I love this beautiful post a student and client posted on social media:
Movement/Dance Testimonials
"Stacey is a masterful dance instructor on many levels. She creates a safe, sacred place to explore, feel, express and embody for deep level connection, healing, joy and rejuvenation."
"I am fortunate to have the ability to travel to movement-meditation workshops all along the West Coast when they call. Having joined Stacey for two different offerings during the past year, I am now a “groupie”, and will try and participate in her workshops as often as possible. Both times she has led them in such a way as to facilitate deep insights and healing magic. She is entirely pleasant, and masterful with music. One of the best facilitators in the field, practicing her craft at a very high level/vibration."
“The Inquiry in Motion workshop lingers always as one of deep discovery, beauty and vulnerability...and now a deeper understanding and healing for a brain pathway that did its best to keep me safe but kept much of me crippled and defeated... a new world and me is emerging....Thank you for being an instrumental part."
To read more reviews about the Inquiry in Motion workshop, click here.
"I’ve been home three days now since participating in Stacey Butcher’s “Lineage” workshop, and the physical, mental, and spiritual insights keep arriving! This workshop continues to be life changing for me as I move between letting go of matters that no longer serve, and allowing new ways of being to manifest! This was my first workshop with Stacey. I cannot speak highly enough of the solidity, safety, and power of the container she provides for deep movement-based work, nor of her masterful use of music to assist in sacred, heart-opening practices. Thank you Stacey and fellow participants! The world is a better place because we did this work together! ️"
"Stacey is the perfect mix of gentle and empowering, offering compassion from her own big, beautiful heart and teaching how to find it within one's own body and being. Her music selections are just perfect and she explains exercises/activities incredibly well. She has found many ways to make people feel included, seen and welcomed even on Zoom. Her sharing of her own experiences with the evolution of technology inspires me to realize we are all learning and still gaining so much from however much of the world around us we can find. Stacey encourages people to find comfort in objects in their own environment and to bring the outside in and let the inside come out! I have so much fun in her classes and always come away able to breathe a little bit deeper and feel a little lighter. Stacey is incredibly welcoming and inclusive to people with disabilities as well, finding ways to express things in alternate means so everyone can understand what she's inviting us to do. I love her classes!"
"Your class just ended and I wanted to share my gratitude with you. You asked "if your body could scream what it had to say, what would it yell out" (or something of that nature, may not be exact wording but that's what I heard). My body responded: "TRUST ME, listen to me, be patient, slow, pause, allow, I am here." Thank you for that question and the nourishing space to hear, feel and move the answer. I haven't felt that in my body in a long time, maybe ever, and it was medicine. I spend a lot of time out of body, up high in the stars, a soul place which is beautiful as well, but today with your tender lead, I was able to blend my soul with my body. I felt the depth to which they have been missing each other and the gift of them in harmony. My body has so much intelligence and so much intuition; it is a my guide. I was reminded of that today and really had the most inviting space to feel and explore the interconnectedness within me."
"Wow.......Wow. That's all I could say at the end of Stacey's workshop. I looked for more words and I could still find none. After Ive returned home and settled again I can now say wow and...what an experience. Stacey's skill and expertise and obvious love for this work shone in every thing that was said and shared, and how it was held and guided. Such a sensitivity and deep understanding of this work and the human journey of healing and embodiment. Lived experience was the biggest quality that touched me. Embodied guidance is what we received, and I came out deepened as a human being, more embodied and deeper connected to all that is me. I love this work. Deepest gratitude and I will surely see you again! ...Wow! Really.."
"Stacey's workshop - Strong Back, Soft Front, Wild Heart -
provided a beautiful container for exploration and self discovery. I felt safe and accepted so I could make discoveries about myself and my connection to others. I was able to let self-conciousness drop away. This was due to the magical way Stacey guided us thru this inquiry. I am so thankful for Stacey's intuitive knowledge and vast experience. I hope this experience will continue to inform my daily life. Thank you Stacey for this wonderful experience."
