The Dance of Compassionate Communication

INTRODUCTORY TRAINING: "Introduction to Nonviolent Communication (NVC):The Language of the Heart"

DATE: Friday, November 7, 2008 (6:30 pm – 9:30 pm)

PARTICIPANTS: Open to all learning levels. Designed for people with noprior experience, and as preparation for the main workshop on November 8-9.

DESCRIPTION: Discover a life-transforming communication practice thatbuilds trust, transforms conflict, and creates harmony in yourrelationships. In this session, you will learn how to create a qualityof connection between yourself and others where everyone's needs, evenin conflict situations, are held with care and compassion... withoutresorting to punishment, force, manipulation, blame or other approachesthat we end up paying for later.Learn how to honor your deepest desires in every moment, and never givein or give up on your needs again. You will learn how to:* express yourself honestly and openly;* hear difficult messages without taking them personally;* connect with others by communicating empathy.* find the gift that underlies all blame, judgment and criticism.

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INTERMEDIATE TRAINING: "Learning the Dance of Compassionate Communication"

DATE: Saturday, November 8 (9:30 am – 6 pm) -AND- Sunday, November 9 (9am - 3:30 pm), 2008

PARTICIPANTS: Designed for people with some previous NVC experience(such as Friday's introductory session)

DESCRIPTION: Join us for a special opportunity to deepen your practiceof Nonviolent Communication (NVC) using the NVC Dance Floors.Incorporating movement, visual and kinesthetic learning, the 7 NVC Dance Floors are floor maps that people move through to experience and learnthe NVC process. Each dance is designed to develop awareness and skillsin a particular area of NVC.The person practicing NVC walks through each particular 'dance,' oftenwith the support of a facilitator or other participants. (Please note:this training does not involve expressive dancing. The word 'dance' isused as a metaphor.). This experiential method of learning andpracticing NVC gets people out their chairs and addresses people'svaried learning styles, including kinesthetic, visual and spatial elements.This intermediate training is designed for those who want to deepentheir NVC practice, and for those who offer training and wish toincorporate a new teaching method. We request that participants haveprevious training experience with NVC (such as Friday evening'sintroductory session).

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LOCATION: Tucson, Arizona: Tamara Spiritual Center, 3002 E. Ft. LowellRd. (just West of Country Club).

FACILITATOR: Jeff Brown (St. Louis, Missouri), Certified Trainer withthe Center for Nonviolent Communication.  Supported by Gita Fendelman from Tucson, AZ.

COST: Introduction (Friday only): $35/person ($30 by earlybird date of October 7)
Main Workshop (Sat. and Sun.): $200/person ($175 by Oct. 7)
Discount for all 3 days: $225/person ($195 by Oct. 7)
** work exchange opportunities available for those who would otherwisebe unable to attend due to financial resources (ask Jeff for details)

DETAILS: Contact host/organizer Gita Fendelman at gitajill@gmail.com or520-777-7544.

REGISTER: Send check payable to 'Gita Fendelman' to 1166 E. Ellis St.,Tuscon, AZ 85719. Please include your name, address, phone and email. We are limiting the size to preserve a quality learning environment --register early to reserve your spot! Credit card payments also acceptedonline (email Jeff for a securepayment link).

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WHAT ARE THE NVC DANCE FLOORS?The Dance Floors are a fun, novel and creative way of integrating Nonviolent Communication skills. The consist of spatial maps made up oflarge cards laid on the floor in layouts called 'dances.' Peoplepracticing NVC stand up and 'dance' through the steps of a givenprocess, often with coaching from a trainer or support from anotherparticipant.Each dance is designed to help people develop awareness and skills in aparticular area of NVC, including dialogues with others (3 dances) orinner processes (4 dances) like mediating inner conflicts, self-empathy,and transforming anger/guilt/depression. The Dance Floors and relatedsupport materials were co-created by Bridget Belgrave and Gina Lawrie from England.

More information about the Dance Floors.

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WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THE NVC DANCE FLOORS

The Dance Floors have been greeted with great enthusiasm by many peoplearound the world and have been translated into 6 languages.

"Participants express deep wonder and gratitude about how much depth and clarity the work on the NVC Dance Floor gives to them."- Gitte Brandenburg Carlsen, Denmark

"Dancing on the dance floors is the exercise which I enjoy the most.While doing this dance I find it very easy to connect with my innerfeelings and needs. As I move up and down the Dance Floor I can see the inner transformation taking place at every step. This tool helps me, notonly to practise NVC but to 'LIVE' NVC. I must say that it hastransformed my life. I am grateful to Bridget and Gina for coming out with such a beautiful technique..Keep dancing!"- Aniruddha Gadankush, India

"I am realizing how different my understanding of NVC is and my way of sharing it with others since attending an NVC Dance Floor workshop over a year ago. It has been a huge gift for me. I continue to be amazed atthe ease in which people move to great depth (really getting in touchwith self) while using this process. And it gets you up and out of your seat! I use this in most all my trainings and am so thankful to have a more physical way to offer NVC. "- Cathy Artukovich, USA