IEATA Open Forum – Composing & Dancing Haiku: Inspired by Nature Images from Maine

The presentation opens with a participatory sacred song and dance called “Tis a Gift to be Simple,” trusting in the creative process of bowing & bending to what emerges as a path to illuminating the heart ‘til by turning & turning we come round right.’ While the dance was created as an in-person, sacred circle dance, the wisdom and exhilaration of the spirit can be experienced with everyone doing the movements individually in place or from sitting. This is followed by a contemplative slideshow with an introduction to dancing haiku via Kobayashi Issa and nature photographs predominantly from Maine. Issa, one of the four ancient Japanese haiku masters speaks to us today as an example of someone who amidst tragic losses, still found and celebrated the joy in the movement dances of everyday life. There is time to both compose, dance and share dancing haiku as well as reflect on the revelations and insights of the creative process. “Composing & Dancing Haiku: Inspired by Nature Images from Maine” has been shared in several venues, including via Zoom at the 15th International Expressive Arts Therapy Conference, based in Taiwan in July 2023.

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Presented By: Dr. Maryam Mermey

Dr. Maryam Mermey is a life-long trauma-informed expressive arts therapist, teacher and artist. She is currently focusing on international presentations/workshops on Dancing Haiku. Maryam also collaborates with her husband, Akiba, in the creation of Photo Poems or Photo Haiku, which they share through publications and exhibits throughout Maine in the US.

Maryam publishes haiku with “Blithe Spirit,” “Presence,” “The Bamboo Hut” and “The Wee Poetry Press” Journals as well as publishes photo haiku with her husband in the “Wales Haiku Journal” and “Cattails.”

Maryam started an Expressive Arts Program at the Peter Alfond Prevention and Healthy Living Center at Maine General Health in Augusta, Maine, which included Healing Glass Mandalas, Painting Glass Mandalas and Glass Jewelry Making among a wide range of other healing, expressive arts classes.

Please read more about Maryam’s work and offerings on her website https://thetransformativearts.com/