History

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The Dances of Universal Peace could be called "spiritual practice in motion." These group Dances, simple and profound, are set to sacred texts and mantras of the world’s spiritual traditions. A Dance leader teaches participants a song and movements, often with live guitar and drum accompaniment. Movements are inspired from the sacred texts and embody the essence of the spiritual message and our relationship to Life. Soon the circle is singing and moving together, deepening into the sacred phrase with each repetition. For many, the Dances become a joyous way to share heartfelt connection with others. Deepening in the sacred phrase and the flow of the movements, dancers often experience an essential unity and encounter with Life that is difficult to describe in words. In this atmosphere of openness, acceptance and trust the Dances can become a doorway to discover our true home in Wholeness and the eternal present.

The Dances of Universal Peace are the crowning life achievement of Sufi visionary, mystic and teacher Samuel L. Lewis. "Murshid Sam" a disciple of the great Indian Sufi teacher Hazrat Inayat Khan, was also a recognized Zen roshi and a student of Jewish and Christian mysticism. In the San Francisco Bay area at the height of the Haight-Ashbury era, Murshid Sam became the spiritual mentor of many young people. Continued

Our Beginnings

Oneness Project (OP) emerged as a creative force and resource for the Dances of Universal Peace from this growing worldwide family who have found depth in community and transformative spirituality through the Dances of Universal Peace. OP began in 1991 as an informal network of dancers organizing Dances of Universal Peace events and assisting new Dance circles in the western United States. As interest and inspiration grew, OP began to present regional DUP Camps and Retreats. OP Founder, Narayan Eric Waldman, established the first week-long Wilderness Dance Camp in 1993 at

Oneness Project became a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation in 1996 with the original purpose being to establish a retreat center for the Dances somewhere in the western U.S. In 1996 a Trustee Council was formed to guide the development of Oneness and steward its resources. A land search committee explored a variety of possible retreat center properties throughout the west. Meanwhile, during the mid and late 1990's through the generosity of numerous donors, Oneness Project began accumulating cash reserves toward the  purchase of land. Investors in Dancing $ LLC, an investment partnership created by Narayan Eric Waldman, each year donate a portion of their investment earnings to Oneness Project.

By 2000, numerous attempts to locate suitable land for a retreat center had not born fruit. In a planning retreat, the Oneness trustees began exploring other ways to support the Dances. Oneness Project's sights went higher and deeper and led to the creation of new programs.

Oneness offers support to smaller DUP projects through MicroGrants, Dance Libraries with donations of a library of Dance Instruction Booklets to new Dance communities, and The Tom Braveheart Fund which supports people with medical disabilities and their caregivers to participate in the Dances. Details on all these programs are available by clicking Grants above.

Oneness also records and produces compact disks of Dances of Universal Peace music recorded live at OP retreats. You can view these CDs for sale and also go to a page of streaming Music.

Oneness Project has increasingly become a partner with the International Network for the Dances of Universal Peace and and the Mentor Teachers Guild Guidance Council by providing funds and leadership to explore ways to integrate the work of the various formal bodies which support the Dances.

Common Ground Community Center

Common Ground Center

In August 2004, OP purchased a community retreat center in the beautiful Bitterroot Valley of western Montana. Located in the midst of a vibrant, 12-year-old Dances of Universal Peace circle, Common Ground Center is Oneness Project’s experiment to explore the potential role local centers can play in increasing participation and spiritual community around the Dances of Universal Peace.

Operated by a local volunteer board, Common Ground Council, a non-profit entity in itself, Common Ground Center also offers ongoing community space for such activities as yoga, tai chi, presentations in the arts, healing, and spirituality. Common Ground Center is the focal point for western Montana Dances of Universal Peace retreats, including the Companions Dance Leader Training, Sufi retreats with guest leaders, young adult DUP retreats, and ongoing Dance meetings.

Bequests

We occasionally receive inquiries about how to leave a bequest to Oneness Project. It's easy, if you include the proper language in your will, to ensure that your estate will become part of our endowment to support the Dances of Universal Peace. For more information, click here.