Founder’s Statement
“Dancemeditation™, a way of self-knowledge which includes, rather than excludes, the body, movement, dance, breath, intuition, and moving into the Subtle, is certainly my calling and my passion. From the beginning I loved to dance—in the living room, twirling around and around. Despite high achievement in professional dance (Juilliard, NYC concert performance, NY Times kudos full bio), I felt alienated from myself and my body. I ached for something deeper. I needed to dance my way into the heart of mysticism. When I did, I knew I’d come home. I know I’m not alone. Many of us know that our evolution, awakening, and becoming fully human happen in the spirit and the flesh.”
“I am deeply grateful to the brilliant and heartfelt practitioners who have shaped and continue to evolve Dancemeditation™. Your trust in me, your insights, and your sincere, luminous participation have brought this practice to its fullest, most powerful expression. Thank you.” – Dunya
Dunya Dianne McPherson
Founder of Dancemeditation™
Dancemeditation: An Embodied Mysticism
Dunya has pioneered a synthesis rooted in the understanding that disconnection from the body severs our natural resonance with the world—Earth, sky, animals, and fellow humans—making it difficult to find contentment in existence. Without embodied connection, we remain unable to fully rest in communion with the present moment.
Traditionally, embodiment and mysticism were seen as separate. The body was often regarded as an obstacle—something to be disciplined, repressed, or transcended. Dunya’s path has illuminated the necessity of a kind, inclusive embodiment, one that fosters a receptive and observant relationship with the body as a gateway to fully experiencing our humanity.
She has introduced two central innovations to the pursuit of mysticism:
- Kindness and receptivity to the body as a spiritual foundation.
- Proprioception and interoception are our body’s apperception of consciousness. Through her methods, Dunya has developed ways to activate these innate ‘listenings,’ refining a process that seamlessly leads into the subtle layers of self. In these depths, lineage transmission can flow, and embodiment becomes a conduit to profound connection and nonduality.
As a Spiritual Guide and Sufi Lineage Holder, Dunya has carried this work across the world engaging with diverse communities, in addition to leading immersive Movement Monasteries for those seeking deep seclusion and dedicated practice under her guidance.
“Dear inspiring, spirit-filled human, thank you for creating Dancemeditation. Thank you for realizing others need and want it. Thank you for bringing it and you to me. Watching you move is a little talisman of experience in my mind. I pull it out and stroke it and it reminds me to reach for that same sort of center in myself.” – Sherry S.
Learn more about Dancemeditation™
TESTIMONIALS
“There are times when god stops the clock and I am suspended, frozen in time. There is something about the suspension that provides a necessary contrast to the relentless motion of everyday life. Thank you for helping me be in stillness in motion, and watching the body’s intelligence emerge and communicate through the mind. These times are golden, as they are so hard to find, yet they tower over the details of everyday life, large and expansive.”
– Casita Negron Wild, psychotherapist
“Dear Dunya, Your workshop brought a new inner dimension to my life. It was not only the good healthy feeling from your exercises, breathing and dancing, not only the relaxation and the stress reduction, but the awareness of interior harmony. I enjoyed discovering the body movement coming from inside. The efficiency of your techniques, I believe, came mainly from the harmony between music, breathing, energy, meditation, and the moving. Thank you, and may many people benefit from your heavenly techniques. With deep gratitude,”
– Sorin Costiner, Professor of Mathematics, University of Pittsburgh
“Thank you once again for the opportunity to reconnect with you and all the lovely dancers. I love your work and how you create a safe space for us to explore and find our most beautiful selves. It takes me a while to get through the layers of crap to feel my beauty. I love this work because the fast way through all this stuff is non verbal. I have found my language and you and those who join you speak it too. It is nice to feel understood. I appreciate all your gifts to all of us.”
– Wendy Bixby, Director of Hospice Austin, Austin, TX
“I wish I had found your work ten years ago. It would have saved me six treatments in drug rehab centers. Thank you!”
– J.W., New York City
“These workshops have given me the ultimate gift of freedom––freedom to express myself in dance, freedom to feel the energy of the music, freedom to allow my body and my mind to connect without conscious control or inhibition––without Dunya ever having said a word.”
– Adelia Ritchie, Ph.D. chemistry professor, Georgia Tech
“Thank you, Dunya, for thirteen years of inspired healing and teaching. Working and teaching Thai Yoga Massage in New York City requires a great deal of focused energy. My success in the work I do is a reflection of your silent meditation exercises. Your techniques allow me to return to that inner place of stillness and yet feel revitalized, energetic and creative. At home I practice your dance meditation videos and I continue to maintain the benefits of this unique work. I look forward to seeing you again. ”
– Geri Ryan, Certified Massage Therapist New York, NY
“I just wanted to let you know what a wonderful time I had at your workshop in San Francisco this past weekend.. I was entranced by the non-verbal nature of your workshop––it really allowed me to focus more deeply on my movement…all the subtle shifts and whispers in my body that I wouldn’t have noticed if my head was full of language. I came back to Southern CA feeling completely rejuvenated and refreshed It came at a time when I really needed it. Your work is so inspiring, so beautiful. I feel lucky to have experienced it.”
