I first became aware of Narayan through his Dances especially Ek Ong Kar and Lord Make Me an Instrument which I really loved. I knew he was a senior Dance leader and had started the Oneness project.
He has visited the UK before in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s but I did not get to meet him then.
My connection with him came through an online Virtual Sangha which we are both in. The group meets together using a Zoom meeting (a bit like Skype). We are all following a course with Wali Ali (the head of the Sufi Ruhaniat Esoteric School) and meet to support each other and practice together.
To be honest at first I was a bit wary of this eccentric guy who used a metronome on his smart phone to do breathing practices but as I got to know him better I found myself really warming to his authenticity. There were some interesting shared connections too including the work of Douglas Harding who wrote the book “On having no Head” and who I had met in Suffolk as a teenager. Find out more about him and the headless way here. Those of my age group might also know the song Douglas Traherne Harding by the Incredible String Band.

After one of our online meetings Narayan mentioned that he would be coming to Sacred Arts Camp this year and asked if I would be interested in organising a Dance day for him. This has now turned into a Dance day in Birmingham and Weekend retreat at Loudwater farm near London. I haven’t organised a weekend retreat before so there has been (and still is) quite a learning experience involved but I’m getting to know Narayan better, which has been great, and feeling increasingly good about things. I’m really looking forward to finally meeting him in person.

You can easily find Narayan on YouTube if you want to see/hear him in action.
You can also look at his website www.narayandance.org

He doesn’t come this way often so if you are intrigued and want to experience his unique qualities as a Dance leader why not come and Dance with him at one of the events. I’d also be very grateful for any help anyone can give in publicising the events. Flyers are available on www.karimandsusanne.co.uk/calendar.html and I’d be very glad to hear from anyone who is interested. Email: mikejhadden at gmail.com

Here is a bit more about Narayan and links to the events he is doing in the UK:

Narayan Eric Waldman is a Senior Mentor of the Dances of Universal Peace and a member of the Ruhaniat Society as well as founder of the Oneness Project. Narayan’s style ranges from the sublime to the outrageous, but is always effective and inspiring. He has been gifted with numerous beloved dances and zikrs (Lord Make Me an Instrument, Here I Am, Om Shanti, Shema Israel, Ek Ong Kar and Shekinah….to name just a few.). Having been a devotee of sacred song and dance since the 1960’s and a leader of the Dances for decades he considers himself a true disciple of the Dance. Narayan often weaves other experiential practices, especially pranayama, into the Dances…see www.narayandance.org/breathe/)
Engaging, humorous and charismatic, Narayan carries the joy of breathing, singing and dancing in praise of the Present.

Event Links:
• UK May 27-June 4: Sacred Arts Camp Chiltern Hills. Link

• UK Sat June 11: Enjoying The World Aright Birmingham. Link

• UK Sun June 12: Two Wings To Fly Todmorden, West Yorkshire. Link

• UK June 24-26: Lose Your Head…and Gain a World – Be Wild , Be Still , Be Here
Rickmansworth – London. Link