I really don't have the words to describe my full experience curating and then playing this set for Denman Dance Temple. I can say that I went in feeling tired, a bit nervous and having some imposter syndrome. But... I got out of my head, dropped into my heart and I trusted my experience and intuition. I know I can't please everyone but the feedback was very good and tears were shed. 

I am thankful to Erin O'Brien and Riane DaSilva for curating this event, rentals and promotion and for holding space....The Denman Dance Temple Team! 

Thankful to bones and builders of the building and the lodge that we danced in. Thankful for the land and our Ancestors. 

Thankful for all who showed up to Dance and Be in the experience. There were people there from 4 different islands! 

I had a friend show up that I have known for over 25 years and who was there with me in my very early days of DJ'ing. We shared some sweet moments. What she shared afterwards really had me reflect on all that has happened in the past 25 years. 

We had oracle cards there and I had one literally fall out of the deck as we were setting up: 

"Metamorphosis is naturally destructive" - I couldn't believe this because when I was very very unwell I had this card up on my windowsill for about a year, maybe more. So seeing ti again having come through that experience had me in awe. 

"Pleasure Is Power" also came up and I smiled because one of the tracks in the set is called "Pleasure" 

I covered the bass bin with some purple velvet and I put the card there. I suggested that people bring their cards and place them there if they wanted something to be amplified or boosted. Erin and Riane had cute little pieces of paper and I suggested they could bring those there too and Erin suggested to put them in the fire! Yes, there was a wood-stove! 

At the end I read some of the cards out ... after a minute of chimes and silence. 

~~~

Here are the bits and pieces that showed up before the event and the words that I had written as well that I shared before the event...

First, I thought of my friend's poetry book "shaping pearls". I knew she written during a particularly challenging time in her life and I knew I'd find something there. With her permission I was able to share it: 

*tender beginnings by Caroline Miskenack

blush is the air of morning. Tender are its hands 
that lift your eyes to see the gravity of innocence pulling you toward acceptance 
so that you may remember 
your inherent goodness. so that you may begin, again. 

~~~ 

Then, these words came out of me and I posted it to Facebook and IG to help promote the event: 

Exceptional leaders don't impart just vision, rather they cultivate the emergence of vision.
~Sudha Murty

I wouldn't call myself an exceptional leader but I do like curating, cultivating and co-creating spaces and events where we can come to-gather and share our visions, our voice, our energy. 

In community we find the courage to show up, we listen, we activate, we grow, we co-create and hopefully we begin shifting paradigms.

We change narratives, we stand for things.

We speak for those who can't, we dance for freedom.

Today is a new day to emerge.

Denman Dance Temple: Super Charged Spring Emergence
~~~ 

And then I wrote this while sitting in the car whilst on the Denman Ferry ... reflecting on emergence—not just in nature, but within ourselves. 

What does the theme "Emergence" mean to me?

When I imagine the word emergence I think of a seed being planted in fertile soil. I see and feel the rain. And soon a little sprout emerges. The sun shares its love, heat and energy to call the little sprout upward.

Invitation: 

Today, I wonder who has been cultivating and preparing the soil? 
Who is planting seeds? 
And who has already been emerging, growing, blossoming?
Whose Soul may simply be in a liminal space? 

~~~ 

Let's dance each other home... starting with ourselves. 

If you like what you hear, I'd love a heart and / or share. Comments on the Soundcloud upload really help to get the music out there too. Thank you. 

"shaping pearls" book of poems by Caroline Miskenack can be found here: https://www.blurb.ca/b/10709227-shaping-pearls

Track IDs: 

BAILE - Fall at Lake Taghkanic (Original Mix)
Contra, Saturna - What I Can Do (Original Mix)
Thriftworks - Mr. Plastic Fantastic (Original Mix)
Sage, Dominus - Pleasure (feat. Sage) (Original Mix)
Raffaele Ciavolino - Dizzy Guitar (Extended Mix)
Dam Swindle - That's Right (Original Mix)
Get To Know - I Just Love (Phil Fuldner Remix - Extended Mix)
Angelo Ferreri, Gas Di Fede - Da House Vibe (Makito Remix)
Cajmere, Dajae - Brighter Days (Marco Lys Remix)
CASSIMM, Tamika Tyan - Release feat. Tamika Tyan (Extended Mix)
Kyle Watson - See Your Truth (Extended Mix)
DJ Susan, Rich DietZ - Everything Off (Ante Up) (Extended Mix)
Cloonee - Fine Night (Original Mix)
Gorgon City - One New Change (Extended Mix)
PARISI, Anyma (ofc) - Sacrifice (Extended Mix)
Ellis Moss, Jackie Hollander - Pass You By (Extended Mix)
Autograf - I Wanna Go (Extended Mix)
SI-FI - Not 4 Nothin' (Original Mix)
Borne, Alexis B - Hush (Original Mix)
Sorana, YDG, it's murph - Down Low (YDG Remix)
Handsome Tiger - QUILOWATT
Cosmal, CØNTRA - Slowrise (CØNTRA Remix)

I had Soul much fun. I was quite nervous tbh! I feel like I have a much better idea now of how to curate these ecstatic dance sets "better" going forward now. I am LOVING mixing in some very new styles for me! 

