About DUP North America

The North American region of the Dances of Universal Peace (often abbreviated as DUPNA, or simply, NA) is one organized region within the worldwide family of regions and communities that foster the growth and expression of the Dances of Universal Peace. Although the global family “network” is every Dance circle, dancer, Dance leader, musician, and supporter of the Dances worldwide, regional organizations have been formed to support the grass-roots network.

The North American region includes the United States and Canada. It is a non-profit corporation run by a volunteer Board and a staff of two, drawn from the Dance community within North America. Its main purposes are to:

Connect people and provide information and ideas, using communication tools like web sites, the annual North American Journal, and periodic North American regional meetings and teleconferences;

Support leaders, local Dance circles and the growth of the Dances, via resources like Dance Write-Ups and our Dance Organizer Toolkit;

Support the work of the Guidance Council and Dances of Universal Peace International organization;
Steward the NA organization to allow it to fulfill its purposes, including staffing an office at a central location to answer questions and distribute information, maintain the membership database, manage finances and accounting, and support the work of the Board;
Carry out specific projects that involve providing outreach funds, coordinating volunteers and projects within the region, fund raising for future efforts and organizing regional events.

The Regional Networker serves as the primary hub of connection for the grassroots network of volunteer Points of Contact throughout the region. In addition, the RN role includes outreach and networking within the larger community of which we are a part, spreading our message of hope, love, and peace to those who do not already know about us.

The DUPNA Board of Directors


Lucinda Abbe (WY; BOD, President)	John Bari Ramsey (VA; BOD, Vice President)	Hayat Donna Bain (VA; BOD, Secretary)	Shivadam Adam Burke (AZ; BOD)

Rahmana Elizabeth Sayre, (OH; BOD, Treasurer)	Joy Morris (UT; BOD Trainee)	Sky Majida Roshay (AZ; Volunteer Coordinator)	Yamuna Devi Pamela Pierce (CA; Regional Administrator)

Our Goals for 2012

Increase awareness of event and circle organizers about ways to encourage membership.
Encourage a practice of dana in Dance circles and DUP events.
Continue to notate and archive unpublished Dances, and add more originator-approved video to our archives and distribution.
Continue and expand the quality journalism and amazing creativity of the North American Journal for the Dances of Universal Peace, serializing and distributing it with the monthly newsletter, to be anthologized online at the end of the year as an e-journal.
Turn the past issues of the North American Journal into readily accessible online content.
Continue to publish our monthly e-newsletter.
Revise membership rates to align better with IN and NA’s work and improve functionality and options for contributors.
Create a format for outreach to circles and circle organizers along with a way for them to network and share information, asking questions to the broader region, etc.
Enhance exposure of the Dances and bring focus to community involvement through social media and other avenues.
Continue our series of Regional Telecons for connection and sharing of information as needed.
Seek new volunteers to serve in specific roles.
Give attention to creating "beloved community" within our Board, and see how this can extend to our larger community Dance circles; hold an inbody meeting and BOD training, should finances allow.

Our Accomplishments for 2011

Added new website features: coloring book; profiling self-published materials about the Dances; additions to the Dance Organizer Toolkit, including an updated brochure.
Increased membership and income from memberships, and continued to expand support to members and circles.
Began support to younger Dancers and leaders by encouraging attendance at Wilderness Camp and other events, supporting the “This/Next Generation” Facebook page, and by publicizing and supporting the international Dance Leader Training and camp to be held in Colombia in April 2012.
Encouraged and expanded the use of social media as a way to publicize the Dances, especially through meetup.com and our Facebook page.
Continued our series of Regional Telecons for connection and sharing of information on various Dance related topics.
Presented our 2011 NA Journal to members.
Collaborated with DUP IN on best ways to serve our respective memberships and provide mutual support to our organizations.

Our Mission Statement:

Dances of Universal Peace, North America is a 501(c)3 public benefit corporation organized for charitable purposes, specifically to foster participation in the Dances of Universal Peace and Spiritual Walks in North America. [adopted by the Board in July, 2008]

In its broadest form and at its heart, the Dance network is a worldwide interlinked circle of hearts, as symbolized by our logo (a registered Service Mark). Dances of Universal Peace, North America is the central organization connecting the many Dance circles across North America as well as coordinating with other regions worldwide, and supporting the work of the Guidance Council and its support organization, Dances of Universal Peace International. DUPNA is also a non-profit 501(c)3 legal vehicle, handling tax deductible contributions from US residents.

Email the North American Office