Give Peace A Chant, Christmas in the Round & Winter Solstice Celebration

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Luna Ravenchilde has been a dancer her whole life and has been teaching ecstatic dance in both intimate and festival settings as well as creating intentional gatherings on the west coast for over a decade. Luna trained with Leyolah Antara, creator of Kundalini Dance (http://www.kundalini-dance.com/),  in May 2004 and has been teaching Kundalini Dance ever since. Luna’s ecstatic kundalini dance workshops at festivals like Shambhala and Earthdance have attracted hundreds of participants every year, where her facilitation has supported the opening of thousands of hearts. Her passion and gift is to unify many souls in ecstatic celebration. http://www.ekstasisdance.com

Black Cat Productions and Ekstasis Dance present LUMINANCE, a multimedia Winter Solstice celebration that includes film, dance performance, a Winter Solstice dance ritual, original electronic music producers, DJs, an art gallery with live visionary art, original visuals, and much more. Now in it’s fifth year, Luminance brings the most diverse Winter Solstice gathering once again to Vancouver’s premiere dance space, the Scotiabank Dance Centre, and it continues to unite dance communities from across the Lower Mainland in the ages-old celebration of light, greeting the return of the sun

When: Saturday Dec. 20, 2008 Doors @ 8:00 pm

Winter Solstice Dance Ceremony @ 11:00 pm

Music and Dance @ 12 midnight until 5:00 am

The beautiful Faris Family Studio at the Scotiabank Dance Centre in downtown Vancouver, 677 Davie St.

Film – What About Me? – 1 Giant Leap Sequel
Music – Kaminanda, Mazeguider, Shen
Ritual – Winter Solstice Dance Ritual by Luna Ravenchilde
Art – Simon Haiduk
Performance – Alaya, Jacky Essombe & Dancers
Visuals – Gypsy Slippers
Deco – Dizzy Carnival

Sandra Leigh E-RYT YABC Registered Senior Teacher is a registered member of the Canadian Yoga Alliance. She has also been accredited with the highest level of study with the Yoga Alliance USA, achieving the 500 hour Experienced Yoga Teacher (E-RYT) designation. Sandra is also registered with Yoga Association of BC as a Senior Teacher, and volunteers on the YABC team in Vancouver, BC. Sandra has been passionately devoted to yoga as a pathway to health and wellness since 1991. Her ongoing commitment to excellence in the field of yoga has been influenced by some of the finest international teachers of yogic arts. Her extensive studies have included mentorship under Advanced Senior Hatha Yoga Instructor, Lilian Bianchi, certification from Yasodhara Ashram, (near Kootenay Bay, BC), with further studies in the Hidden Language of Hatha Yoga and Kundalini Yoga as taught by Swami Sivananda Radha.

Sandra’s most recent attainment is an instructor’s certificate in Dru Yoga from the School of DRU Worldwide, based in Wales, UK. Popular in Europe, Australia, parts of India and Africa, Dru is a form of hatha yoga based on the meaning of the ancient Sanskrit word ‘Dhruva’, meaning still and unchanging. In Vedic texts, ‘Dhruva Nakshatra’ is the name given to the North Star, or Pole Star, which appears to remain fixed while all other stars move around it. Recognized as the yoga of the heart, Dru yoga practices direct awareness inward to a space known as ‘Dhruvakasha’, a source point within ourselves which is still and infinite. While Dru yoga techniques focus primarily on energy block release and stress reduction, Dru classes also include yoga asanas (postures), pranayama exercises (the science of breath), mudras (hand gestures), positive affirmations, sound and mantra, empowering visualisations, and potent sequences performed in a flowing and dynamic style.

Sandra’s two hour ‘Nature of Yoga’ classes include lessons in yogic development and philosophy, yamas and niyamas, mantra meditation, sound healing techniques, chakra awareness, and yoga nidra. Sandra is also certified to teach kid’s yoga, and presently teachers Yogi You, for girls 9 – 14, and little ones age 3 – 5.

Sandra Leigh’s work in the community expands to incorporate the yoga of sound, also know as ‘Nada’ Yoga. Sandra has trained in Indian vocals at the Academy of “Indian Classical Music” in Varanasi, India.  She has also studied 9 stages of Bhakti yoga in Vrindavan, the area of India know for it’s connection to Lord Krishna. An important part of Nada Yoga is the practice of ‘Kirtan’, a gathering of like minded people to sing the names of the divine. Although kirtan is a musical gathering, it is also regarded as an expression of ‘Bhakti’ yoga, the yogic path of love and devotion. One does not have to be musical to enjoy its healing benefits.

In 2001, Sandra created a popular weekly kirtan in Vancouver called “Give Peace a Chant!”, bringing yoga chanting to studios around the Pacific Northwest. With generous amounts of community support, Sandra continues as artistic director of GPaC. In addition to kirtan, Sandra offers ‘Yoga of Sound’ workshops, where participants are introduced to the healing power of sacred sound vibrations, japa yoga and mantra meditation for daily life. Please contact Sandra directly for workshop information and touring dates.

In 2004, Sandra and friends from ‘Give Peace a Chant!’ released a live recording called ‘Peace Through Music’, an arrangement of English and Sanskrit songs for kirtan. This CD is available at Banyen Books and Sound in Vancouver, or from givepeaceachant.org/cdpurchase.html

Sandra Leigh is a long standing member and enthusiastic contributor to the Vancouver yoga community. Sandra Leigh maintains a private yoga of sound practice in Vancouver, BC, and offers two levels of Hatha, Dru Yoga classes and kid’s yoga in the West End, downtown Vancouver.