I chose this theme for many reasons. I have learned to become so aware of my thoughts. I observe and ask, are these my own thoughts? If I hear myself ruminating, I ask what is so important about this, that it requires repeating? Am I truly listening? If I start talking in circles or for too long, I wonder if maybe I'm nervous (and why) or wonder if I just don't feel heard.

So, rather than re-acting and try answering with my thinking brain, I do my best to drop into my Heart Soul space and let my thoughts land there. I ask, "What would my heart say /do?" I am ALWAYS surprised at how this information, this deep knowing, is very different than from what I would have ever created with my rational thinking brain. Always.

So the same applies when I am Dj'ing and dancing in intentional spaces. Am I performing? Am I connected heart to heart? Soul to Soul? Does my body actually want to move this way? I drop in, I commune with my infinite Soul Wisdom and what becomes, becomes.

It quite often brings me so much peace and joy... Or an opportunity for deeper retrospection / introspection and integration.

I invite you to ask:
"What would my heart do?"
"What does my Soul long for?"

Listen to - Heart & Soul @ Comox Dance Temple - DJ sprouT by DJ sprouT on Soundcloud
https://on.soundcloud.com/yhfADRFF2A1PVcPw5

~~~~ 

There are no pictures or videos allowed at Dance Temple but I can say with all my heart that the love was palpable. I am not sure how many people were there but I am pretty sure I saw about 70ish smiling, sweaty faces! All ages. The youngest being under a year!

Thank you Dance Temple Comox Valley Aaron Handford for inviting me and Mark Play-Full Events for setting up your gear, and being my lead / space holder for the day!

What a sweet community. I was so honoured to have been a guest today!

Thank you Joanna Finch sharing your sound healing skills. You're a sweetheart.
Today I dedicated my set to my Mom Georgina Lewis to our beloved little Ivan #ivanthecuddler who left his body this past September. He's the reason I decided to become a Dance Temple Tender and I have met so many wicked peeps because of it. Thanks to the DT team and volunteers and my wicked hubbub Tony Hasenkrug supporting with holding space, setup and teardown.

Seeing my besties out there sending me the good vibes is everything.

Next up, Denman Dance Temple: Super Charged Spring Emergence March 15th! Already curating that set! It's always interesting how different vibes and little bits of inspiration come to me at the most random times. Like I get glimpses into the future.

See  you / feel you in the Dance

​xo Tammra 

​Setlist: 

Pantha Du Prince, The Bell Laboratory - Quantum (Original Mix)
Michel Banabila - Echo Transformations (Original Mix)
Blimes, Habitaat - Shake (feat. Blimes) 
Stavroz - Gold Town (Original Mix)
Quinten 909 - Jazz In The Middle (Original Mix)
Bontan, Zentola - Right Now (feat. ZENTOLA) 
Disclosure, Eliza Doolittle - You & Me (Rivo Extended Mix)
Habitaat, Elocin Cole - Feel Your Soul (feat. Elocin Cole) (Extended) (Extended)
Andrea Oliva, Black Circle - Resonance (Extended Mix)
DENIROS - We Wanna Move (Extended Mix)
Disco Lines, No/Me - Wide Open feat. No/Me (Extended Mix)
Monkeyneck - That Thing (Extended Mix)
Limited Life, Mr. Belt & Wezol, BENDAH - I Feel Love (Extended Mix)
BLOND:ISH, Black Circle - Higher (Extended Mix)
Gorgon City, Max Styler - Touch (Extended Mix)
Matroda - Hangin' On (Original Mix)
Riordan, Ellis Moss - GETAWAY (Extended Mix)
Darby - FLOW (Original Mix)
Kevin de Vries, Mau P - Metro (Extended Mix)
Keith Mackenzie - Frisson (Original Mix)
Brothers Of Funk - Make My Day (ODM Remix)
sprouT & CD - DJ Edit - Heart & Soul (DJ Tool) 
Justin Martin, MNTRA - Spiraling ft. Victoria Rae (Justin Martin Instrumental Remix)
Ludwig A.F. - Chalk (Original Mix)
Player Dave - Yu (Original Mix)
Abstrakt Sonance, JLeon, Stylust - Stay Close (Original Mix)
Gidge - Rest (Other Version)
Chino Yoshio - 193193 Sleep