Soul Sanctuary Dance Joins the Local Gift Economy in Berkeley, CA

Soul Sanctuary Dance, a weekly community freestyle dance in Berkeley, CA since 2003, has recently transitioned to all volunteer-produced and sustained by pay-it-forward gifts. We want others to be inspired, and follow us, as we've been inspired by other gift economy organizations. Here's the info, feel free to spread it around:

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Berkeley’s Soul Sanctuary Dance Joins the Local Gift Economy

Soul Sanctuary Dance, Berkeley’s Sunday midday community freestyle dance since 2003, has recently eliminated its admission fee and become all volunteer produced, inspired by a number of thriving local "gift economy" organizations.

Dance co-organizer Zach Pine explains the change: "Our mission is to produce a welcoming and inclusive all-ages freestyle dance that supports free expression, community, physical and emotional health, and a spirit of generosity. An all volunteer produced dance offered as a gift is the best way we can see to further that mission. Our weekly dance event is something we all give each other, without expectations or strings attached. "

At the welcome table, a sign is posted: "Your dance today at Soul Sanctuary Dance is a gift from those who have made donations to the dance, and from the volunteers who organize and produce the dance. We invite you to pay this generosity forward for future dancers, in whatever amount or manner you choose, so that we can continue to keep this chain of gifts alive."

Soul Sanctuary Dance was inspired by a several San Francisco Bay Area gift economy organizations: CharityFocus (http://www.charityfocus.org/), Karma Kitchen (http://www.karmakitchen.org/), Works & Conversations magazine (http://www.conversations.org/), greenmuseum.org (http://greenmuseum.org/), and Karma Clinic (http://www.karmaclinic.org/).

Pay-it-forward donations and an all-volunteer workforce have sustained the dance since May, 2010 -  the balance sheet is made public through the Soul Sanctuary Dance website.

Soul Sanctuary Dance takes place every Sunday (with rare exceptions, check the website) from 11am to 1pm at Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley.  Wheelchair accessible. No scented products please. Shoes optional. Organic fruit for all after the dance. Info: http://www.soulsanctuarydance.com .

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