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Eurythmy Spring Valley: The Graduates’ Dornach Trip[This article was published some weeksago in The Listener, a glimpse of that momentwhen artists turn from long trainingto challenges in the world. The photos byCharlotte Fischer show a performance bythe Goetheanum’s resident eurythmists.]By now everyone in the communityis aware that our large class of sixteenwomen from many nations of the worldgraduates from Eurythmy Spring Valleyin May. People are usually surprisedwhen we tell them that it takes at leastfour years to finish studying eurythmy.Why so long? In eurythmy trainingwe are not just training our bodiesto move harmoniously and learningcertain skills. Rudolf Steiner referred toeurythmy as a kind of soul gymnastics,and indeed this is what it feels like!Eurythmy is a spiritual path throughwhich we transform what is mostunconscious in us—our movement. Wecan consider the movement not only ofour physical body but of our thoughtsand feelings as well. We are strivingto awaken our whole being, from thedepths of our heart to the tips of ourfingers, and to express through our bodieswhat is shining within us, once it hasbeen awak ened. The women in our classhave sacrificed much for the love of thisart form, eurythmy, and for the mostpart the world around us has noidea what we are up to! It is quietwork here in a little valley and weare slowly growing from seeds intoflowers, offering our colors and fragrancesto the world. Each one ofus has a special message to bring.This summer, our class will havethe opportunity to visit Dornach,Switzerland and perform on theworld stage of eurythmy at acon ference at the Goetheanum.As many as fifteen schools fromaround the world will show workfrom their graduation programsin many different lan guages andstyles.The only thing we are still missingto make our trip possi ble areall the funds! Our class has heldseveral fundraisers: craft activitiesfor children, lec tures by specialguests, a jazz café, a raffle, andVictoria Sandler, for the class of 2009more events and some lovely concertsto come. We have also mailed out adetailed fundraising letter to family,friends, and community members. Alongstanding friend of eurythmy hasoffered a $1500 challenge grant. As weare still short of our goal, we are hopingto meet his generous challenge.Some may still have the question thatour donor posed to us: “Why does thegraduating class go to Dornach? Whynot somewhere else less expensive,or perhaps more fun, like Paris?” Wefelt that it would be good to share ourreasons with everyone.First, when you are pursuing a relativelyunheard-of art form (considerthat we are the only sixteen women inthis coun try graduating with a diplomain eurythmy this year!), it is importantto see as much as possible in order tobe inspired and feel that artistic eurythmyis alive and well. In Dornach we willmeet many students and professionalswho support our efforts, and throughmutual enthusiasm new capacities willsurely develop.The Goetheanum building and thesurrounding area are very special toanyone working out of anthroposophy.It is a sacred and symbolic place wheremany eurythmists and great personalitieshave worked and made contributionsto the work of anthroposophy.Also, the first Goetheanumwas built by Rudolf Steiner, withthe help of an international crew, atthe same time that eurythmy cameto birth. Steiner describes that forhim the Goetheanum and eurythmycame from the same source ofinspiration. How exciting, therefore,for us to visit and move in aplace that is itself full of eurythmyin design and intent.We believe that in Dornach wecan offer our work in a place thatwill receive and nourish it, andperhaps even bless it as we carry itout into every corner of the world.[The graduates should be in Dornachas you read this! To offer help,contact Eurythmy Spring Valley at(845) 352-5020 x13.]22 Evolving News for Members & Friends