of inspiration For each child that’s born a morning star rises and sings to the universe who we are...
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(Top left) Malonga Casquelourd, top, embraces his four children (left to right): Boueta Mbongo Malonga, Kiazi Tsiakelo Malonga, Muisi-kongo Malonga, and LungusuMatondo Malonga. The family runs a dance center in Oakland, CA. (Top right) Jamaila Salimpour (center) has passed her love of belly dance to daughter Suhaila (below), and granddaughter Isabella. (Left) Gabrielle Roth and son Jonathan Horan share a vision for spreading the powerful energy of the 5Rhythms.
nd who we are is a cosmic blend of past, present, and fusion. Our past informs the present moment, where a body of matter and the life force fuse to embody spirit in the here-and-now. Our DNA lives not just inside, but externally as well, where creations and traditions transcend space and time. We chose three stories that illustrate the magic of this kind of meta-DNA. The Malonga family is dedicated to bringing ancient traditions across the globe, breathing more life into them with each generation. The groundbreaking ecstatic dance practice 5Rhythms evolves in the present day as Jonathan Horan works with his mother Gabrielle Roth to call forth awareness and transformation in society. And an up-todate fusion of past and present is happening in the life of belly dancer Suhaila Salimpour, as she molds her mother’s traditions into a new form of dance and community with her daughter. Lineage stories are full of heart and meaning. We think there is something valuable to learn here, especially this time of year. These stories are about moving forward with love.
We are our grandmothers’ prayers. We are our grandfathers’ dreamings. We are the breath of our ancestors... – song lyrics by Sweet Honey in The Rock