At about the same time as I was working on my thesis my father developed his Dance Meditation. While studying for my degree I had encountered the tradition of the Mevlevi dervish turning that had lent wings to my body and my imagination. Why was there nothing similar to be found in the Christian tradition, binding together spirit, soul and body through a spiritual discipline? Meanwhile in the north of Scotland an international
group of New Age visionaries had formed a community which had discovered dancing as a spiritual practice, inviting my father and me to help develop dance programmes for their daily life and festive occasions.

I remember one day in India I was sitting on the terrace of an ashram near the little hut in which the teacher lived, when I suddenly heard through the open door the music I knew from my father’s dance teaching. As I learnt later, a music cassette had found its way to the Himalayas through a friend as a gift for the teacher.Back in Germany I announced to my father that I was now ready to take up and continue his work of Dance Meditation. I would try to combine research and practical work. During the few remaining years of his life my father was a very patient and dedicated mentor to me.

Maria-Gabriele Wosien