In the yurt at Elat Chayyim, the sun stretches down through the skylight and dances a sundial study, its spotlight methodically progressing around the circular honey wood floor. In the midst of this performance and embraced by the windowed walls which display the surrounding cool lace trees and soft birds and rainbow dragonflies, the students and faculty members of The institute for Contemporary Midrash's first Dance Midrash Training Intensive had a week of explosive joy.

Students often think teachers know the secrets, but we on the dance faculty knew our students were the secret. We modeled dance midrash lessons and provided the basic framework for lesson plans. We examined dance technique, taught about percussion instruments and rhythm and the art of accompaniment, and offered feedback and suggestions based on our experience. But overwhelmingly, it was the students' imagination, excitement, and dedication which birthed their lesson plans. Most striking was the unique voice and heart so clear in every student's leadership, which in turn was received by the class with full respect, support, and gentleness. The golden air in the yurt simply quivered with the reverberations of originality, enlightenment, rich struggle, and fun.

On behalf of the dance midrash faculty JoAnne Tucker, Track Leaders Newman Taylor Baker and myself, I share a sampling of the diverse, challenging, delightful and, of course, moving experiences in dance midrash that our students created. All the lessons mentioned here are drawn only from Gen. 24: 63-67....