Workshop Leaders for 2026

Alina Gote [DUP]

Having been brought up and immersed in the Dance and Sufi family in Germany since birth, she now walks the path of a Dance Leader and a Sufi Mureed (student), following her own inner search for authenticity and meaning since her teen years. She has been invited to lead dances at events and camps in Europe, Asia and Oceania.
Alina has been part of the team which are supporting, guiding dances and holding space for the youth at German dance camp for three years.

Jilani [DUP]

I am so very happy to be coming back to Sacred Arts Camp after being away for two years! In that time much has happened for me. As a Dances of Universal Peace Mentor, an initiator in the Sufi Ruhaniat International and a SoulWork practitioner I have travelled widely. I have led retreats and trainings in India, Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Morocco, Turkey and across Europe and the UK. I found myself making new friends wherever I went, and feeling so enriched by my experiences travelling with my viola and guitar. In 2023 I also started Sufi Camp, a new small retreat-camp in Wales at the end of August, which has run very successfully for three years now.

In my internal life I have also been on a deep journey during those years, as I became aware of and explored my neurodivergence, eventually being diagnosed with ADHD last June. This has brought me much understanding and insight into some of the difficulties I’ve struggled with in life, often perhaps unseen but sometimes very visibly.

As well as sharing Dances and music at camp, I’m also going to be sharing some of my journey as someone with late diagnosed ADHD in a workshop.

I can’t wait to see you all! You can find out more about me and what I share from my website: jilanicordelia.com

Dakini [DUP]

Born in Estonia, Dakini started leading regular dance groups in Eastern Europe 30 years ago, initiated a dance camp in Estonia (2001), and following a move to Scotland in late 1990-s, began leading dance and sufi events worldwide, started a Sufi camp in Scotland (2012) and co-founded a Buddhist retreat centre in Findhorn, Scotland (2005).

Now based in the North West of England, she serves the international dance family as a senior mentor, a Sheikha (sufi teacher), as well as a newly appointed member of the DUP International Ethics Council.

Having worked professionally with children and teenagers all her life, she loves to spark the enthusiasm for the dances and Sufi path in younger people, and has supported and held teenagers at dance camps in UK and New Zealand for many years.

Tom [DUP]

I love the way the dances bring people together to open our hearts and creating a space where prayers can flow, for peace, and for healing of the earth.
I lead dances regularly in York where I live and sometimes with friends further afield around the North.
I love the morning dance session at Sacred Arts Camp, where the richness of our community’s dance leaders shines.
It will be my privilege to look after this session and I look forward to spending time in the field with friends old and new.

Jahanara Laura Magnus [DUP]

I am thrilled to be a part of this beautiful camp that I have heard so much about over the years!

It has been my pleasure to work as an artist, storyteller, instrument maker, metal smith, fiber artist, writer and international recording artist in Boulder, CO USA. I serve as a teacher, guide and Sheikha in the Sufi Ruhaniat International, as well as a certified leader of the Dances of Universal Peace. I have been leading local and international circles for more than 20 years.

Drawn to the beauty and ‘livingness’ of the Aramaic language, I have diving deeply and bringing to life teachings, chants and dances that serve as doorways into its ancient magnetism and healing potential. I look forward to sharing teachings, story and dances from my new book, Becoming Honey: Embodying the Grace of Mother Mary though Sound and Devotion.

Ty Lyenne [Yoga]

Ty is offering a morning yogaspace at Sacred Arts Camp 2026.
A safe space open to all, where we may honour celebrate and wake up body, breath, heart with a flowing life-affirming practice of self massage and warm up stretches, sun salutations, classic asana, pranayama, and deep relaxation
xxx everyone is welcome xxx

Ty was first introduced to yogaby lovely Elizabeth while living in the Thai jungle in the 1990s and then completed teacher trainings with Sivananda Yoga UK and Devon School of Yoga. She is inspired and humbled by the vastness of the yoga path, from the physical practices that take wonderful nourishing care of the body to the richness of philosophies and teachings offering lifelong guidance, context and inspiration
www.tylynneyoga.co.uk

Karim Hadden [Bajans]

I have been leading Bhajan and Devotional singing groups for over 27 years. My first inspiration for Bhajan singing came from Louisa Willow who used to lead Bhajans at camp and this year she will be joining me to co-lead the sessions which I am really looking forward to. I just fell in love with this way of singing and it has taught me so much over the years. Coming to camps and being part of other groups where we were encouraged to sing naturally in a non-judgemental space helped me to find my voice in an embodied way so I really like to encourage others to just sing from the heart and let everything else go as that is what worked for me. Essentially I feel that Bhajans are a practice of surrender to devotional feeling and I often say that the best experience is when the Bhajans sing us rather than us singing them.

Alan Withers [5 Rhythms]

I am a 5Rhythms teacher, and I trained with Gabrielle Roth in 2004/5

I have been teaching in Wales for 20 years, as well as The sacred Arts Camp and Dance Camp Wales.

I’m inspired by magic and love to work with whatever presents itself in the moment.

Dancing is a healing process for me, and I have found simple works best for me.

Chris Sylla [Community musician (leading daily drumming)]

Chris is a community musician specialising in West African percussion. She has a wide ranging portfolio stretching over 30 years and has mostly 'been there and done that'. Her teaching style is accessible and empowering and she is passionate about connecting people through rhythm. A 'camp veteran' she'll also be playing for the Wave led by Alan, a musical/dance association going back many years now . As usual she intends to bring the joy of drumming and spread it around as much as possible between all ages.

