Dances of Universal Peace: Holding Venezuela in the Light

Maya Diaz leads a Dances of Universal Peace workshop at the Reading Quaker (Friends) Meeting House on Saturday 31 October, from 5 pm to 8:30 pm, with doors opening at 4:45 pm. It's a participatory evening rather than a performance: the whole point is to sing, dance and sit together, drawing on sacred movements from around the world to celebrate unity and peace. The theme for the night is Holding Venezuela in the Light, which frames the session and gives the evening a focus beyond the dancing itself.

That focus is also where the fundraising comes in. The workshop doubles as a fundraiser for emergency medical aid in Venezuela, with a direct donation option to Healing Venezuela. Attendees are asked to bring cash if they'd like to contribute. So, while the singing and dancing are the main event, there's a clear cause running through it all.

One thing worth knowing before you commit: you don't need any prior experience or a particular level of fitness to take part. The session is open to anyone aged 15 and over, and if dancing isn't for you, you're welcome to sit or lie down in the space instead. It's as much about being there and sharing the room as it is about the movement.

The venue is the Reading Quaker (Friends) Meeting House, part of the Mid-Thames Area Quaker Meeting, at 2 Church Street, Reading RG1 2SB. Entry is free, so you can just turn up and join in. Doors open at 4:45 pm, and the workshop runs from 5 pm to 8:30 pm.