Workshops in the pathways of Music, Movement, Voice and Seva will be posted as they are confirmed, which can extend all the way into late May or early June! To see the wide variety of workshops offered over the years, you can visit the “Past Festivals” page.
2026 WORKSHOPS
Dreamwork (Todd Glacy)
” We have forgotten the age-old fact that God speaks chiefly through dreams and visions.” -Carl Jung.
This Dreamwork Dream Group Gathering invites you into a sacred, heart-centered space where the language of the soul comes alive. Rooted in community, curiosity, and deep listening, we’ll explore dreams as living messages—guides that illuminate our inner fire, creativity, and spiritual path. Through gentle facilitation, reflective dialogue, and open-minded curiosity, participants will share and work with dreams in a way that honors both personal insight and collective wisdom. Whether your dreams are vivid and mystical, subtle and symbolic or downright confusing, this circle offers a grounded yet creative container to awaken intuition, spark transformation and strengthen connections. Come ready to listen, reflect, and tend the inner wisdom that dreams so beautifully ignite.
West African Dance (Tara Murphy)
With LIVE drumming, open/beginning level, led by Tara Murphy. This dance will get your blood pumping and your heart soaring…. Feel the rhythms and shake what you got! Participants will learn the basic vocabulary of West African dance as well as a traditional dance from Mali, Guinea or Senegal, West Africa. Learning this movement helps us develop a deep sense of rhythm in every part of the body. We also cultivate the ability to respond spontaneously to the rhythms of the drums around the fire circle. The class emphasizes community, self-expression and the joy of movement. Attire: Comfortable loose clothes to sweat in, dancers may wear cloth around their waist. Please bring water.
Ghanaian Drumming (Josselyne Price)
Come learn the instruments and an exploration of polyrhythmic forms from Ghana, West Africa – this will include techniques for shaker, bell, and drums using stick technique, and how the music connects to dance and song. We’ll also learn some call/response patterns and how they can raise the energy for musicians and dancers alike. A comfortable foundation of drumming is recommended, but all are welcome. As well, we’ll explore how these rhythms can be translated to other percussion for the fire.
(below are selections from 2025 as we start to fill out our workshops page)
Drumming in Service (Ult Mundane)
Whether you’re an experienced musician or it’s your first time touching a drum, adopting the spirit of offering service brings vitality to each moment in a fire circle. Together we’ll explore how to listen to each other and how to be a part of the musical conversation, supporting the deep work that we all do together around the fire. This workshop will include some instruction on basic drumming technique, and will follow the needs of the attendees, but the high-level focus will be establishing our intention to serve the container.
Circle Singing (Aidan Linden) Come join in the joy of Circle Singing: a form of vocal improvisation in which musical ideas are created and layered one at a time. It’s a fun, interactive, and communal process of making music in the moment. No experience is necessary (or even the ability to “carry a tune in a bucket”)! We will explore how to take a simple phrase or musical spark of inspiration and turn it into a singable chant that others can spontaneously join. Also, we will play with our favorite chants and explore ways to add harmonies, counter-melodies, and other vocal layers. Beginners and experienced singers alike will learn new skills, develop confidence, and find joy playing in the pathway of Voice!
5Rhythms Dance and Movement Meditation (Joel Stanley)
5Rhythms® dance is a journey in movement through the rhythms of Flowing, Staccato, Chaos, Lyrical, and Stillness, which together form a process of feeling, expression, release, renewal, and integration present not only in the dance but also in ceremony, transformation, and countless other contexts throughout life. Each rhythm contains its own medicine, teachings, and discoveries, accessible to anyone through spontaneous movement. Dancers’ authentic movement is supported by Joel’s holding, invitational facilitation and a DJ set of exquisite, life-giving music.
Yoga (Bucky Sparkle) We all work our bodies – strenuously – playing at SpiritFire. While a yoga class can be a vigorous workout, this is not the time or place to push further. This 90-minute class is designed to unwind the achy tightness which tends to accumulate during festival play. Expect a blend of classic Hatha asana (to activate our bodies) with more restorative poses (to soothe our muscles). No yoga experience necessary. Bring a mat or floor-blanket, if possible. A couple mats will be available. I promise a long shavasana!
Fun with Odd-Meter Rhythms (Kazuki Kozuru-Salifoska)
Ever been curious about odd-meter rhythms? The kind people play and dance to, in places like Turkey and the Balkan countries? I would like to help spread the fun so you can participate in these rhythms at the nightly fires. This is going to be a rhythm class, so you could bring a percussive instrument of your choice, or just your clapping hands and stomping feet. This workshop is open to all levels, and I will break it down and show you the simplest (which doesn’t necessarily mean the easiest!) to more elaborate versions of a few rhythms in meter of 5, 7, 9, and maybe 11. We can learn and have fun together, and see what transpires as a result around the fire!
Frame Drumming (Jake Sirois)
Frame drums provide us with a beautiful and hypnotic layer of sound at our circle – it is a way to allow for a quieter yet powerful flow that supports different ways to move and integrate within the ceremonial area. If you have a frame drum and would like to dive deeper into ways to play as an ensemble, explore some rhythms and ways to participate more deeply with your instrument, jump in!