As the artistic director and founder of the Give Peace a Chant! kirtan, Sandra Leigh holds firm in the belief that we can create peace through sacred music, especially in our own communities. Through the study of yoga, Sandra began holding kirtan style gatherings in her tiny West-End apartment in 1999. Enthusiasm and support for the vision of world peace through inter-faith style chanting (peace through music) grew, and in October 2001, ‘Give Peace a Chant’ Friday night kirtan was born. Sandra plays bells, mrdanga, djembe, harmonium and guitar, but mostly she loves to sing along with the community.

You can learn more about Sandra’s work and play at www.natureofyoga.ca

We would love to bring Give Peace a Chant ~ Kirtan and the Yoga of Sound workshops to your studio. Please contact us for further details 

Give Peace A Chant Kirtan is Vancouver’s community gathering for the celebration of yoga chants, sweet bhajans, mantra meditations, satsang and Inter-spiritual peace prayers. Kirtan is part of the path of the Yoga of Sound (Nada Yoga) and is based in Bhakti or Devotional Yoga. Everyone is welcome to connect to his or her own divinity through the miracle of music and chanting the Name.

Give Peace a Chant! officially began in the spirit of service as a weekly kirtan gathering in 2001. It was inspired by love, peace, yoga and the world events of that year. Based in Vancouver, BC, we continue to offer an inter-spiritual yogic community that uses sound and song to better the busy world. Give Peace a Chant! Kirtan is a place for healers, sacred music enthusiasts, travellers and awakening western yogis. Our mission statement is simply peace through music, our method is Inter-spiritual Kirtan, and our service is singing the Name!

Upcoming Events:

‘Give Peace a Chant!’  gathers every 1st, 3rd and 5th Friday of the month.  Plus, Saturday kirtan on the East Side, for dates please check the website.

2111 West 16^th Avenue (at Arbutus) (at the `Yoga Sukha’ Studio, Vancouver)
(click for Google map)

$15 admission  $10 for seniors and students with card

Kirtan is for everyone. No singing experience is needed. All are welcome!

December 19^th – Join us for our Winter Solstice Friday Kirtan Soiree! We are pleased to welcome special guest ~ Joseph Pepe Danza & friends ~ Rhythms and chants to move your body and soul ~ come ready to dance! ~
December 21^st – Join us for the 15th Annual Winter Solstice Secret Lantern Festival Sunday, December 21/08 ~ 6pm – 10pm ~ Outdoor Drum procession 600-candlelit Labyrinth of Light & Give Peace A Chant! Solstice KIRTAN! ~ more details TBA soon ~ This is a FREE event ~ All are welcome!

On the Horizon:

January 3^rd – Saturday Night Kirtan in White Rock ~ Bring your best intentions for the New Year! ~ Yoga of Kirtan ~ Saturday, January 3, 2009 ~ 7pm ~ Sol Yoga Centre, 12181 Beecher Street, Crescent Beach, BC ~ $20 ~ please pre-register 604.536.4831 or marita@solyoga.ca

Jerry DesVoigne is a Singer, Composer, Performer and Teacher who is Dedicated to Building a Community through Sound and Voice.

Possesing an extensive background in ancient singing styles and contemporary music,
he has performed and composed music in many genres, including: Rock, Country, Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Progressive Rock, Gospel, R&B, Musicals, Latin and World Beat. Jerry enjoys composing songs in different languages and using vocables, or non-language sounds. With over 20 years experience leading thousands of people in Kirtan (the devotional singing of sacred sounds), Jerry can guide you to the wisdom and transformational power of your voice.

In 1988, Jerry suffered a brain injury in a pedestrian accident causing him to lose many of his innate singing and musical abilities. The injury shattered his entire sense of Self and created gaps in his memory and cognitive thinking processes. As a part of his healing journey, Jerry discovered techniques of Harmonic Overtone Singing, where the voice creates three or more sounds simultaneously. These techniques are known for their profound healing effects in many spiritual traditions such as Tibetan Buddhism and by the Shamans of Tuva.

Singing or listening to the overtones creates new neuro-pathways, much like building a bridge to your memories and abilities. These sounds are pure and beautiful stemming from the ancient sounds that were first uttered by mankind. Jerry has received many testimonials of how his recorded or live sounds have removed headaches, eased physical trauma, helped learning disabilities, released stress and tension and opened people’s hearts in profound ways. More info – http://www.healingvoices.net/

Christmas in the Round & Winter Solstice Celebration with the MantraVani Orchestra

Jerry DesVoignes ~ lead vocals, guitars and flute
Elio Rota ~ keyboards, guitars & vocals
Stefan Cihelka ~ tabla & percussion
Sandra Dawn ~ vocals
David McVittie ~ bouzouki, sarod, flute & vocals

Saturday, December 20nd, 8:00 pm Trinity St Mark’s Church 1805 Larch St. @ West 2nd Ave, Vancouver

Advance Tickets $25  or $30 at the door Doors open at 7:30 pm
Note: Please bring water to drink and a cushion if you prefer to sit on the floor Chairs are also available

Tickets available at:

Banyen Books & Sound – 604 737 8858 3608 W 4th Ave, Vancouver

HiLife Records – 604-251-6964 1317 Commercial Drive, Vancouver

Utopia Books & Gifts – 604-984-8782 1826 Londsdale, N Vancouver