– Gayle Brandeis, author of Self Storage, Fruitflesh
“During a vision facilitated by Dunya’s process I found my joy. I danced into my joy, slowly, becoming one with her. This joyous state had eluded me all my life but now I have lived in it ever since. My joy comes with me and my body everywhere we go. It’s just as wonderful as my wildest hopes.”
– Celeste Roth, Electronics Engineer Instructor, FAA, EIT, MeD
“I am a physical being. I was never meant to be staring at a computer 10 hours a day, stuck to a chair and a telephone on one ear. This has been draining the life out of me. The weekend in Dancemeditation re-introduced me to myself. Thank you for helping rediscover my lost self. ”
– Donna Felder, dental office manager, Pittsburgh, PA
“In Dunya’s workshops, I remember how to be myself. My essence unfolds, and my soul stretches like a newly-born baby as I approach my inner point of perfect stillness. All through motion and breathing. Beyond verbalizing. Beyond rationalizing. Beyond Understanding. I heal….”
– Dr. Monica Grace, psychotherapist, Austin, TX
“I have experienced many types of inner development, but nothing so reliably returns me to my center as Dunya’s work. She has a rare capacity to create a space in which the inner self can find its own level and unfold through whatever channel of awareness––physical, emotional or spiritual––spontaneously beckons to us. Much of the subtle power of her process is in its effortless joining of the polarities of our experience: still and vibrant, playful and intense, immediate and transcendent. In their essence, Dunya’s workshops go beyond both dance and our common notions of meditation to create a new form, melding the natural delight of the body with the natural freedom of the spirit. ”
– Tom Anderson, Ph.D., psychologist, Austin, TX
“Dunya gave a workshop for us at L.A.C.C. It was such a successful occasion, for she shared with us, how it was she came to do this kind of relaxing movement after being a professional dancer. Her work is inspirational, innovating, and truly allows for the person to begin to discover a gentle and loving way to move and experience the beauty and joy of motion. It also allows us to connect with our own inner rhythms and vibrations in a manner that gives us permission to accept and honor ourselves. Through Dunya’s workshops, the joy of moving, the beauty of the dance, and a wonderful acceptance of ourselves as moving, living entities is experienced. I heartily recommend this workshop for anyone who wants to discover the joy of living and moving through dance. It is a healing experience that allows us to turn inward to the love and ecstasy experienced when we allow ourselves to just be. It opens an opportunity for us to have a dialogue with our bodies in a way that guides us to understand we have an intelligence in our body that is a profound knowing and desperately in these times needs to be heard and accepted. Dunya is a innovator in movement, as Candace Pert is in biochemistry. She represents the new paradigm of our times. To experience her movement, and be led through movement in her workshops with her expertise, is an unforgettable experience, that allows one to begin to explore the exciting reality of who we re ital living changing organism in motion. To experience such loving movement, is to experience the joy of life itself. Dunya is a unique master of movement, and the dance. Don’t miss the experience of her presence. It can be transforming.”
– Laurienne Singer, M.A., Dance Therapist, faculty Los Angeles Community College, CA
“I used to think you led.
Then I thought you facilitated.
Now I know that what you truly do
is reveal essence.”
