South African dancer and choreographer Vincent Mantsoe. Photo credit: John Hogg

Scholars and practitioners from creative, scientific and mystical fields come together this month for a conference about the connection between healing and creativity.

Participants at the "Across the Threshold: Creativity, Being and Healing" conference will explore the paths that lead to the integration of mind, body and spirit. The conference will be held March 19-22 and is open to the public.

Dance is a holistic activity that engages the body, breath and mind to access the spirit, says Keval Kaur Khalsa, director of Duke's Dance Program, which is co-sponsoring the conference along with several other university offices.

"All of the elements of dancing -- moving the body through time and space, remembering sequence, working with rhythm -- combine to stimulate both hemispheres of the brain and balance us emotionally," Khalsa says.  "Dancing together with others builds connection and community," which, she says, is an important aspect of healing.

"There has been this kind of search to get back to our soul throughout human history," she adds. "What we want to do is bring together people who are interested in this journey, blending both the practical and theoretical."

The conference opens with a keynote address from Bradford Keeney, a psychotherapist and author who spent more than 10 years traveling the world and living with spiritual teachers, shamans, healers and medicine people.

"Because Bradford really is a bridge between the West and the East, because his background is so eclectic, he was someone that appealed to us -- representing the spirit of this conference," Khalsa says.

The public can purchase individual tickets for some performances tied to the conference, including South African dancer and choreographer Vincent Mantsoe.

Mantsoe will present the keynote performance on March 21 and will perform again the following day.

"He is an incredible performer. He comes from a long line of traditional healers," Khalsa says. "His work is very spirit based."

The conference also will feature yoga, meditation, and performing and visual arts workshops, panels and paper presentations and film screenings.

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Conference: Across the Threshold: Creativity, Being and Healing
Thursday, March 19 through Sunday, March 22
Tickets are $290 for the general public and $100 for students.
Locations on East Campus; Hayti Heritage Center (804 Old Fayettville St., Durham)
Information: duke.edu/web/threshold/index.html