If you lingered by Studio X at the Gibney Studios in Lower Manhattan on Thursday July 25th, you would hear a mélange of music by eclectic female artists and see a small but mighty group of women dancing their hearts out.

Women of Culture periodically hosts movement workshops that give attendees the chance to release the stress of the day and move their bodies in a way that feels good to them. This particular workshop was called “Dancing for Freedom: An Intuitive Movement Celebration of Interdependence.” Without a prescription of how to move or how to look, attendees have the opportunity to connect with others around them in a joyously judgment-free zone.

This workshop was all about play, joy, and interconnectedness. Women of Culture founder, Alexandra Harper, cultivated a playlist that captured a sense of freedom, ease, and release. She encouraged participants to listen to their needs and wants; to dance like no one was watching, stretch when needed, groove with fellow attendees, or close their eyes and simply absorb the music.

Each song selection inspired a new means of physical exploration. Ani DiFranco’s funky bluegrass song “Evolve” preceded the dreamy escape of SZA’s “Saturn,” followed by the jazzy French swing of Mélanie Pain. We ended the evening by taking a moment to breathe and ground ourselves, guided by the sweet harmonies of Beautiful Chorus:

I wanna be free, so free
Like a feather blowing through the breeze
Like a bird in a tree
Like a dolphin in the sea
I wanna fly so high, so high.

Please vote here if you are interested in attending the next movement workshop, to be scheduled this fall. We can’t wait to move with you!

— Amelia Mason