The dancing started with a bounce, at least for me, anyway. Admittedly ill prepared, the music I had this week at Beautynight was the radio’s top 7. I was overly confident that my will to move and my passion for inspiring it, would creep into even the most reluctant diva’s psyche, inspiring her to bust-a-move with me. I was proven wrong. The problem was obvious; no one was joining me in dance and while my growing group of volunteer friends and I were killing ourselves dancing the Macarena to the Anthem song (featuring lil Jon) none of the women who were there to benefit from our movement inspirations were!
I decided to go to the source and find out, exactly, why we were alone in our movement experiment. Two of the women I spoke to, BJ and her “mom”, B, were the catalyst for what was to follow. The first question that came to mind was to ask them how I could get them to dance with me. The next question seemed obvious, natural. I followed with, “what kind of music moves you?” I facilitate and lead a number of classes per week. Sometimes there is music, often there is not. Usually I choose the set genre, the pitch and the volume. I consider the audience sounds and the desired effect I want the music to have. Sometimes even when there is music, I do not even hear it because I am so focused on what is happening in my body. So it was interesting to learn what kind of music BJ and B like to listen to and to consider what moves them. It was B’s idea for me to take it to the floor and go around and ask other women what kind of music they liked. Clearly, this is what I should have done from the beginning!
Every single one of the gals I spoke to had no problem telling me what kind of music they liked. Some of the music requests included reggae, Cher, Johnny Reed, today’s country, gypsy-even classical. My friends opened up quickly to my inquiry about what kind of music moves them but what I found most curious was how that discussion lead into their hearts. In fact, out of the dozen women that I spoke to, 9 of them revealed something to me that was personal about themselves-what they love and what moves them the most.
In Natural Movement by Susan Aposhyan she writes, “even our thoughts are molecular movements along nerve fibers between neurons in the brain” and that in fact, “Sophisticated medical imaging devices such as PET scans show that thought occurs along certain pathways making a shape in space and time”. It is very likely that my taste in music is not always congruent with the kind of rhythm and music that others find appealing. That said, my question opened up a dialogue about loved ones, children my friends have had or have lost, partners they have lost or were waiting to be reunited with. The response that I got to my questions reflected an inner physiological movement, in this case in the heart, which could happen routinely throughout the day. How we perceive and move in the world specifically to a favorite piece of music is just a reflection of the continuous sequencing of sensations, perceptions and responses that circulate through our bodies and that usually happen unconsciously, fulfilling dozens of functions in the body. However, Aposhyan links conscious movement to feeling an “aliveness” in the body. Perception and response is movement. What we are inspiring at Beautynight is the possibility for sequencing and syncing our sensations with outer expression. To be fully embodied, alive!

About the Author:

Marlene Amado has been a certified pilates teacher since 2004 and has extensive experience as a movement teacher for over 15 years. Marlene completed her BA in Political Science at UBC in 2008 and continues to explore ideas on the body through various research and written publications. She is curious about new and various ways of teaching re patterning in the body as well as finding the deeper nuances of the pilates method. Marlene is committed to facilitating students’ empowerment and positive experience of self through movement. Marlene is a Pilates Alliance Member and is fully certified in all pilates apparatus equipment.

The experiences of the first few years of life set the stage for how capable our immune systems are, how we cope with stress and even our ability to find meaning-worth, in our lives. Research that has emerged in psychophysical therapy and within Laban Movement Analysis supports “the interrelationships of anatomical functioning, personal feeling …and also with the awareness that movement both initiates and changes emotional feelings and about how we think…”[1] When the experiences of everyday life continue to be a place of struggle as well as living in poverty, where do you turn and who can you trust in a world that has placed you in a category that has no formal affiliation, but is set firmly at the margins of social welfare and wellness?