- Dr. Scott Elkin, physician, psychiatrist
Testimonials from Kripalu Participants
“Dunya is amazing. She is a spiritual guide and one of the most grounded, down-to-earth people that I’ve met in a long time. The entire program was meaningful, buts it’s Dunya’s heart and soul that she puts into her work that touches each person individually making them feel special. Nothing can improve this fabulous program.”–Donna Ayer, IS Development Specialist, Boston MA
“As a student of Dunya’s, what was most meaningful was watching and hearing all the effortless learning, awakening, healing. Such a beautiful sight to be in the presence of this unfolding. Such a benefit to have the opportunity to be in the presence of such a true guide. She embodies the natural transmission of beauty, art, inner truth, meditation. A calm, spacious mind, open heart.”–Jane Schmidt, Yoga Teacher, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
“Most meaningful to me was the gentle leading, through movement, into the profound expression of grief I didn’t realize I’d been carrying. The experience took me places I didn’t know existed. It was very stirring, healing. I’m grateful.” –Jill Jacobsen, Marblehead, MA
“Dunya is an amazing, open-hearted teacher. She transmits her teaching to her students in a gentle and deep way. The program had a safe environment for us. This is a sacred and earthy program, with healing, empowering, and sensual components in the movement. The space Dunya held was spacious and allowing. There was trust in us. The whole learning process has been so natural and effective and deep. It is perfect as it is.” –Jovinna Chan, yoga teacher, MA
“What was most meaningful to me was accessing movement organically and sensually versus externally. The pace was phenomenal – luxuriously slow and full, with tremendous integrity in the transmission of heart and essence.”–anon
“Dunya’s teaching was a peak experience that will transform my life. She is extraordinary.”–Maya Lea, Curator, Madison, WI
“The ways Dunya guides us into/inside our bodies was revelatory in terms of how that informed movement as well as relationship to self and the Beyond.” –Healy Smith, MD, New York, NY
“Dunya was magnificent. All I can do is rave about her and her amazing program.” –Jane Knox, retired teacher, CT
“I love the space Dunya allows for personal process and the states I found in the spaces she opens.” –Kate Russel, Pilates instructor & dancer, London, UK
“I loved the sense of community, joy & respect. Dunya’s warmth exudes through every fiber.” –Wendy Courtney, LMY, Putnam Valley, NY
“Fantastic! Dunya’s style of teaching movement from the inside out is so effective. The most satisfying part of my Kripalu experience was the level of dance I got to in a five-day period and seeing the level of dance in my classmates. Inspiring!”–Anne Marie McDonald, educator, Weymouth. MA
“I loved this course.” –Dana Bixby, architect, W. Stockbridge, MA
On Performance from Performers
“I really loved your performance at Jebon. I was shocked in a positive way. The impression you made on me that day is still vivid in my memory and sensory devices. When you dance you push the human, the space, the stage, and the mind boundaries. AND you are channeling something way over the physical body, over the judging mind.”
Anasma Vhong, dancer, teacher, choreographer, member of Bellyqueen
“Dunya’s performance was so beautiful. I once went to hear Don Cherry and Ornette Coleman play. They played beginingless, endless improvisation – no songs, no preamble, no nothing. They just played until they stopped. They seemed to open a trap door into some ongoing musical stream that had existed before they started to play and continued to exist after they finished. They tapped into this endless river. It was thrilling. Dunya dances like that. The minute she begins to move, she is completely at one with the movement; she embodies it so fully that the dramatic unfolding of the journey becomes mesmerizing, and ineffably right. Mostly I watch other people dance and think, huh, I would have done that differently. When Dunya dances there is no room for that, becasue the viewer is caught up in the immediacy of her choices and the organic evolution of the sequences, emotions, and spatial shifts. Her complete involvement with the movement brings the viewer into complete involvement with the movement. It is thrilling.”
Alia Thabit, Vermont Arts Council Juried Artist, NEST Roster Artist
CURRICULUM VITAE
EDUCATION
- Lesley University, Master of Arts (2006)
- Sufi Foundation of America (1980-1997) – Advanced Teaching Certification, 8900 hours training in Sufi movement meditation with Sufi master Adnan Sarhan
- Significant professional study with Janet Panetta (ballet); Dharma Mittra (yoga); Anahid Sofian, Elena Lentino (Middle Eastern dance)
- Columbia University (1985) – Artist Scholar
- Juilliard School, Bachelor of Fine Arts (1972-75)
- Bennington College (1971-72)
EDUCATOR, ACADEMIC & INDEPENDENT
Independent Producers
Founder of Dancemeditation™ and Principal Teacher of Dervish Society of America — (since 1997 conducting teacher training, retreats & seminars nationally in Dancemeditation™, Fluid Yoga, Spiritual Bellydance, & Sufi throughout the USA)
