The women at OurPlace Seymour celebrated Harmony Day with a Latin and belly dancing class led by Melissa Cristina (bottom left.)
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Contributed
Women of OurPlace Seymour came together to show off their moves in celebration of Harmony Day.
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On Friday, March 21, Melissa Cristina facilitated a Latin and belly dancing class at the Seymour Family and Children’s Centre located on the Seymour College Campus.
Melissa, who moved to Seymour in January, runs belly dancing classes at the Seymour Senior Citizen’s Club on Tuesday nights and Thursday mornings.
Having had a career in dance and teaching spanning over 35 years, Melissa is a passionate instructor and was the perfect choice to facilitate the OurPlace Harmony Day event.
“For me in particular, I work with women to bring them together, to bring them back in touch with their bodies and to let them have personal private time, just for themselves outside their other duties,” Melissa said.
“Harmony Day is about us coming together, sharing culture, sharing what we all do, and understanding that we’re really all the same, we’re all connected.
“Also, for me personally, it’s to teach a group of women and plant the seeds of dance, which, on the surface, it’s dance, but it also stirs a lot of other things inside of them.
“Like, self-confidence, getting reconnected to their bodies, having fun, laughing, giggling, and taking a break from everyday life, that’s what it means to me.”
Melissa Cristina led participants through a guided workshop, with a cool-down at the end, giving them time to reconnect with their bodies.
Photo by
Billie Davern
The free Harmony Day event allowed the women in attendance to learn about and celebrate different cultures, while trying something new and having a laugh.
With a coffee van and the opportunity to sit back and watch, the ‘come and try’ session fostered a sense of comfort for the women, allowing them to be a part of the day, whether they danced or not.
Melissa said she was happy to be able to spark a sense of joy within attendees.
“This is the first time I’ve worked for OurPlace, and I was really surprised at the amount of women who came. I could see a few of them were struggling,” Melissa said.
“Nobody knows other people’s stories, we’re all walking with our own burdens, our own internal stuff.
“I like to access and unlock that joy. I don’t need to know their story, I just want to unlock that block and give them permission to have fun with dance.
“You’re not just a mum, you’re not just a cook, you are a woman. Don’t forget who you are.”
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