Xavier Presents "Spa For The Soul" Debuts In Washington Heights - Transforming Ordinary Living into Inspired Life

    NEW YORK, NY, March 29, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The United Palace of Cultural Arts is pleased to announce a new series of arts and spirituality events, "Xavier Presents - Spa for The Soul," featuring talks, performance, and interactive events focused on personal transformation, all to take place at The United Palace Theater, 175th Street and Broadway, in Washington Heights, New York City.

On March 30, 2013 at 1:00 p.m., the first of these events will be "Enchanting Your Life - Reclaiming The Soul's Gift of Artistry," led by series Founder and Producer, Xavier Eikerenkoetter. A life-long musician, Xavier has spent three decades studying, playing and composing music, including extensive training in tribal drumming and shamanic techniques. Xavier developed "Enchanting Your Life - Reclaiming The Soul's Gift of Artistry" as a way to re-introduce the transformational power of myth into our everyday lives. To help us reclaim our deepest creativity and joy, the program provides an in-depth experience of myth by introducing and guiding the audience in personal participation of the timeless story of Orpheus' journey into the underworld and back again. "This is about living that story, claiming it as your own," says Xavier Eikerenkoetter. "You are Orpheus, undertaking that journey to retrieve your most personal beloved lost treasure, to bring it back into your life. It's about learning from the success and failure, the triumph and tragedy of Orpheus' journey. Through this, you discover your own power, rescuing it from the shadows of your subconscious."

Orpheus is the archetypal artist, the symbol of the creative force that exists within each of us -- that part which yearns to brave the dangers of the journey into the depths. "It's the artist's journey," Xavier Eikerenkoetter says, "and each of us has a creative self who longs for this sojourn." The afternoon's events will feature local musicians and the Harambee Dance Company. The 25-member company is comprised of exceptionally skilled dancers and musicians who have ignited audiences around the world with their electrifying West African dance and music.

This powerful and exuberant combination of music, drumming and dance is designed to awaken the creative energies flowing in all of us, facilitating a discussion about the power of the Orpheus myth, and a guided meditation, all geared toward making the myth personal. "What part of you is Orpheus? What treasure have you lost?" asks Xavier. "This program will help participants to better understand how myth overlays their lives, and how by connecting to myth, their lives can become re-enchanted, their creativity unleashed, their soul renewed.

This is about transforming ordinary living into an inspired and creatively fulfilling life." In addition to his years as an artist, Xavier has over 30 years experience as an ordained minister and Presiding Bishop of The United Palace Cathedral, NYC, which is a non-denominational, metaphysical church. With a degree in philosophy from Columbia, and a master's degree in counseling psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, he has trained extensively with both initiation and deep meditative techniques. Work in guided meditation and altered states of consciousness are among his areas of specialty.

The "Spa For The Soul" series is presented under the aegis of The United Palace Of Cultural Arts (UPCA), incorporated in 2012 as a nonprofit cultural arts center at the United Palace. In recent months UPCA has hosted showcase events by local artists, community arts programs, the classical music Harmony Program inspired by El Sistema, the premiere of the movie "Trouble in the Heights," and the five-year anniversary concert of the Tony Award-winning musical "In the Heights."

UPCA Director of Programming Mike Fitelson notes, "Our mission is to transform the lives of youth, local residents and broader audiences by engaging them in performing and cultural arts that originate from the neighborhood and around the world." Xavier Eikerenkoetter is founder and president of UPCA. The spectacular United Palace originally opened in 1930 as the Loew's 175th Street Theater, presenting vaudeville and "talking pictures" showcased by its breathtaking Thomas Lamb design, described by some as "Mayan neo-Classical".

In 1969, when many of New York City's grand movie theatres had been demolished or turned into multiplexes, the Palace was purchased, and preserved, by Reverend Ike, among the first televangelists, for his church. In recent years the Palace has hosted some of the world's top rock and Latin acts and been used for commercial, television, and movie shoots. Xavier Eikerenkoetter is Rev. Ike's son.

Upcoming "Spa For The Soul" events include Jean Houston & Social Artistry on Saturday, May 25, 2013. Transformational figure Jean Houston offers new ways of thinking, being and doing to accomplish both societal and personal change. Within the deep work of Social Artistry we can access the inner capacities to align ourselves with both our and the earth's higher purpose. She will pick up on the theme of "Enchanting Your Life By Reclaiming the Soul's Gift of Artistry" started by Xavier Eikerenkoetter on March 30, 2013.

"Enchanting Your Life - Reclaiming The Soul's Gift of Artistry" will take place on March 30, 2013 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at The United Palace Cathedral, 175th Street and Broadway, in Washington Heights, New York City. Cost is a suggested $20 donation ($15.00 if paid online in advance). Everyone is welcome to attend.

No one will be turned away. For more information and to register for this event, please visit http://www.unitedpalace.org/index.php/events/158-enchanting-your-life-by-reclaiming-the-soul-sgift-of-artistry

Contact: MIKE FITELSON, 917-842-629, [email protected]

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