Brave Spaces are inclusive and authentic, built with respect for difference.  Charged with intention and possibility, Brave Spaces encourage improvisation and vulnerability.  To be ‘brave’ means being ‘ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage’.  

As we open we will inevitably face fears, traumas, and insecurities, both in ourselves and others.  As we interact we will encounter power dynamics and assumptions. It’s what happens next that matters most:  By encouraging mindful reflection without shaming, Brave Spaces hold us accountable for our actions and attitudes so that we can see ourselves and grow.  When we leave a brave space the world feels wider than when we came in.

Embodied activities such as ecstatic dances, movement classes, and bodywork are especially brave because our bodies are inherently irrational.  It’s delightfully freeing that movement gets us out of our heads.  And, it is brave to move and be moved because often we don’t know and can’t know exactly what we’ll do next.  We are revealed, naked in our authenticity.  To stay ourselves while moving with others we must be resilient in the face of judgement—particularly our own.

The Holding Brave Space seminar will examine the elements that go into creating Brave Spaces for yourself and for others.