The Dances have been called by different names through their history; at this point they are formally identified as the Dances of Universal Peace. Other names used by Murshid SAM are Dervish Dances, Mantric Dances, Sufi Dances, Christian Dances, Angelic Dances, Mystery Dances, Spiritual Dances. He referred to the entire body of this work as the Dances of Universal Peace … “I am teaching ‘Dances of Universal Peace’.” (Samuel L. Lewis, 1)

Mentors, mentored leaders, and musicians agree to respect the integrity of the Dances and Walks of Universal Peace and those following this transmission line. Dance leaders are asked first to learn Dances the way they were originated and have been transmitted by their originators and to honor the request of originators who have specifically asked that their Dances not be changed. These requests are made in order to feel clearly the transmission of the sacred phrases as they have been brought through, even though occasionally it may be necessary to modify a Dance to suit special circumstances and populations (e.g. working with children, the elderly, or those challenged in some way).

Permission to represent more advanced Dances and cycles in public may be obtained directly from their originators, or from one’s mentor if they have permission from the originator.
Being a dance leader does not give permission to lead Zikr. Zikr is a Sufi lineage practice. Permission to lead this form of sound and movement meditation is given to one by one's Sufi guide; it is not taken on one’s own initiative. (Note, however, that Dance Leaders may include Zikr Dances as part of a Dance program or event.)

Leaders Guild members agree to download Dance Resource Library materials only for their own use.

To be an active member in good standing of the Leaders Guild requires remaining current with one’s annual Leaders Guild fees. These fees are most often paid directly to Dances of Universal Peace International (DUP IN) through our website. In some cases, Regions collect the dues and then remit them to DUP IN. Joining Your DUP Region.
In cases of financial hardship, Leaders Guild fees are partially or fully remitted from a fund established for that purpose through donations.

You can apply here.
You can donate here.

The circle of hearts logo may be used by all members of the Leaders Guild, as well as for official business of the organization. Please review the Logo Policy before using the logo.

The Guidance Council (GC) and the Spiritual Guide select a group of international mentors of various ages to form an Ethics Council (EC). Ethics Council members will serve a term of at least three years. The Ethics Council offers mediation, listens to Dance community members, leaders, musicians and mentors who have ethical issues they would like to discuss, and receives reports of abusive incidents and violations of ethical guidelines. The Ethics Council and the Guidance Council will work together. The Guidance Council, in consultation with the Spiritual Guide, will annually confirm the Ethics Council appointments.

Chair of the Ethics Council: Abraham Sussman abraham.sussman@gmail.com

Chair of the Guidance Council: Darvesha Victoria MacDonald victoriadarvesha@gmail.com

Any dancer or member of the Leaders Guild with concerns about the ethical behavior of any member of their dance circle or any member of the Leaders Guild is encouraged to discuss this further with their mentor (if there is one) and invited to begin a preliminary discussion with the Ethics Council and the Guidance Council. Skillful listening, processing, consultation, and/or mediation will be available in the explorations. If, at some point it is decided that there has been an ethics violation, the concerned person may file a formal ethics complaint.

The Ethics Council and the Guidance Council will address each situation with the hope of arriving at a creative, healing solution that will be beneficial to all involved.
Neither the Guidance Council nor the Ethics Council is a legal or quasi-legal body. Both Councils work on the basis of trust, collaboration, consent and mutual respect. If the EC or the GC perceives that legal issues may be involved, the parties will be referred to the appropriate authorities.

All persons acting in any ethics process will maintain strict confidentiality.

Dance leaders may wish to make this Ethics Policy available at their Dance and Walks circles and/or create their own written material.

Part of being a dance leader is about leading and safeguarding the participants in their Dance events. A purpose of the Dances, according to Murshid SAM, is to increase joy. Any behaviors, comments or attitudes in a circle or event that diminish safety and joy to the circle and the individuals in the circle are antithetical.

Dance leaders are responsible for the circle. That doesn’t mean walking a patrol; yet it does mean being attuned both to the individual participants and the circle as a whole. In order for us to expand our consciousness and free ourselves from the restrictions of personality and social conditioning, we want to be safe and free! If anyone’s behavior encroaches on that feeling of freedom and safety, that needs to be addressed.

Each individual, leader, circle and situation is unique. The leader has to be willing to be attentive, to inquire if there are warning signals, and to take necessary action if required. Action can include outlining guidelines, commentary, and sometimes intervention.

The way dance leaders maintain this safety is up to them, and each dance leader (or dance team) will handle delicate or difficult situations in their own way, but here are some suggestions:
1. Dance leaders might want to let participants know that they are expected to be sensitive to each other’s boundaries while at the same time responsible for setting and maintaining their own boundaries.
2. Sometimes, dance leaders may feel the need to let participants know exactly what behavior is expected and accepted in the categories of sexual misconduct, drug and alcohol use, provocation, verbal aggression, and power dynamics.
3. During DUP events, leaders might want to make known to the participants a person or team (themselves or someone they designate) that is available to those who need physical, emotional, or spiritual support. Sometimes the amount of energy generated in a dance awakens energies that are not always easy to integrate. There may also be times when someone feels challenged by something that has happened in the event. They should know that there is someone they can talk to. Dance leaders may want to make available a telephone number and email of someone local, as well as the contact information for the Chairs of the Ethics Council and the Guidance Council. They also might want to make this document available.