MOONDANCE:
A Gender-Intentional Dance
What is Moondance?
Moondance was a dance gathering for women (trans or cisgender) and nonbinary folks. This dance was founded by Katrina Koleto (she/her, they/them) in 2016, and in 2018 the dance was led by a collective of women & nonbinary folks who strived to make the space safe for trans folks. In 2019, only one Moondance event was held, largely due to Katrina's struggle with adenomyosis. In November, she had a hysterectomy, and she had high hopes of holding more Moondance events in 2020. And then... well, you know the rest! *sigh* Only a couple Moondances were held via Zoom in 2021 and 2022 before Katrina eventually retired the events altogether.
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We are grateful for the folx who have helped us make Moondance a success, and we sincerely appreciated the space that we all created together. It was musical, magical, spirit-lifting, and heart-warming.
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Below please find some of the original content of this page, from when the dance was active, kept for history and sweet remembering.
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We are always open to feedback from trans folks about how to make the space more welcoming, and we as leaders of this circle attempt to educate ourselves and those who attend (to do the emotional labor of education so the trans folks don't always have to).
It's not our intention to exclude the men (we love them!!), but to play together in a sacredly selective space. We actively work to create a space where women & nonbinary folks can dance, play, sing, cry, laugh, share, and enjoy siblinghood, support, and connection. If you have any feedback, please reach out to the admins in person, via Facebook, or send Katrina an email.
If you're not familiar with trans and nonbinary gender issues, please take some time to educate yourself before coming to Moondance. Here are three great articles:
On Being Nonbinary in Feminine Spaces
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Someone I Love is Trans: How to Be Supportive
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A Letter to the Women Who Exclude Trans & Nonbinary People
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A Beginner's Guide to Being an Ally to Trans People
Moondance's creation is a response to a growing community desire to have safe spaces to explore (through freestyle expressive dance) the ways in which we choose to express ourselves when removed from the company of those socialized to have power under the patriarchy. These explorations (as well as the facilitation and DJ sets) are gently guided each time by an open-ended theme.
Moondance is usually DJed by someone in our community, and we hold the container by facilitating short opening and closing circles. Occasionally we have guest DJs or facilitators. If you’d like to DJ or facilitate one of our dances, please reach out to Katrina in person or via email.
Because our intention is to create a safe and sacred space to step out of our roles as guardians, caregivers, parents, etc. and to feel into, process, and express about all aspects of our lives-- our jobs, partners, kids, parents, addictions, abuse, violence, pleasure, exploration, fears, dreams, etc etc-- participants must be 18 or older. Exceptions will be made for exceptional teens on a case by case basis. (Please contact us prior to the day of the day of the dance if inquiring about bringing a teen.)
The dance floor will remain a sacred, non-verbal space as much as possible (please use words as needed to take care of yourself, but take longer conversations to one of the other rooms).
We encourage you to treat Moondance as a substance-free environment so that we can connect with clear, grounded minds & hearts and can offer authentic consent. Please refrain from indulging recreationally before/during attending. (Of course, if you need medications, please be sure to take them as required!)
Moondance strives to be a trans-inclusive, LGBQ-friendly, fat-positive, anti-racist, many abilities welcome, and a consent-focused space. If you experience anything contrary to that experience, please talk to one of our admins - we are here to support you and create an accountable culture.
ACCESSIBILITY: Venue changes periodically. See Facbook event page for details on upcoming events.
This is not a designated scent-free space, but PLEASE DO NOT WEAR SCENTS TO OUR EVENT to prevent illness for chemically-sensitive people.
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To stay updated, please click here to join our Facebook group!
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Moondance Agreements & Commitments
- I agree to not make any assumptions about anyone else's gender.
- I understand that if someone is making me uncomfortable, I have the right to speak to one of the facilitators privately about it and/or ask for support from the facilitation team.
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I commit to taking responsibility for myself and asking for support when I need it.
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I commit to cultivating my own awareness of whether or not I am available to support others when asked, and then acting accordingly.
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I commit to clearly stating my boundaries as needed to take care of myself.
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I agree to honor my Yes’s and my No’s.
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I agree to honor others’ Yes’s and their No’s.
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I agree to make no assumptions based on past experience (except in cases with explicit prior agreements, i.e "perma-consent").
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I commit to an intention of kindness for all who participate here, while understanding that my version of kindness may look very different from another’s.
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I agree to assume that others in attendance are operating with an intention of kindness.
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I understand that we are co-creating a hate-free environment. I understand that blatant acts or words of hate (racism, transphobia, homophobia, etc.) are grounds for my immediate removal from the space.
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I agree that if I enact unintentional violence or microaggressions, this will be met as an opportunity for education. I will be open to feedback regarding my actions or words. I understand that if I am not open to feedback, I may be asked to leave.
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During circle, I agree to speak about and from my own experiences. I will not share others’ stories.
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During circle, I agree to speak only my own name when sharing, unless I have prior permission.
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What happens in this circle, stays in this circle. All shares are confidential, and I agree to keep that confidentiality.
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I agree to no crosstalk during circle shares. No interruptions, no direct responses, no advice, no piggybacking.
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If someone’s share stirs something in me that wants to be shared too, I agree to pause, waiting until one more person has spoken, and then share.
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If I want to talk to someone later about what they shared during circle, I agree to ask their permission to refer to their share and wait for consent before continuing.
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I agree to ask the facilitators for clarification about any of the above agreements that I do not understand or cannot agree to.
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PLEASE NOTE: This is a living document. We will update it as the fluid needs of the group shift. If there is something here you don’t want to agree to, or something you want to see added, please talk to Katrina.
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- I agree to not make any assumptions about anyone else's gender.
- I understand that if someone is making me uncomfortable, I have the right to speak to one of the facilitators privately about it and/or ask for support from the facilitation team.
-
I commit to taking responsibility for myself and asking for support when I need it.
-
I commit to cultivating my own awareness of whether or not I am available to support others when asked, and then acting accordingly.
-
I commit to clearly stating my boundaries as needed to take care of myself.
-
I agree to honor my Yes’s and my No’s.
-
I agree to honor others’ Yes’s and their No’s.
-
I agree to make no assumptions based on past experience (except in cases with explicit prior agreements, i.e "perma-consent").
-
I commit to an intention of kindness for all who participate here, while understanding that my version of kindness may look very different from another’s.
-
I agree to assume that others in attendance are operating with an intention of kindness.
-
I understand that we are co-creating a hate-free environment. I understand that blatant acts or words of hate (racism, transphobia, homophobia, etc.) are grounds for my immediate removal from the space.
-
I agree that if I enact unintentional violence or microaggressions, this will be met as an opportunity for education. I will be open to feedback regarding my actions or words. I understand that if I am not open to feedback, I may be asked to leave.
-
During circle, I agree to speak about and from my own experiences. I will not share others’ stories.
-
During circle, I agree to speak only my own name when sharing, unless I have prior permission.
-
What happens in this circle, stays in this circle. All shares are confidential, and I agree to keep that confidentiality.
-
I agree to no crosstalk during circle shares. No interruptions, no direct responses, no advice, no piggybacking.
-
If someone’s share stirs something in me that wants to be shared too, I agree to pause, waiting until one more person has spoken, and then share.
-
If I want to talk to someone later about what they shared during circle, I agree to ask their permission to refer to their share and wait for consent before continuing.
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I agree to ask the facilitators for clarification about any of the above agreements that I do not understand or cannot agree to.
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PLEASE NOTE: This is a living document. We will update it as the fluid needs of the group shift. If there is something here you don’t want to agree to, or something you want to see added, please talk to Katrina.