- SAT Program, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, France — (since 2012 Collaborator, Sufi Specialist)
- Mystic Festival, Utrech, Netherlands – (2008, Presenter as Western Master in Sufism)
- Kripalu Center (Presenter since 2006 – Spiritual Bellydance & Dancemeditation™)
- Mark Morris Dance Center (Faculty 2004)
- Founding member for ‘Dance of Emergence: Spiritual Bellydance Conference’ at the Abode of Message Sufi Center, New Lebanon, NY (2002)
- Sufi Foundation of America (1984-97, staff instructor)
- New York Open Center, New York, NY (1993, course instructor)
- New School for Social Research, NY, NY (1984, course instructor)
- Workshops and classes in Dancemeditation™, Middle Eastern dance and Sufi (1984–1997 throughout New York, New England, TX and West Coast)
Academia
Faculty:
- Montclair State College, Montclair, NJ (1980-81, 1983-86, faculty; Modern Dance, Middle Eastern Dance, Composition. Repertoire)
- Grand Valley State Colleges, Allendale, MI (1982, faculty; Modern Dance, Composition. Repertoire)
- Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne, Australia (1980, Direction/Development of Modern Dance Program)
- Barnard College, NY, NY (1979-80, faculty; Modern Dance, Middle Eastern Dance. Repertoire)
- The Juilliard School, NY, NY (1976-77, substitute faculty)
Guest Instructor:
- Princeton University, Princeton, NJ (2009/ Dance & the Sacred)
- Swarthmore College, Swarthmore. PA (2000/Residency – Dance and the Sacred) Oberlin College,
Oberlin, OH (4/98, Master Class/Lecture-Demonstration) - Hunter College, NY, NY (11/93, Master Class/Lecture-Demonstration)
- New York University, NY, NY (1976; guest instructor)
- Randolph Macon Women’s College, Lynchburg, VA (1977, guest artist)
- Amherst College, Amherst, MA (1976-79, guest artist)
AUTHOR, PUBLICATION
AUTHOR
- Skin of Glass: Finding Spirit in the Flesh. 2008
- Sojourn the Inner Heaven: Movement Meditations for Awakening, 2017
- Blog: Dancemeditation since 2011 – 2020
PUBLICATIONS
Movement Research Performance Journal (1999) ‘On Release’; Whole Life Times, LA (1998) ‘Healing Dance’; Dancer Magazine (1993); Tantra Magazine (National distribution) (1992) – Cover feature and story.
AWARDS
- National Endowment for the Arts Choreography Fellowship (1995)
- Massachusetts Arts Council/LCC Grant (2000)
- City of Austin Grant (1996, 1997) under Texas Arts Council
- Cultural Council Foundation’s CETA Artist’s Project (1978-79)
PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE
Western dance forms:
Dunya, solo performance/original works: (since 1993) presented nationally including NY Improvisation Fest 98 & Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors 1996 – 2019
Dianne McPherson/Choreographer, David Feinberg/Composer (1983-1986); Solo dance, solo piano collaboration, NYC
Company dancer of the following: Peter Healy Dance Company (1981-1984); Pearl Lang Dance Company (1979, Guest Artist); Lincoln Center Touring Company (1975); Hannah Kahn & Dancers (1978-81); Kazuko Hirabayashi Dance Theatre (soloist 1974-77); Libby Nye and Dancers (1977); Rondo Dance Theatre (1977); Bicentennial Country Dance Ensemble (1976, NEH project through Country Dance & Song Society of America); Contemporary Dance System (a.k.a. the Daniel Lewis Repertory Company, 1974); Rush Dance Company (1974); Connecticut College American Dance Festival Repertory Company (1972); College Light Opera Company (1970-71)
Middle Eastern Dance (1983-1997):
Anahid Sofian Dance Company (1983-1986)
Nightclubs:
New York City: Harem*, Siberia, Tunnel, Westbank Cafe, Fazil’s International, Mediterranean Star*, Lalear*, Bourok Restaurant*, Marakesh West*, Mogodor*, Caravan of Dreams, Magic Carpet*, Sirocco, Club Ibis, Biblos, Tripoli
Nationally: Georgia: (Atlanta) The Fez; New Mexico: (Albuquerque) Outpost, Living Batch Bookstore, Michele’s Old World Café; (Santa Fe) El Farol, Club West, Cloud Cliff Bakery; (Taos) End of the Universe Café; Colorado: (Denver) Sorrento’s, The Athenian; (Boulder), Voula’s. (Crestone) The Bistro; Texas: (Houston) Cleopatra’s; (Austin) Ararat Resturant *; (San Antonio) Alars Restaurant; California: (Los Angeles) Mandala Bookstore.
* House dancer for several month runs.
Numerous performances with prestigious musicians include:
Joe Zeytoonian, Sudan Baronian, Haig Manonkian, Shamira Shahinian and others. Performances also at private parties, weddings, bar mitzvahs, celebrations, gallery openings.
Skin of Glass:Finding Spirit in the Flesh
Dunya’s intense passion for dance took her from a small seaside New England town in 1972 to the Juilliard School in the heart of NYC’s vibrant, edgy art scene. A decade later, healing from a serious injury, she turned away from a successful performing career and retreated to a monastic mountaintop community directed by a charismatic Iraqi Sufi Master––a sojourn that opened a mysterious, beautiful inner world, and an understanding of dance as moving prayer. Her path became Dancemeditation.
Part dance memoir, part erotic memoir, and part guidebook, this rich account of life in the body takes dance beyond performance into a transformative realm where the physical, emotional and spiritual powerfully entwine
