Often when we go into the home of the patient, there is a kind of tension, due to many things—could be the aftermath of a chemotherapy treatment, could be after an operation, or it could be the difficulty of living with feeling constantly uncomfortable.

It strikes me that I have been given an unusual assignment, working with palliative patients in this way. Bringing gentle movements together with kindness, a calmness often comes into the atmosphere, filling our minds, bodies and hearts for the time we are together. Many times a family member will take interest, and so I invite them to join us, and on some occasions, it is the whole family!

—ZULEIKHA
©2024

Photo Credit: © Swan Lake Publishing LLC

The Hope Project is situated in Nizamuddin Bast, Delhi India,
around the tombs or dargahs of the inspirational Sufi mystics. There,
I saw the conditions of women living with urban poverty and cultural/religious barriers, and was inspired to work with them

HOPE GIRLS
In the beginning, I worked with the girls at the Hope Project. After a few weeks of trying different things based on my Artist in Residence work in the U.S. and longtime study of dance movement, I realized that the basti or neighborhood of 20,000 was for the most part, Muslim, and parents did not want the girls learning dance. And so I changed what I was teaching by creating a series of Self Care movement exercises I call TAKE A MINUTE®. I gave surveys to the girls and put everything in writing. Their answers were surprisingly positive, “when I do these exercises I have good energy for the whole day,” and many more.

I was told that the parents met with the religious leaders of the basti, who were shown the written responses of the girls. It was decided by all present that the exercises were in fact beneficial, and that the exercises and girls should continue. Some years later I began teaching these same religious leaders the exercises when they studied computers and complained of back pains!

COMMUNITY
Later, with the help of Asha Malik, who is now a consultant and an advisor for TSP trainings at Hope, I began visiting the homes of the mothers of the girls. Often I would teach standing on a bed, while 10 mothers stood around in a small room, exercising and laughing.

These simple practices have gone on to help and educate women in unexplainable places. Many of you reading this may be those who have helped this to happen. We all thank you!

Today, we have TSP trained Facilitators who work in the communities, medical clinic, classrooms and assemblies, vocational trainings, in women’s Self-Help Groups, totaling around several hundred children and 1000 women, and more in the areas outside of Delhi.

With the help of Hope Director, Samiur Rahman, facilitators are tracking the enthusiastic response through quarterly reports. It turns out, enlivenment is important. We are continually working for long-term project sustainability with the people in these community partnerships, with whom we have formed a deep and lasting connection

—ZULEIKHA
©2024

Photo Credit: © Swan Lake Publishing LLC

Live-in-Person, ZULEIKHA
international performer, educator and wellness pioneer

Cultivate the language of the heart, a source of deep awareness and gratitude, through sheer joy of movement.
Using movement exploration, music, poetry and rhythm, we find inspiration through a simple way of moving, we open to the source of listening and practice awareness through the heart of feeling.

“Sweep out the cobwebs of the old and offer clarity for new beginnings.”

Photo Credit: © Swan Lake Publishing LLC

A SPECIAL HYBRID EVENT
Live in Santa Fe, New Mexico and on Zoom

A gathering of individuals and organizations together for a unique hybrid event,
TAKE A MINUTE® for Integrative Palliative Care and The Arts, For End-of-Life Transition and Dignity.

The goal of The Stream Project is to spread the message about THE STREAM video film and TAKE A MINUTE® integrative palliative care modalities, created by Zuleikha, founder/director of The Storydancer Project, to the palliative care community at-large in the U.S.

The premiere of THE STREAMvideo is a transformative storydance in spoken word, movement, and original music created by Zuleikha to uplift those patients and families who are experiencing the palliative care process and to bring awareness of the importance of palliative care and end-of-life dignity.

Following the premiere: a live/zoom panel of palliative healthcare professionals on the subject of Integrative Palliative Care: Stress Relief Movement and The Arts.

PANELISTS
Anthony Back MD, Professor of Medicine, University of Washington
Nicholas Sagar, Eldercare Activity Therapy Clinic Specialist at On Lok, San Francisco, CA
Naomi Tzril Saks, MA, MDIV, BCC, Palliative Care Chaplain, School of Medicine, University of San Francisco, CA
Therese Schroeder-Sheker. Founder and Dean of Chalice of Repose Project

Presented by The Storydancer Project. TSP is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, offering transformative performance, movement and self-care practices that restore vitality and cultivate joy, for positive change in the face of adversity.

Photo Credit: © Swan Lake Publishing LLC