It is based on a lot of research, however I have not included my citations in the text. If you wish to know what texts I looked at for your own research, let me know and I can send you a bibliography.
Enjoy!
-Shanti
Dance is something that is commonly associated with the Craft, with images of witches dancing in ecstasy under the full moon and celebrating the Goddess. We're all familiar with the concepts of the Circle and Spiral Dances, which make their appearances in group rituals quite frequently. There are a lot of reasons why dance is useful in ritual, and can often be used in place of the spoken word. Dance can be used to raise energy, as is the primary function of the Circle or Spiral Dance; it can be used to honour the spirits and the Gods; to invoke; to align to the elements; to induce a trance or state of ecstasy; and even for exorcism. But how many of us harness that power and spirit we feel in the circle at home, in our own sacred space? In this talk, I aim to establish how dance has been used in ritual and spellcraft over the centuries and how this can inform and enhance our modern day practise.
Exploring the use of dance to honour the Gods and Goddesses is an element of dance ritual that goes back centuries. Historical evidence tells us about the different dances that took place in Egypt, Greece and many other countries that were in celebration and honour of their chosen deities. An example of this was an annual dance performed in honour of Persephone and Demeter, which was described by Euripedes as he wrote about the mysteries at Eleusis.