How will future children know that body and soul are sacred? How will people feel the cosmic love that desires and upholds the diversity among all beings? What song, what dance will they share to remind them? Give them The Great Dance.

I am thrilled to share The Great Dance, an Intergenerational Children's book, with you.

In one of the most challenging times for our planet and species, I am grateful that a poem I wrote decades ago is coming to life thanks to Marla Durden and Ruth Schowalter.

The heart-song of the book evokes the wisdom that the Great Dance treasures everyone’s dance as unique and essential, from the beetle’s to the North Winds, the smooth and ragged dances, and even the "falling down and getting up dances.” They are all sacred. Diversity is dynamic and vital to our interbeing.

And, there’s more! In the future, Marla and Ruth intend to offer prompts and materials to support educators, artists, and families to express the poem in performative ways. As certified InterPlay leaders, they will offer InterPlay’s reliable, creative forms for exploration and play.

You are someone who knows life as a big, beautiful, interconnected dance. In the Spring of 2026, you can include this book in your legacy by sharing it with your children, grandchildren, family, communities, and libraries. Contribute any amount to have your name included at the end of the book.

Thank you for being part of The Great Dance!

Cynthia Winton-Henry

Note: Contributions cover the costs of the artists, publishing, and promotion. A percentage of the royalties will benefit InterPlay, children’s dance, and other projects.

The Great Dance

by Cynthia Winton-Henry

In the beginning

was the Great Dance.

And in this dance

was the energy of life

contracting, expanding,

contracting, expanding,

creating millions of ways

to move and be moved.

The Great Dance was a dance so great

and far and wide

that whole planets and stars and solar systems

joined in twirling and spinning

and circling round.

From this whirling circle,

Earth Spirit moved

as did her trees and mountains

and rivers and beasts

and even the smallest of things,

the insects,

each and every thing

moving and changing and dancing

their own splendid dance.

And each dance was a sacred dance–

the flowing dances, the jagged dances,

jumpy dances and smooth ones,

some dances just as fast as a wink

and some as slow as the night is long.

Of course, there were many, many

falling down and getting up dances.

And some dances were quiet so long

you might mistake them for nondances.

And did you know that

even before your birth

in your mother’s womb

the dance came alive

in your skin and breath and bone

‘til you too became part of the Great Dance.

But yours is no ordinary dance.

In all the world, no two dances are alike.

One beetle's dance is different from his brother’s.

And North Wind’s dance?

It cannot be compared to Sister South Wind’s.

Each dance is like no other

and this is why it is sacred.

No one can really dance your dance.

It is sacred.

Earth Spirit’s power depends

on each sacred dance.

Without you, the Great Dance dwindles,

grows dull.

But!

When everything

joins in the Great Dance

AMAZING! GLORIOUS! ASTONISHING!

Grace, energy, and life abound

just from each dancer

doing their own joyous dance!

Today, like every day,

The Great Dance

needs you

and all of creation,

all planets, stars,

trees and mountains and beasts,

oceans and deserts,

insects and humans

to join in the Dance.

Listen to your bodyspirit and

you can hear the Great Dance singing,

“Dance!

Dance each morning

and dance each day.

And at night,

I will dance in your dreams.

For we are the Dance!

I dance in you,

You dance in me,

the dance that is forever.

Bless you, my dancing one.