5 Rhythms Dance with Bernadette Ryder
About us
Bernadette Ryder
Bernadette has been teaching the 5 Rhythms dance practice since 1998, and immersed in it for years before that. Her approach to the work has been influenced by a number of other profound spiritual practices: principally Isha Yoga, Movement Medicine, Sky Dancing Tantra, Sacred Trust Shamanism and the teachings of Abraham Hicks. She also practices yoga, meditation and Kriya breathwork, which she integrates beautifully into her classes, workshops and training programmes.
Bernadette has worked in the fields of training, group facilitation and community development since the late 1980s. From 6 years establishing sustainable resettlement projects with refugees in sub-Saharan Africa, to several years in UK multicultural inner-city areas she has empowered numerous grass roots initiatives including credit unions, community businesses, local youth facilities, drugs rehabilitation programmes and the establishment of a local development trust.
In this short film by Andrew Hassenruck, Bernadette talks about dancing her self back to health.
From this diverse background, Bernadette is now motivated by a simple, central purpose that runs through all her work, which is the intention to uplift and facilitate the capacity to choose joy.
She is fascinated by the role of the intuitive right brain processes in our capacity to learn and effect change in ourselves and in the world. Her approach is holistic, comfortably including intellectual, analytical and experiential processes, creating ways to access our emotional intelligence. Her mastery is in teaching the art of being fully present and embodied in our physical being while engaging effectively in our lives, relationships and the world. Her work is a celebration of the spiritual through the physical and practical.
As well as In-Rhythm, Bernadette is a Director and co-founder of DMAC (Dance Music Arts Collective) who established and ran the ‘In-Alignment Dance Studios’ in Bristol for many years. She is a member of the 5 Rhythms Teachers Association, and also of Open Floor International. Other related areas of her current/recent work include:
- TreeSisters
- Be The Change / Pachamama Alliance Symposium & Trainings
- Training for Transition (Transition Towns)
- The Work That Reconnects (Joanna Macy et al)
- The Relaxation Centre Bristol
Major qualifications:
BSc Biology & Ecology, MSc Food Resources Related to Community Development, Accredited 5 Rhythms Teacher (Heartbeat Trained), BACP accredited PGD Counselling in Organisations, MTI Holistic Massage Diploma.
(5R Global website)
Organiser / Producer
Jon Ralls
Jon is your point of contact for practical questions, bookings for classes, workshops and Rhythm Circle.
Jon has been dancing the 5 Rhythms since 2009, when Bernadette began introducing movement into environmental awareness training events that they were running together.
He administers mailing lists and the Facebook page (slightly erratically), is (un)Sound Engineer for live and Zoom classes, and coordinates the wonderful team of volunteers (thank you all!)
Jon is working towards deepening his contribution by training as a 5 Rhythms teacher.
