Playmakers Theatre in Covington recently welcomed guests for a meditative "Art in Motion" dance workshop hosted by the Women’s Center for Transformation and Healing, part of several days of special arts activities designed to help women bring some balance and harmony back into their lives. 

The "Healing Hearts with Art" initiative was partially funded by a $4,500 state grant, according to Center Director Anysia Genre, and the program was based on the belief that art has the power to heal the mind, body and spirit.

“Come in and make yourself at home,” Genre welcomed dance workshop participants as they walked through the doors of the Playmakers Theatre in Covington on Sunday, June 23, to be guided by yoga and dance instructor Robin Parson, CEO of Partnerships in Fitness, a New Orleans-based health and wellness consulting company. Parson has been in the industry for more than 30 years, and Playmakers Theatre, one of the country’s longest continuously operating theaters, volunteered its space for her to lead the women's workshop.

“Dancing is the best way of releasing negative energy, especially negative, stagnant energy,” Parson said. “People who go through anxiety, depression — we find that dancing and moving is a really good tool.”

Harris Parson played live music for the guests using an assortment of drums and stringed instruments such the congas, a kalimba and a mbira. The instruments are the base that allow participants to express themselves through movement.

After guiding the women through deep breathing and stretching for 25 minutes, Parson showed them how to use steps, sways and spins across the stage, all as part of doing "what feels right.”

“Art in motion is really about allowing the participant to tap into their inner self, tap into their inner feeling of ‘How do I feel?’ and using movement and dance to do that,” she explained.

The activity had the women collectively choreograph a dance, smiling as their end-product came together. And once it was over, Parson guided the women through meditative breathing before they left the theater to continue their day. 

One of the event’s participants, Heather Moller, who frequents workshops hosted by the women’s center, said this one left her feeling rejuvenated and grounded — something she said she needs more of in her life.

As a social worker, Moller’s specialized training taught her that life can easily put people in a stress-response, she said, so it’s important to remind your body to live in that state.

“I look for opportunities to consciously create the opposite of the fight-or-flight response so that my body can stay balanced,” Moller said.

After moving to St. Tammany Parish two months before the COVID-19 lockdown, Moller discovered community in the women's center organization and its programs.

“In this area, there’s not necessarily a lot of diversity, and there are women that don’t naturally fit with the majority culture,” Moller said. “The women’s center is a very important space to meet their (our) needs, so I’m really glad it exists.”

The women’s center is all about well-being, self-care and community outreach, Genre said. When building the schedule for Healing Heart with Art, the center decided to go with an art therapy theme after seeing how healing the creative process is.

“It’s great for releasing stress, processing emotions — just freeing your mind,” Genre said. “There’s so many great things it does for everybody, so we wanted to make sure we included as many mediums of art as we could.”

Healing Hearts with Art took months of preparation, Genre said. The women’s center had to create the schedule of events, get commitments from artists and gather sponsorships. Since this was the program’s first year, Genre said she already has new ideas for next year.

Other events from the program included creative writing, painting, music improvisation and art journaling. All events were open to everybody, and students attended for free. Genre said the center offers workshops all year long, and July has upcoming events as well. To read about the women’s center for healing and transformation, go to their website at https://www.womenscenterforhealing.org/.