Dancing The Great Turning

How do we meet this moment of ecological collapse and collective uncertainty with open hearts and steady presence? How do we stay awake and engaged without becoming overwhelmed or numb?

Rooted in Joanna Macy’s Work That Reconnects and the 5Rhythms® movement practice, this workshop offers an embodied map for navigating the terrain of our times. Through dance, ritual, and shared inquiry, we will deepen our capacity to meet this moment with presence, courage, and purpose.

Guided by the 5Rhythms of Flowing, Staccato, Chaos, Lyrical, and Stillness, we’ll move through the Spiral of the Work That Reconnects—beginning by grounding in gratitude, and then honoring our heartache for the world. As we allow our hearts to open, we’ll invite new vision and possibility, and explore how each of us might move forward—resourced by our unique gifts and in connection with others.

Through movement, small-group connection, and embodied listening, we’ll attune to the Earth and to one another, and feel into the next right steps we’re called to take.

This is a space to cultivate the courage, imagination, and resilience this moment calls for—not in isolation, but in community. Together, we will explore moving from disconnection to belonging, from stuck to embodied presence, from overwhelm to purposeful action.

We’ll move in support of the Great Turning—a shift from a culture of separation to one of regeneration, interconnection, and care—by tending our inner resources. Come as you are. Leave with a thread to follow–rooted in your own rhythm, capacity and love for the world. 

All are welcome—this workshop embraces people of every race, gender, sexuality, age, size, religion, ability, and class, honoring the richness of our diverse human experience.

The workshop is held on the land of the Native American settlement at what is now Northampton, and was called Norwottuck, or Nonotuck and inhabited by the Nipmuc, Pocumtuc, Nonotuc people.

About the Facilitators

Caitlin Elsaesser

Dr. Caitlin Elsaesser is a social worker, professor, dancer, meditation teacher, and facilitator with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals to heal, transform, and express their highest potential. She is the joyful creator and facilitator of an engaged mindfulness program for social workers based on Joanna Macy’s Work that Reconnects.  

Jilsarah Moscowitz

On Valentine's Day 2002, Jilsarah took her first 5Rhythms class fell in love feet first with the Rhythms and with the powerful medicine of this practice. In 2011, s/he joined the vibrant, creative, and committed NYC teachers' community. Since then, s/he has had the blessed opportunity to share her love for the magic and the medicine of the 5Rhythms practice with seniors, persons with Alzheimer's, legal professionals, dancers in NYC.  Jilsarah has been leading classes in the Western MA area since 2023.

Susan Ehlerman Brennan

The workshop is supported artistically by Susan Ehlerman, who has been dancing 5Rhythms since 2006. Susan is a speech-language pathologist, writer, presenter and mother. She works with individuals with social cognitive differences, their families, and professionals to foster dynamic communication and encourage interest and strength-based supports.