Endless Waves ~ 5Rhythms classes in Victoria, BC

Weekly 5Rhythms® classes every Tuesday evening
January to July and September to December
at the White Eagle Hall, Victoria, BC

Tuesday evenings ~ 6:45 to 8:45 pm
at the White Eagle Hall
90 Dock Street (at Niagara)
in James Bay, Victoria BC

We’ll hold six classes this fall: September 15, October 13, October 27, November 10, November 24, and December 15.

Joanne will lead class on November 10 and December 15 (our annual candlelight class); Chantell will lead class on November 24.

(On December 15, you are invited to dress in black or dark colours and, if you wish, bring a candle in a safe container, for our annual candlelight class.)

Dancers under 30 years old: 2 for $25 (bring a friend for free)
If space permits, drop-in at the door: $25

Group will be capped at 40 dancers each week.*

* On December 15 only, the group will be capped at 55.

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Each class offers practical instruction in the 5Rhythms movement meditation, balanced with plenty of room to experience and enjoy your own dance. Participants can expect to connect with a community of devoted dancers as we explore and embody the many teachings the 5Rhythms has to offer. Deepen your personal practice, or dance a Wave for the first time; all ages (15+), abilities, orientations, and levels of experience are welcome.

Pre-registration helps us to track the group size, and to contact you before/after class if needed.

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Community care requests:

Our dance community includes vulnerable folks who may bear a higher risk than others in case of infection. We aim to hold this space, and we ask that you hold it too, with an ethic of mutual and community care.

If you are experiencing experiencing any cold- or flu-like symptoms; if you are awaiting results or have tested positive for any communicable illness; or in case of a known exposure to Covid or to any communicable illness (within 5 days); kindly, do not attend class.
If you have been traveling, or if you have been attending large group events (especially where attendees have travelled to take part), we ask that you self-monitor for symptoms and, if in any doubt, complete a Covid test within 24 hours before class.
A full refund or credit will be offered for any class missed, with notice, due to illness. No refunds for no-shows.
We also ask, if you should fall ill with a communicable illness within 3 days after attending a class, that you let us know without delay so we can inform participants of potential exposure.
Masks are welcome (not required) on the dance floor.

Accessibility: the hall has one flight of stairs (please contact us in advance if you need to access a lift), and one gender-neutral washroom.

Pre-registration is requested as it helps us keep track of the group size and, if needed, allows us to contact you before or after class.

The group will be capped at 40 dancers (55 on December 15), and tickets will remain on sale as long as there’s space in class.

Tickets and dates for 2027 classes will be posted later in December.

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** We sometimes have openings on our weekly crew: in exchange for assisting with setup, welcoming dancers, and helping put everything away after class, your attendance at class is free. Crew members may assist weekly, biweekly, or on a semi-regular basis. Please contact Joanne (250-380-1902 or joanne@danceherenow.ca) if you’d like to find out more, or if you think this might be for you.**

Points for Practice

Welcome! The 5Rhythms is a movement meditation and, as with other meditation forms, the quality of our experience depends on the quality of attention we bring to our practice. The following points will help get you started, and help us all create and nurture a space for deep practice.

Keep moving. As we move, we stir things up; you may hit patches of fatigue, boredom, frustration, or discomfort. Even if you can only wiggle a finger or nod your head to the beat, you can stay with that until something changes. Movement opens the door to the alchemy of this practice.

Pace yourself. No matter what the rest of the room is doing, honour your own energy level so you don’t get exhausted. By allowing yourself to rest in the beat when you need to, you’ll be ready to ride the next wave of energy when it comes. Respect your body’s needs and limitations; there’s no need to push.

Stay present with what’s happening for you. As with any meditative practice, you will have to deal with distractions. You may have the sudden urge to admire the décor or find a partner NOW or otherwise get away from yourself. (This is a great place to map those escape routes- and we’ve all got them.) Just notice when you get distracted and gently, consistently, keep bringing your attention back to the dance.

Release your expectations. You might be ready to play tonight, but what if no one else is in the mood? What happens when you have a hankering for a certain kind of experience – and the teacher (or your body) has other plans? We might prefer dancing to our favourite song, in our favourite outfit, with our favourite partner, but holding onto ideas of “how it should be” – and rejecting anything else – cuts us off from what is actually moving in the moment.

It’s not just about the music. The teacher uses music to catalyze and support what’s happening on the dance floor. While a certain exercise or piece of music may evoke strong ideas or emotions for you, how you respond is up to you: whatever comes up, use it as fuel for your dance. The music is simply a platform for your practice. You don’t have to love it – just keep moving, and respond.

Practice respect. Is your partner sending signals that he/she needs a bit more space? A bit more connection? Do people have to dance around you or tune you out while you stop for a chat on the dance floor? Are you endangering anyone? Mindfulness – in relation to Self, to others, and to the whole group – is an integral piece of this practice.

Stretch. If you always keep to yourself, you might try including others in your dance. Or, if you are constantly on the prowl for a partner, maybe it’s time to try ‘going solo.’ Slow down -or speed up- and see what happens. Experiment with different ways of moving, and ways of being still. This practice can stretch us in so many ways – and move us, if we allow it to, into places we’ve never been before.

Please * no scents or perfumes * no socks or street shoes * no intoxicants * no chatting on the dance floor *