Dance Meditation

Like in traditional meditation, this process of deep connection to oneself through movement brings lightness and clarity, helps get rid of blocks and obstacles and enhances peace of mind. However stillness of the mind is achieved by letting the body speak. Eyes closed, standing, inspired by beautiful music, the participants are guided through visualization, making them travel through colors and landscapes and enabling them to become more transparent to their inner world. In touch with their emotions and energies, they can then give form to their spirit and free the mind in a magical process of release and true self expression. 

In the 90 min class, Gilles helped the participants to explore the “ingredients” to “cook” their own dance. The emphasis was on bringing out the participants’ personal responses rather than learning steps and techniques. Starting with form – body geometry and dance forms and rhythm – speed, patterns, body percussion with various kinds of music, the participants were guided to explore more subtle layers of movement involving actions, emotions, elements – earth, water, fire, air and space), colours and memory.

Born in France, has trained in folk dance, Ballet, Modern Jazz and contemporary dance styles. Gilles has been living in India since 1994 and pursued training in Chhau Mayurbhanj, Yoga and meditation.

After a doctorate on socio-religious identities (“Who is a Brahmin?” The Politics of identity in India), he turned his attention to cultural and artistic identities, weaving a path between East and West, theatre and dance, research and entertainment, form and the formless. In 2000, under the guidance of the Karmic Research Centre, New Delhi, he received a process called “Dance Meditation” that he has been experimenting with since.

He created in 2007 his own dance Company, In Step, through which he has devised pieces on the energies of colours and nature and speaking of the inner path. For Gilles, dance is not about steps but about energy, letting the higher Self express itself through the body. He is also creative director and choreographer on big theatrical performances and teacher of massive public Bollywood workshops, traveling the five continents, produced by Teamwork Arts and is a Guest Faculty at the National School of Drama.