Rolando Toro Araneda
It is with great sadness that I learned of Rolando's death on the 16th February 2010. The world is a better place for him having lived.
He is now dancing with the stars and the great creator. Alejandro (his son) says that he was taken to hospital on the 16th as he wasn't feeling well and he died of heart failure soon thereafter. I wish I could be with you all to have a celebratory life vivencia in his honor...
I would like to share a vivencia with all Facilitators and the whole of the Johannesburg Biodanza community (and Biodanceros from other areas who can make it) in celebration of Rolando’s life.
This Thursday, 18th February 2010 at 7.00pm at the Parktown Methodist Hall, 64- 7th Avenue, Parktown North, everyone is welcome.
All Cape Town Facilitators and the Cape Town Biodanza community, please join me at 7.00pm at the Rosebank Methodist Church Hall, 1 Chapel Lane, off Main Road, Rosebank.
I am very sad but know that he lived a life of love and passion and shared that all with us. He has now passed the torch....
Biodanza, meaning to dance with life, is a fusion of music, movement and emotion. It is a scientifically proven method of personal development aimed at raising your capacity to communicate, to improve the quality of your relationships and your sense of well being and happiness.
“Have you ever danced until you flew? Danced so hard, so fast, so freely that you reach a level of overwhelming, ecstatic joy? If you haven’t you should – it can change your life.” Mike Aldridge, Ecstasy through Dance, Namaste, Vol 9, January/February 2001.
Have a look at some of our international associates' sites!:
Simple and Direct
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Rolando Araneda Toro (84)
demonstrating Biodanza |
It works by opening people’s sense of joy, self esteem and self confidence. It’s simple, direct and immediate. Ten minutes into a class, people have already found their sense of inner joy – a joy similar to that of a two year old – confident, strong and from the heart. It works with this joy and with regular classes, this grows and strengthens. This sense of joy and self confidence carries over into people’s daily lives. Over time, people find that life becomes more joyful. People start reaching for what feeds them in life and begin to change those things that are less positive.
Who can benefit?
All types of people of all ages can benefit. Single, married, or stressed executives. Companies have found that it assists in team building. Everyone can benefit from the direct communication from the heart that is the essence of Biodanza.
The Benefits
The benefits of a Biodanza class are that you will leave feeling happy, relaxed and in communication with people again. There is also a major biochemical and neurological rebalancing happening in the body – all towards a sense of well-being. For many people, these changes progressively lead towards profound changes in their lives.
What you do with these benefits is, of course, up to you and your current life situation. But generally people find their stress levels reduce, their communication improves and their relationships just get better
Reducing Stress
“Sure you're stressed, who isn’t? A Biodanza class might be just what you need to bring some fun back into the mix. …. The Verdict: Totally rocks! Many systems relieve stress but few leave you feeling this blissfully happy. There’s also a sense of being open to whatever life brings you, and less stuck in your ways.” Stress Busters 10, FHM, April 2004
Stress is essentially when life starts to get on top of you. This can be work, finance, love, home life, or any number of life pressures we all experience. Biodanza gives you a space to come back into yourself and get some balance again.
Studies by Dr Marcus Stueck of the University of Leipzig, (Germany) have shown that a series of ten regular classes of Biodanza created marked improvements in a number of measurable stress related indicators - various psychological (regulation of emotion, health, personal psychology), physiological (skin response, blood pressure) and immunological variables.
Stueck said: "Initial results from the experimental-control-group study in Argentina and Germany reveal significant changes in psychological health and personality variables after 3 months. After a further 3 months without Biodanza, the effect could be seen to have stabilized. It could be shown that regular, long-term participation in Biodanza had positive effects….”
Improving Communication
“I arrived home in the late afternoon, also strangely lamb like, in a very laid back state. Not once did I snap at my children or husband (something I usually do at least three times between 6.00pm and 8.00pm)….” Marianne Holtman, The move we’re talking about, Shape March 2001.
A happy person is more tolerant, more understanding and more able to listen to others. It is simply amazing how a class of two hours of guaranteed happiness per week can improve how you communicate with those close to you. And yes, we really do we need it every week!
Regular Biodanza classes help people become more open, confident and self assured. It essentially increases that non-quantifiable quality – personal presence.
“I was intensely shy and easily embarrassed. Biodanza was a huge challenge but I stuck with it. Every week, I became more and more outgoing. My life has changed in so, so many ways.”
Your ability to communicate determines your relative success and happiness in life. It affects your progress at work, your ability to socialise, your level of domestic happiness and how you are perceived socially.
Over 70% of communication is non-verbal. And these are the most important skills. People read your body language before you even speak! Biodanza is one of the few places where non-verbal communication skills are practised and improved weekly.
Improved Relationships
“Our relationship came back to life through Biodanza. It was like falling in love again!”
“I became more outgoing through regular classes. I was shy. That is now gone! I now have a partner. And that part of my life is now working for me!”
“I needed to get over a divorce. Biodanza helped me regain my confidence. I really needed it!”
Biodanza is a space dedicated to reconnecting couples with their love for themselves and each other. Biodanza has much to offer couples, those seeking to establish a couple or those recovering from the negative effect of a break-up.
Where there are specific problems within a married couple, it is recommended that partners undertake professional counselling in conjunction with Biodanza. If in doubt, speak to your facilitator.
News Corner
Welcome to the accomplished Biodanza Didactic Teachers of South Africa - thank you for making us Proudly South African Biodanceros!
November graduates: Michelle Macek and Beverley Dallas-Orr.
Other Didactic graduates from South Africa: Stephen White and Carolina Churba-Doyle.
| From left: New Didactics South Africa - Christos Daskalakos, Kate Clement, Tracy Shaw, with Rolando Toro Araneda and wife Claudette St'Anna, Karen Cowl and Dr. Suzan Hojdar. Photo by the wonderful Valu Ribeiro of Brazil! |
| New Didactics South Africa - Michelle Macek, and Bevery Dallas-Orr (2nd right and right) seen here with two other recently qualified Didactics, Dr Suzan Hojdar (left), and Karen Cowl (2nd left). |