the Divine Love and Supreme Consciousness that pervades all existence. It is Sophia, representing the new Divine Feminine energy now flowing from cosmic realms into our solar system, who is the all-embracing focus in every Choreocosmos workshop. The essence of these workshops is to explore in depth the Sophia teachings on many levels. All “friends of Sophia”, whatever age and whatever inclination, are warmly invited to participate in the Choreocosmos workshops to help bring the Sophia energy into the world now. Schedules of Choreocosmos workshops in Europe and North America are posted on the Sophia Foundation website.
About Robert Powell, Ph.D.: Robert is an internationally known lecturer, author, eurythmist and movement therapist. He is founder of the Choreocosmos School of Cosmic and Sacred Dance, and co-founder of the Sophia Foundation of North America. He received his doctorate for his thesis on the history of the zodiac. His published works include: The Sophia Teachings, a six-tape series (Sounds True Recordings), as well as the following books: Divine Sophia–Holy Wisdom, The Most Holy Trinosophia and the New Revelation of the Divine Feminine, The Sophia Teachings, Chronicle of the Living Christ, Hermetic Astrology, vols. I & II, Christian Hermetic Astrology, The Christ Mystery, The Sign of the Son of Man in the Heavens, The Morning Meditation in Eurythmy, Cosmic Dances of the Zodiac and Cosmic Dances of the Planets (both co-authored with Lacquanna Paul), and the yearly Christian Star Calendar. Robert offers workshops in Europe and North America, and leads pilgrimages to the world’s sacred sites (1996 Turkey; 1997 Holy Land; 1998 France; 2000 Britain; 2002 Italy; 2004 Greece; 2006 Egypt) - see www.sophiafoundation.org