So, our story this year, The Boy Who Wanted to Count,” focuses on Casey as a 13 year old boy who finds himself still fascinated with numbers, but also desperately wanting to fit in. Early in the story we learn what Casey loves about numbers like “Three is the Magic Number,” “Zero, My Hero,” and the seven colors of the rainbow.

We experience a nightmare with the odd numbers fighting with the even numbers and a dance where Casey joins a science club and becomes the mad scientists’ experiment. Casey’s fantasy is lived out in “The Boy From New York City,” where he is the coolest dude around. But always he finds himself alone and doesn’t feel like he counts at all, not until the end of course which we’ll keep as a surprise. FWDC long-time student, Erik Osterkil dances the role of Casey which is bitter sweet as Erik and his family are moving to Chicago this summer.  -Artistic Director, Liz Monnier

We hope you’ll join as for yet another original story-dance adventure featuring FWDC’s School for Movement Studies and Creative Process students Friday, June 15, at the Arts United Center.

The Boy Who Wanted to Count

Date: Friday, June 15

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Arts United Center, 303 E. Main St., Downtown, Fort Wayne

Cost: $12 adult, $10 children 12 and under

Tickets are available for purchase by calling the Arts United Box Office (260) 422-4226, stopping by the Arts United Box Office 303 E, Main St., Downtown, Fort Wayne or by following this link: https://tickets.artstix.org/TheatreManager/1/tmEvent/tmEvent1459.html  We encourage you to purchase tickets in advance for your own convenience.

Fort Wayne Dance Collective is a proud host of Dances of Universal Peace. FWDC holds monthly circles, hosts internationally renowned facilitators, and conducts a yearly weekend retreat that attracts dancers from all over the country. This summer we are proud to host special guest, Murshida Leilah Be! Leilah is senior teacher (Murshida) in the Sufi Ruhaniat International. She studied for 24 years with Sheikh Yakzan Valdez & Pir Moineddin Jablonski. She is an inspiring presence; authentic, warm, patient, kind and accessible. She brings a depth of devotion and realization that takes the dances and zikar into a realm of spiritual beauty.  Leilah teaches on Maui and leads retreats throughout the world.

This year’s retreat will focus on “Embodying the Sacred.” ”We all want happiness and have numerous and mostly unconscious strategies and habits that we think will ‘get us there.’ This retreat will help you feel ease and delight. Our dancing will allow a sacred stream of blessing in a space with no conditions.”-Murshida Leilah Be

The retreat weekend will be held July 6-8 at the Fort Wayne Dance Collective, 437 E. Berry St. Suite 203, Downtown, Fort Wayne.  To register online, please visit fwdc.org/register and choose “Book Workshops.” You may register for the event online, however you must mail in, or email your lodging choice separately to either jarin@fwdc.org or 437 E. Berry St. Suite 203, Fort Wayne, IN 46802.  For more information about this retreat, or regularly scheduled monthly dances, please visit fwdc.org/dup or call (260) 424-6574.

Session Times
Friday, July 6 – 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Friday, July 6 – 7:00 – 9:30 pm
Saturday, July 7 – 9:30 am – 12:00 noon
Saturday, July 7 – 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Saturday Dinner – 5:30 -7:00 pm
Saturday, July 7 – 7:00 – 9:30 pm
Sunday, July 8 – 9:30 am – 12:00 noon
Sunday, July 8 – 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Sunday, July 8 – 4:30-5:30 pm

Attendance Options and Pricing For Early Bird (Before June 7)
Deep Encounter Weekend – Friday, 2:00 pm to Sunday, 5:30 pm – $155  (Includes Dinner on Saturday)
Shorter Weekend Option – Friday 7:00 pm to Sunday Noon – $135 (Includes Dinner on Saturday)
[Early Bird pricing begins March 1 and ends June 6, 2012. After June 7, there will be an additional $20 for the above options]

Limited Individual Sessions = $30 each (Only Friday afternoon, Friday evening, Saturday morning, and/or Saturday afternoon)

Lodging Options
-In Homes
Limited housing available in local Dancer’s homes – $15 for the Weekend (In order of reservation requests)

-University of Saint Francis (Just three miles from the Fort Wayne Dance Collective)
Nearly-new dorm rooms and suites options, including common gathering area with lounge, TV, and kitchen facilities:
·         $15 to $20 per night per person.  Linens are optional, an extra $10 for the weekend.
·         For linens and free internet connection (must be requested), reservation must be received before noon, Friday, June 29
·         If you’re attending w/ friends, this is a great way to reserve space together!
·         More info: Andy at USF (260.399.7700 Ext 6749 or amckee@sf.edu or Kim Miller at knmiller1@frontier.com (260.602.9361 or visit –www.sf.edu/sf/residential-life

·         Complete the attached Summer conference housing agreement 2011-12 and submit to the Dance Collective with the Retreat Registration Brochure, with total payment for both

-Camping
·         Camping previously available in the Fort Wayne Johnny Appleseed Park facility is not possible this year due to a special fully-booked weekend event there.
·        The closest camping option is the Jefferson Township Community Park, east of New Haven (next to a railroad) that will also host some of the overflow from Appleseed Park above, but may have a few spots available – for info, call Bob at (260) 749.1360
·         Two other nearby options are 1) Bluffton/Fort Wayne South KOA and 2) Auburn, IN Fireside Resort (formerly a KOA)

The movement and songs used in Dances of Universal Peace are drawn from over 400 dances including themes of peace, healing of the Earth, individuals, and the global family, and the celebration of life’s great mysteries. Dancers focus on peace and harmony creating a sense of solidarity and community while celebrating the underlying unity of all the spiritual traditions of the earth.

This is a participatory community dance, and no prior training or experience is necessary. Dances consist of simple dance steps and lyrics, and learning continues during the dance. The end goal is not for public performance, but rather for creating community, peace, joy, and spirituality.