Monday evenings, urrgh … can be a bit of a drag with not much to do, the weekend behind you and a whole week to get through until the next weekend.
But wait, there is a corner of London that is warm, welcoming and full of heart, soul and hope. It’s the Mental Flight Club’s Dragon Cafe taking place on Mondays 12.00 to 17.45 at The Crypt, St Peter’s Church in Elephant and Castle.
Mental Fight Club has been running for more than 10 years. The Dragon Café, led by Neil Coles, is a welcoming and creative space that blends the arts with support around mental ill health. It’s open to everybody and it’s all free! Amongst its many activities, the Café offers singing, dancing, painting, creative writing, puppetry, film screening and mindfulness.
Alongside the opportunity for community and connection, there’s also free food and drink!
What’s not to like?
Flomotion
And on Monday 4th November and Monday 2nd December, Flomotion is bringing its unique blend of ecstatic dance, Open Floor and more to the Dragon Cafe. There’ll be the usual blend of upbeat music, including soul, reggae, Latin, House, African Dance Music and mellow music for the relaxation interludes.
Participants are gently led into breath and body awareness, becoming present to whatever they are experiencing: mind, body and soul. There’s a chance to shake off the stress of the week, be drawn into connection with other dancers, do your own dance, relax, dance from your inner world, release, let go of tension and finally experience a short meditation.
The Arts and Dance for Mental Health
At times most of us suffer from some degree of isolation and feelings of overwhelm. 1 in 4 people in England experience a mental health problem each year; so there are good reasons to offer and seek support in this area. Using the arts as a framework to connect and create is a truly fantastic way to ease stress and promote wellbeing.
Inclusive and broad
Dragon Club is an inclusive event. It really is for everyone regardless of how much mental health in a challenge in people’s lives. Flomotion dance is the ideal partner to support the arts and dance; it too is inclusive and broad. You don’t have to be a great dancer or know what you are doing on the dance floor, and there are no steps to learn. It’s about showing up and going with the flow however it takes you on the day.
Refreshed and Revitalised
Having worked in the field of mental health for 3 decades, I can honestly say that dancing with others is an easy and direct way of tackling feelings of loneliness and isolation, as well promoting feelings of wellbeing. Dance stimulates all the right hormones and chemical messengers such as serotonin, endorphins and dopamine, to create a natural ‘high’ or ‘feel good factor’. I defy anyone not to feel refreshed and revitalised after a Flomotion dance session.
Big invitation
Here’s the Big Invitation: you are welcome to come along to the Dragon Café and dance with Flomotion, whether you are a professional dancer or have never danced in your life. You will find community and friendship, and your mental health will benefit too.
Tickets: Eventbrite.co.uk
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