"“Months ago, when I saw the announcement for “Strong back, soft front, wild heart” on the Open Floor calendar I thought that it did not sound very interesting, even a bit poor. I needed some time to let that theme play in my head. Slowly it occurred to me that often I had a hard front and a weak back, and that this was something that was troubling me for some time. So I started to read Brené Brown. Of course I started reading with lots of resistance. But I like what you said… in our dance resistance means “Bingo!”. I have experienced this lots of times. So I took a step and booked for the workshop.
Often in the weeks after a workshop, the essence gets even more clear for me. Like a flower needs some time, or a certain hour in the day before it gives away its scent. That is how it feels now for me. “Strong back, soft front, wild heart” is revealing itself more and more. I pledged to myself that for one month, every day, I will read and meditate on that quote of Joan Halifax that gives back so much the essence of what we explored during the weekend. Thank you for being such a wonderful teacher and experienced guide. I felt so excited to be part of that group in such a special place (Berlin). I felt blessed and privileged.”
"The Bare Bones weekend dance workshop with Stacey Butcher was an amazingly profound, fun, explorative, funky, energetic, hilarious, exhilarating, releasing and calming weekend of dance, connection and community. Wow ... I so loved it!!
Thank you Stacey for facilitating such a beautiful and memorable journey. I will be forever grateful for the healing that happened as a result of the workshop and the positive changes that it has brought to my life. My mind, body and spirit had a deeply uplifting experience over the weekend. After losing my mother to cancer in my twenties I have felt a lot of sadness, loss, grief and disconnection over the past 20 years since her passing. During the workshop and the weeks following I have been able to connect back to my essence ... a true dancing spirit who is empowered, resilient and strong. I can now live my truth, shine brighter, love deeper and connect in more ways than I could ever imagine possible. I can soar like a bird ... free and unencumbered. Thank you Stacey for a life changing experience and for a weekend of amazing music, lots of laughs, new friends and incredible dance experiences. I would love to do it again one day!"
"Stacey has mastered the art of creating a safe container for movement, expression, healing, connection, and depth. I appreciate the way Stacey honors everyone in the space by putting heartfelt energy into music choices, curriculum, boundaries, and agreements for how we share space. Stacey reminds me that I'm on the floor not only to have fun and get my heart rate up, but I'm primarily there to work, practice, heal and connect."
"I attended Stacey's Inquiry in Motion recently and just wanted to acknowledge my appreciation for how Stacey created a safe gentle container for expressing my truth, whether in dances or in exercises. I had been feeling some disconnection to self when I arrived Friday night and at some point on Saturday realized that I had reconnected with heart again and found myself in deep gratitude for my dance community and Stacey for helping me make this journey so quickly. Stacey has a real gift for helping a group bond so that the full richness of a community can be accessed and ultimately integrated into self to heal."
“Inquiry In Motion (Stacey’s Open Floor & Somatic Experiencing Workshop) was such a big experience that I am still digesting the work, and will be receiving the gifts of the experience for some time to come. Before learning this approach to movement I didn't realize how often I had been "leaving my body" during Ecstatic Dance. I would allow my mind to drift, soar and escape, to carry me through uncomfortable moments. I was unpracticed in was being able to bring myself to pure sensation. In fact, it brought up emotions and compulsive responses that I would have never guessed were there. Stacey was able to hold incredibly deep space, call me back ever so gently from my pattern of escape. It felt like I was able to integrate and choose a new way of being inside my body. By the end, I not only felt empowered to be able to face and work with deep fears, but also felt incredibly supported by the group. It was an honor to experience a piece of work that was well-crafted and facilitated with a kind of grace that Stacey has embodied!”
“I attended my first Open Floor event, Inquiry in Motion, this past weekend. I am an elder and dance is my practice of remaining non-reactive with a sense of peace and happiness. Stacy provided a safe space for deep exploration. As I entered the sacred space I immediately noticed a young dancer who embodied my younger self. Her gift to me was to remember the pain in my life before I found peace and joy and mine to her was to give her the experience of joyful presence. No rehearsal our experience simply unfolded. I found all parts of my being in others and was delighted to share any part of myself to be of benefit to others. I relearned that we are all one and when I say yes to each moment the floor opens to the interconnection to all and my need to be in community of loving inquiry.”