I had a first hand opportunity to join Caroline’s team of volunteers this Tuesday. Amongst the various services provided such as a hot meal, massage and beauty there was an area at the far end of the room designated for dancing. Music wafted from the boom box that rested on a worn piano. My favorite CD was No Doubt and later, some garage rock. The energy in the room was decidedly enthusiastic.  There were smiles as the women were pampered and especially once I introduced myself. I teach pilates in Vancouver to a diverse group of people who can afford to willingly pay to be lead through a series of movements designed to help re-align the spine and correct poor movement patterns.  This was a far cry from the usual demographic that I cater to.  There is no lush flooring to sprawl on or high-end equipment on which to prop ourselves. My role was simply to invite some of the women up to move and dance to the music.  Our goal was to offer the opportunity to move-without judgment and without set standards or expectations. What I saw was a very open group, and an accepting cohort of women.  While I was unable to get everyone in the room to join the dancers at the front of the room, I noticed from those that were dancing, pure delight. There were many who, for personal reasons, did not get up and dance.  One woman expressed how absurd it would be to get up and dance after the day she had had.  After further inquiry she revealed to just having quit drugs.

When I think of connection in the body as I teach I am considering an individual’s relationship within and to her or himself. “To connect is to link, to establish communication… to associate mentally or emotionally”[2].  Considering the daily struggles these women experience that I take for granted, and the necessity of dis- associating oneself from inner/outer in order to survive, it is painfully obvious why so few feel compelled to join our group.   Beauty Night is about offering a safe place where even the most seemingly frivolous approach to wellness is imagined and available. Perhaps my friend may not find it absurd to dance once she has successfully gotten through the hours that lead to another day without drugs. If she is not successful, I will still be there next week offering a safe space in which to move.

Dressed up as the Grinch and a Holiday elf, through shelters, Sorella House, and Rice Block we headed with a car stuffed with xmas wealth. Staff members at the houses greeted us with joy. Together we brought in boxes of stockings filled with tooth brushes, tooth paste, AG-Hair products and toys.

Bringing Stockings to shelter to hand out

The first door we knocked, with hesitation it was unlocked. “We wish you a merry christmas, we wish you a merry christmas, we wish you a merry christmas and a happy new year!” we sang. Serenaded she was touched as she gentle took the stocking and said,”Thank you very much.”

Door after door we knocked, singing our Christmas carols, we rocked. Watching eyes light up with delight made us realize just how right the idea of giving is better than receiving – the joy we got was oh so pleasing.

165 stockings we handed out during our journey along this route. Excited to hand out more as the 2nd day of Xmas will have more in store. Thank you to all who have helped make our 12 Days of Xmas Campaign come true – we are so grateful to all of you!

Thanks to over 400 volunteers, we are able to offer programming for over 100 participants each week. Many of our volunteers volunteer once a month or off site.

It will be held at 412 East Cordova. The doors will open at 6pm. We are sorry for the inconvenience.

“The above video was produced by 4 grade 10 students as part of a project with their planning class. The groups will be evaluated and if chosen will move on to a district wide competition that could win $5000.00 for their chosen Charity. As a mother of one of the producers…this has brought me an awareness of the amazing qualities of this charity and what it had done and with funding and volunteer support can continue to do for these beautiful woman…” – Mother of one of the Producers.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Beauty Night!

From the article: “[Beauty Night founder Caroline] MacGillivray has seen many women walk out of the program with an improved attitude and become motivated to take better care of their health at home. “Being able to create an environment where the women feel safe, where they feel good about who they are, I think that’s really empowering,” she says. “And when you feel good about yourself, you start believing anything is possible. To see people taking care of themselves, where they felt hat they’re worth taking care of, it’s really exciting and beautiful.”

Vancouver Foundation also created a video that is airing at Vancouver Fashion Week between the shows. We have a booth there this week if you would like to come by and say hello! Thank you for all of your support! Here is a sneak peek.

Beauty Night Society is examining what we can do to streamline many of our operations. Volunteer management. currently takes up a lot of Caroline’s time, and presently everything is a paper copy – which means it’s time to update our system!  To help us out with this, Stephanie Michelle from Wild Fire Effects has created a Google form that we’re asking all current volunteers to fill out. This will populate a database so that we can more easily keep track of who’s available when.

Although many of you have been volunteering for quite some time, can we nevertheless ask you to fill in our volunteer application form to update your name and contact information. In the ‘How did you hear about us’ section, we’d love a recap as to how you originally found out about us, as well as how long you’ve been volunteering. Please also tell us your current availability.

As you know, we would not exist without you! Volunteers are what keeps Beauty Night achieving its mission to build self esteem and change lives.

You can find the volunteer form here. Thank you!