She is now living in the community at Brazier's Park and is looking forward to a very short journey to camp this year.

Su [Voice]

Su has been a Natural Voice teacher since 2003 and believes that singing together is a natural activity for everyone totake part in and enjoy. Her teaching style is very relaxed and informal and shequickly gets you creating gorgeous harmony. She is on a mission to get everyone singing.

She leads weekly singing groups and community choirs, voice workshops at summer camps and singing holidays around the world, as well as working as a community music event organiser, songwriter and performer, singing and performing with a women’s acapella group for over 20 years.
She teaches a variety of songs, from her own compositions to old and newfound favourites, ranging in mood from calm and contemplative to high energy numbers with luscious harmonies.

Sarah [Voice]

Sarah has been leading natural voice workshops since 2001, working with both small and large groups of adults.

She is a member of the Natural Voice Network, she runs two singing groups in Devon, and she is co-founder (with Gilo) of Big Sing Dorset.

Her intention is always to create a safe space in which everyone can enjoy their voice and mingle it with others, to enable everyone to experience the magic of harmony singing, especially the sense of community that it can bring.

At the camp she will be leading songs which move us through emotional spaces, connecting with our hearts, with each other, and with our love for this incredible planet which gives us life.

Jess [Voice]

Jess loves nothing more than to sing; even more so when it is with other people and in harmony!

Whilst she is fairly new to camp, she has been teaching in choir settings for the last 17 years.

She believes that singing in groups and within communities can be one of life’s greatest joys and stabilisers, as it can connect and bring people together in powerful and emotive ways. Therefore, she always tries to make sure that people are comfortable and confident in what they are singing.

She has sung and been influenced by folk singing traditions from across the world, such as South Africa, Georgia, Europe, as well as the songs that form a part of the landscape here in the UK. You may also find some nature-themed songs in her teaching repertoire also.

Oisin [Voice]

Oisin is a long-time camper and lover of singing. Nothing excites him more than to discover new ways to use the voice & join it with others'; to learn new songs & styles - ideally from as many different traditions as possible.

When sharing songs himself, his desire is to provide a space where people feel held & free enough to explore their own voice, to feel their way into new sounds & harmonies, and to bask in the satisfaction & wonder at what we can create when we pool our voices together into one communal sound.

At camp, the songs he teaches will be drawn from many traditions ranging across Europe, Georgia, the US, South Africa, and our own little islands.

Francis [Voice]

I've been going to the Sacred Arts Camp for over 30 years, singing songs at camps since I was a child.
For the last 10 years I've led singing groups in Herefordshire where I live with my 3 teenage daughters and partner Richard. I also co-run a Companion Voices choir and sing to people at end of life, making regular visits to our local Hospice to sing.

I teach by ear, mostly 2, 3 & 4 part harmonies, and enjoy creating a safe space for people to find a stronger voice within. I love it when the harmonies of a gentle song send tingles all over my body!

Chris [Qi Gong]

Chris teaches Taiji and Qigong in Ulverston, Cumbria. He began practising the Chinese arts in 2001 and has been teaching since 2005. He follows Patrick Kelly's Taiji system; the 'World Wide Way'.

Qigong with Chris
Qi (Energy) Gong (Work). Qigong means working our energy, generally by means of physical movement; breathing and stretching, or using intention; moving light around the body.
Qigong can range from quite strong physical exercises to pure meditation. The physical is used to anchor the mind into the sensations of the body, allowing the mind to deepen and inner work to begin.
 Physical energy: Energy purely associated with the healthy functioning of our body and fed by the Earth.
 Deep emotion energy: Energy associated with our true self, our soul.
 Spiritual energy: The part of us that is beyond comprehension while on Earth. The beyond.

I am delighted to be leading the Qigong morning practice this year at camp. Qigong is an excellent way to wake up, loosen and warm up our bodies and anchor our awareness in our heart minds.

No experience necessary.

Matthew Heyse-Moore [Bathing in Sound / Embodying Change]

I am a musician, composer and teacher living near Stroud, Gloucestershire. Much of my own music takes its inspiration from natural landscapes and chant. I believe passionately in music as something to be experienced actively rather than heard passively, and much of my work seeks to explore ways in which non-musically-trained people can have moving musical experiences. I believe in the capacity for music to unite people and to build bridges,to articulate experiences and to heal conflicts in a way that words alone cannot.

Inspired by black feminism and somatic abolitionism, I’m deeply curious about how music, nature, grounded spirituality, creativity, deep rest and listening can be anchors as we engage with some of the huge challenges of our time including the marginalisation of people, planet and parts of ourselves. I aspire to remember what it would be like to embody equality, justice and interconnection. My website is matthewheysemoore.com

I will be holding a Bathing in Sound session for deep relaxation accompanied by live music on Friday afternoon, and supporting Darvesha with sessions on Embodying Change.

Amanda [Yoga Nidra]

My name is Amanda and I come from a lineage of Yoga and the Shamanism of the Mother Goddess and the Four Elements as taught by Shaman Alba Maria from Terra Mirim in Brazil.

I bring the magic of deep relaxation and restoration in the form of Shamanic Yoga Nidra - a gift of profound rest. I invite you to bring your pillows and blankets and lie your bones down on our sacred Earth to rest your hearts, your minds and your souls through the Medicine of Music, Song, Sound and Words that bring healing and restoration supported by our native herbs woven into tinctures and florals.

I look forward to holding a space for you to come gently home to yourself.

Click here to sign up to our newsletter

View our latest newsletter