"Stacey is incredibly gifted at holding a safe, comfortable and loving space for her students. Her classes are a blast and the sense of community is visible on the dance floor. The balance of movement and stillness in the practice that she leads really make the experience of dancing a contrast that brings about both inward inquiry and opening toward that which lies beyond the individual. "
"Stacey is a very warm and compassionate teacher who brings a unique spiritual dimension to her teaching, based on years of meditation as well as 5Rhythms teaching experience. Her workshops and classes are well-planned and very approachable for beginners or long-time students. You will find her to be very present and in the moment while running the class."
"Stacey has brought a whole new meaning to movement and expression for me. I have recently started taking her 5 rhythms classes after a long hiatus from formalized dancing. She not only creates a safe environment for self-expression but inspires movement patterns and connections to emotions that have allowed me to renew my relationship with dance and my body in an entirely new and inspiring way. She is completely devoted to this transformational work and has helped many others like myself connect, engage and process whatever they bring into class. I’m so grateful to know Stacey and for her classes."
"I have been attending the Waves of Awakening dance class weekly for many months, and it has become the highlight of my week. Stacey creates a space for us dancers to feel safe and comfortable to show up as ourselves and connect with others on the dance floor. It is so beautiful to witness people having fun, being able to freely express their joy and creative energy. I highly recommend her class for both beginning and advanced dancers alike. Come and take advantage of this special opportunity."
"Stacey creates an incredible dance and meditation space. Her classes are always mesh wonderfully with the energy I'm feeling that week. We process and move through the energy, feelings and events of the week. Through this practice, I dance through life in a way that's more graceful, solid, confident, fluid, fun and grounded. Stacey truly unites meditation with dance, and each class is a unique journey."
“I love Stacey's teaching so much -- I flew her out to Hawaii to teach for my wedding! Stacey is an amazing teacher. Many guests who had never had exposure to the 5 Rhythms or the conscience dance movement, were moved to tears. She is warm and welcoming, she leads her class beautifully, and her music is spot on. She knows when to lead with words and when to allow for quiet transformation. When someone makes something look effortless it mean an enormous amount of effort and time when into it. This is Stacey. I cannot recommend her classes enough.”
"Stacey is so welcoming and warm. I love to dance with her. Her music, her vibe, her positive energy just light me up. When I've had a hard day -- or hard month -- regardless, I feel so at ease in her classes. All of my moods and all of my moves are welcome, and that gives me the space I need to open up to whatever's next in my life. I encourage you to dance with Stacey a few times, and see what magic opens up in your life!"
"Stacey is a caring and intuitive healer and guide along the path of self-realization. I have worked with her for several years, her work always providing insightful teachings on and off the dance floor."
"Stacey's Dance sessions are rejuvenating! She provides wonderful music and amazing energy!! Her Reiki classes are life changing. I admire her knowledge and her spirit. She also conducts all that she does with a touch of humor."
"Stacey is an exceptional Teacher. Her knowledge and dedication to the practice is beautiful to witness. This dance is a healing practice and Stacey is a true healer. She is serious about the dance but allows for personal creativity and joy to shine through."
"It is a rare occasion when you can find a teacher who can hold both form and formlessness, provide guidance and allow autonomy, and work with life's paradox with such skillful grace and ease. Count yourself lucky when you do. And if you haven't had the good fortune of such an encounter, hurry to one of Stacey's classes so you can experience this particular gift. She is masterful."
"Stacey offers a deep container for movement meditation in her 5 Rhythms Class, at one presenting a cogent and powerful teaching she prepares each time and reading the room to adjust her with whatever the feel is in the movement. Her own movement through the space allows a sense of community, fun, and connection. I always leave moved and more open"
“When I leave Stacey’s class I feel dropped in, supported, and in touch with myself and my body. Parts of my life that feel ancient & permanent are starting to move. 5 Rhythms and the dance community is a magnet for healers. I was in bad shape in so many ways when I started dancing a bit over 3 years ago and have healed in so many ways. The dance saved my life.”
