The members of the Religious Society of Friends (also known as Quakers) in Poplar Ridge spent their monthly Saturday night get-together last month learning spiritual dances. Wendy Burwell of Rochester and Elsbette Grove of Wolcott had been invited to the meeting hall to share their knowledge of the dances. Burwell described the dances as being as much “body prayers” as they are dances.

“These dances first became popular in the 1960s, and now they are performed in 60 countries around the world,” Burwell said. “I first encountered them about 20 years ago in Rochester, and I've been in love with them ever since. I've even been able to bring them into two prison settings, Attica and Auburn, where Quaker worship groups had already been established. The response has been wonderful.“

The Dances of Universal Peace, the program that Burwell and Grove share were developed by the work of Samuel L. Lewis, a Sufi mystic who combined the spiritual elements of Zen Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism and Christianity into a collection of dances that would “combine mystical practice with a body-based reality of world peace.”

Ruth Bradley, who has been the pastor of the Poplar Ridge Friends for the past six years, chose the dances to be part of their worship because “it seemed like a good fit.” She explained that the Quakers follow five guiding principles: simplicity, equality, peace, integrity and community. A sixth

principle was recently added by the young people, stewardship. The Friends movement has its origins in the promotion of individuals seeking to find God on a very personal basis.

“The early Quakers wanted their relationship with God to be one-on-one, so they got rid of all the intermediaries,” said Howard Nelson, a member of the Poplar Ridge group for 30 years.

The founding of the Religious Society of Friends dates back to 17th century England, and George Fox was the most influential person in the movement. Unlike most Christian denominations, which follow creeds or other principles of faith and which have formal structures of leadership, the Friends are much less structured and allow their members to develop their own sets of beliefs.

Simplicity in their lives and their worship was reflected in the sanctuary of their meeting hall, which was built in 1883. No stained glass windows, no inspirational paintings of scenes from the Bible, no crosses, no elaborate lighting fixtures, no bright colors on the walls. It was in this room that the dancing took place.

Burwell directed the members to just walk around the sanctuary, focusing on their breathing as they walked.

“I want to invite rhythm to the breath,” she said, as she told the walkers to take four steps as they

inhaled, then four steps as they exhaled. After the walk, Burwell told the 20 or so members to form a circle for the first dance, which she said honored Abraham, the father of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. As they danced, they sang “Rock-a-my Soul in the Bosom of Abraham.” Gradually other

elements were added, such as chanting, turning, hand raising, bowing, swaying and the accompaniment of a single drum played by Ray Barnes.

After the dance, Burwell allowed a time of silent reflection and introspection.

“These dances come from many of the spiritual traditions around the world,” she said.

If you go

What: Family Night Supper with a talk by Sally Otis and Priscilla and Bruce Berggren-Thomas on their Pilgrimage to Sweden

When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 21; talk begins at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Poplar Ridge Friends Meetinghouse, Poplar Ridge Road, just east of Route 34B,

Cost: Free and open to the public; a dish to pass for the supper is welcome

To learn more: Call Sally Otis at 364-8102