Ongoing Groups
Local to Totnes & online practice
All committed groups run on a fortnightly basis and are open to newcomers at the start of each term to commit for the term – September, January & April. Note, Family Dance is the only drop-in and requires advanced booking for each session.
-Barbara Dilley
Friday Night Dance
Friday Night Dance (formerly known as Movement Lab) is a committed group series that combines the subtle pleasures of somatic movement with the freedom of improvised movement to music, and connection with others.
The group has evolved over years to be a mature and co-creative mixed-gender space & we welcome experienced and beginner dancers – anyone keen to move and express through the body and be curious to what happens.
We begin with intimate solo enquires and extend our dances out to the listening space we share. We often include the potency of witnessing another’s authentic dance to support and create connection. We open to the Great Play of the Dance.
Commitment is for one term, the group fills in advance so early booking recommended.
Term dates ALL fortnightly Fridays:
Winter/Spring term is now underway.
Summer 2026: 24 April, 8 & 22 May, 5 & 19 June, 3 July
Autumn 2026: 11 & 25 September, 9 & 23 October, 6 & 20 November, 4 & 18 December
Winter/Spring 2027: 8 & 22 January, 5 & 19 January , 5 & 19 March
Summer 2027: 16 & 30 April, 14 & 28 May, 11 & 25 June, 9 July
Autumn 2027: 10 & 24 September, 8 & 22 October, 5 & 19 November, 3 & 17 December
Movement for Well-Being
Movement for Well-Being online supports women to develop movement practice in their own homes in a container of women who build trust together. Our group is largely but not exclusively living in Southwest England.
The sessions offer a chance to connect, share, relax, listen to the body, dance and reflect. We want to support women who need to take space for wellbeing, due to the nature of our content and sharing this group is for cis-women.
This is a Movement for Life community group event with external funding to support those on lower incomes or in financial hardship.
Commitment is for one term.
Term dates ALL fortnightly Fridays:
Winter/Spring term is now underway.
Family Dance
10.30am – 12.00pm
A drop-in session for families who love to dance freely or want to try. Led by Adam Griffin & Asher Levin.
All ages – babies to grandparents welcome.
No steps to learn, we begin with movement play then dance together to diverse music.
This is a Movement for Life community group event with external funding to support those on lower incomes or in financial hardship.
1 March – Dartington Trust Studio 6*
5 April – MIC in Buckfastleigh
3 May – Dartington Trust Studio 6*
*Runs 10:45am – 12:15pm
Women’s Well-being, Wednesday Movement Space
Calling mothers & female carers, women recovering from health challenges & all women drawn to resource through dance & movement in community connection.
Take a window of space to nourish heart & breathing body?
You’re invited to come, rest, move your body and connect with others. We offer inquiries into the body with & without music. No steps to follow. Together we build a safe container for exploration and sharing.
We relax, nurture breath and self-care, play with movement that softens the joints, opens the heart & frees the mind to musical soundscapes.
Leela offers floor work and simple invitations to find our way into expressive dance. We move on our own, in partners & as a group.
This is a Movement for Life community group event with external funding to support those on lower incomes or in financial hardship.
Commitment is for one term.
Term dates – ALL fortnightly Wednesdays:
Autumn 2024: Sept 25th, Oct 9th, 23rd,
Nov 13th, 27th
Winter/Spring 2025: Jan 29th, Feb 12th, 26th, Mar 12th, 26th
Spring/Summer 2025: Apr 23rd, May 7th, 21st, June 4th, 18th, July 2nd
Moving with Words
Are you curious to find the words that grow from your body, to bridge your left & right brain, speaking and moving?
Do you like to move and dance, would you like to add in the possibility of words and maybe even your story?
This expressive morning space gives voice to movement in a series of enquiries and different skills/approaches to combining words and movement, simple poetry, and builds towards physical story telling.
I’m pausing this beloved group for winter to work on my own performance.
My other daylong workshops always include some moving with words/sounds so feel welcome to join if that’s your curiosity.
Family Dance
Movement for Mothers & Female Carers
Online Movement for Wellbeing
ICMTA-recognised embodied leader and community dance practitioner training
I’m so grateful to have found the Friday dance group with Leela. She creates a safe and playful space in which I can relax deeply into myself, connect with my body and let the magic of the dance happen.
“Gold dust for me in my life as a mother.”
“I find it astonishing to be able to do something so nourishing in my own home! Beautiful music, beautiful leadership.”
“Such a supportive and helpful community. These sessions really support our deep wellbeing.”
“In the end, it all comes down to the art of breathing.”
-Martha Graham