"I love Stacey's 5Rhythms classes. The classes allow me to dance/move like a child again... whether its because I can "skip" around or twirl, or just do whatever my body wants to do without hesitation, without some inner voice telling me I'm not doing it right. Also, I've never thought of myself as a "good" dancer - I can't do the two person lead/follow thing very well, for example, or learn dance steps well - but in 5Rhythms those messages are going away and I feel quite liberated. I feel the 5Rhythms practice moving with me in my daily life as well."
"Stacey holds the floor and the activity there with grace and poise. I never feel "agendized" or overly-facilitated... She strikes a good balance between allowing and guidance in the Rhythms... Go dance with her... she'll rock you!"
“I love Dancing to your music with the Fiery and Fierce energy you put out to share. It is so easy for me to lose my stories once captured by your music.”
“I celebrated my birthday at your Embodying the Sacred daylong, and I cannot think of a better way to have celebrated my birthday. It was a wonderful workshop that I highly recommend to anyone interested in deepening their experience of dance. What made it an especially great celebration was the sense of safe space and the beautiful, caring group of people who came from all over to attend this workshop. We didn’t want to leave each other when it was over!”
"Stacey creates a beautiful safe space. The minimal but sufficient structure allowed me to totally follow my own path into whatever it was I needed to move through and feel safe at the same time."
"From the moment you enter Stacey's healing space, you know that you will be gracefully energized. After dancing and workshops with Stacey, my wife gifted me a bodywork session, so thoughtful so perfect."
Women's Class & Workshop Testimonials
"I've done a few workshops with Stacey and can't say enough about what a supportive container she creates, and how amazing all of the women are who show up."
"I loved being part of Stacey's women's series. I could truly let everything go... no worries about what the men in the room were thinking of me.... no worries about the shape or size of my body... just a room full of women accepting each other as we are. Yay!"
'"After completing one Women in Motion series, I immediately committed to the next. It is such a treat to dance with sisters in the supportive, loving, and conscious way that Stacey facilitates. And she knows just when to encourage us to explore our edges- something for which I am truly grateful!"
"Stacey's Women in Motion class nurtures and soothes the soul. This wonderful commitment to dancing each week brings meaning and joy to my dance practice. I love dancing with so many amazing women and feel relaxed and free in their company. Stacey's lovely guidance and leadership cultivates deep feelings and transformation within. The class has been a reflective time for me and it has provided countless opportunities for expression and release. It is a creative body experience! I love and appreciate this class series, the teachings and the community. I have taken two series and will continue the next series with Stacey in the fall."
"I've recently completed a second round of Stacey's 5 Rhythms all women committed series and it has been one of the greatest gifts I've given to myself. As someone with no formal dance training and who 18 months ago was not even comfortable dancing for fun, this practice has completely changed my perception of myself and the way I present myself to others. Stacey is very down to earth and is truly passionate about not only movement practice, but she is committed to women and providing a space where women can come together and dance together. While I love dancing with men, there is something very special when it is just women. It is hard to define, but it is undeniable. It is safe, supportive, inspiring & powerful. I am able to let me guard down and try things on in this environment that I am not able to do in other ones. Each week I leave feeling like I was able to not only able to receive from the other women in the group, but I feel like I contribute as well and that give and take creates a wonderful bond that stays with me throughout the week. If you've been dancing for years, come try this class. If you've never danced before, come try this class. Women need women and this class reminds me of that every week. It reminds me of the power that women possess and has encouraged me to really strengthen the female bonds I have off the dance floor as well. Thank you Stacey for creating this space, playing kick ass music and giving your entire heart to us week after week. "
Click here to read more testimonials about Stacey's Women in Motion work.
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Inquiry in Motion
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Reiki Class
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If you've experienced Stacey's work
and would like to write a testimonial, please click here.
Contact info ~ Phone 415.755.7905 ~ or ~ Send an email
