When Dance Becomes Ritual

I finally had the chance to see the Southern New England Witch Dancer Troupe perform at Western Mass Pagan Pride Day — and the experience was nothing short of spellbinding. Every element — choreography, costume, props, song choices — wove together into a beautifully witchy tapestry. The beloved Hexenbrut dance was just as captivating as always.

They performed the Full Moon Chant by Heather Houston, while dancing with staves bearing crescent moons. Their movements weren’t hurried, nor merely rhythmic; they were fluid, graceful, enchanting. The choreography felt like a chant in motion — a weaving of music, dance, and sacred intention. I wasn’t simply watching a performance. It felt like witnessing a ritual — honoring the Moon Goddess and embracing Her light. I found my body drawn into their motion, even from my place in the audience.

I felt a deep longing to dance again. To step inside music as I used to — as a student, as a teacher, as a musician. Dancing, singing, and embodying melody once were part of my everyday life, and I’ve missed it more than I realized. Now, I sense it must be another part of my path forward.

While the entire show was terrific, the Full Moon Chant stayed with me longest. I keep returning to that moment. It reminded me how dance can become ritual — how motion submerged in music can become a bridge between our bodies and the unseen. When music pulses in time with our heartbeat, when we allow ourselves to step wholly into it — that is where the magic lives.