Our Projects
Uniting Communities: Sacred Sounds CIC with Tracey and Mark
At Sacred Sounds CIC, we are dedicated to promoting social inclusion and strengthening community cohesion through the transformative power of dance, music, and sound healing. Building on our successful "Uniting Communities" project, we will be launching an exciting new extension running from January 2027 to December 2027.
What We Do
Our intergenerational sessions weave together creative expression and wellness to foster joy, connection, and unity. Key activities include:
- Dance & Choreography: Encouraging creativity and skill-building with Tracey West.
- West African Drumming: Developing rhythm and teamwork with Mark Barfoot.
- Sound Healing: Immersive sessions featuring hand-crafted gongs and handpans to promote deep relaxation.
- Nature-Inspired Engagement: Connecting with our environment through food growing, cooking, and sensory outdoor experiences.
- Cultural Exchange: Enriching our community through ongoing collaboration with Kenyan musician Rapasa Nyatrapasas Otieno.
- Community Nourishment: Sharing traditional Pakistani cuisine provided by Naila Chand.
Our Partnerships
We are proud to collaborate with:
- Friends of The Drop in Centre (FODI)
- One Punch UK Charity
- Community Kids Club CIC
- Little Onions CIC (Washington)
- Just Let Your Soul Grow CIC (JLYSG)
- Family Hubs – Together for Children (Sunderland)
- Sangini Women's Project
Join Us
By partnering with local community venues and allotments, we are co-creating sanctuaries that nurture creativity and well-being. We invite you to join us in cultivating a more connected and compassionate community. Feel free to get in touch if you have any ideas for your community.
#TNLCommunityFund
Dancing My Way at St Luke’s Centre, Pallion and Newton Aycliffe with Tracey and Mark
‘Dancing My Way’ dance and choreography with sound bathing and live music sessions for members aged 50+ with Braena CIC
Our sister company, Braena CIC, has received Community Fund Lottery funding to continue facilitating weekly sessions
Braena #TNLCommunityFund
Sound Bathing, Drumming for Families and Give a Gong a Go at St Luke's Pallion, with Tracey and Mark
Sound Bathing Fridays
A monthly sanctuary of deep rest, resonance and recalibration. These sessions offer a spacious pause at the end of the week, inviting participants to soften, settle and be held by the therapeutic field of the gongs. Each session blends gentle grounding, breath‑led settling, and a full gong immersion designed to support nervous system release, emotional unwinding and embodied integration.
Perfect for anyone seeking a restorative reset, a moment of quiet nourishment, or a regular practice of sound‑supported wellbeing.
1-day Retreat Sessions- Give a Gong a Go
A tender, three‑hour retreat designed as a gentle reset for mind, body and spirit. This extended session offers a deeper arc of experience, ideal for those wanting more time to arrive, explore, reflect and integrate.
Session Flow
-
Arrivals & Settling — soft landing, welcome, grounding
-
Gong Bathing + Pranayama — 45 minutes of breath‑opening and full gong immersion
-
Reflection Circle — shared insights, sensations, slow transition, comfort break
-
Participants Play the Gongs — guided exploration, confidence‑building, embodied learning
-
Closing Circle — integration, grounding, collective ending
A calm, nourishing retreat‑reset for those seeking deeper connection, inner spaciousness and a held, communal healing journey.
Family Drumming Sessions
Joyful, rhythmic, community‑building sessions for families of all ages. Held monthly, these gatherings invite playful exploration of percussion, shared rhythm‑making and collective creativity. Children and adults drum together, learning simple patterns, call‑and‑response games, and group rhythms that build confidence, connection and musical curiosity.
These sessions are designed to be inclusive, energetic and fun — a chance for families to move, make noise, laugh, and experience the grounding power of rhythm in a supportive environment.
Funded by #TNLCommunityFund
Blue Wave Beach Festival
with Moving Art Management and National Trust funded by GFTA
FODI women I were invited to work with this project with lead artist Constance Humphries. Her words about her project...
‘Over the past two and a half years, I've had the immense privilege of serving as the lead artist for Blue Wave, a dance project that seeks to co-create an authentic connection between coastal communities and their natural marine heritage through dance.
Gratitude overflows as I reflect on the incredible journey that has been Blue Wave! To all the remarkable dancers, creative minds, supportive partners, and dedicated producers, you've made this experience truly unforgettable. I am humbled by your love, generosity and creativity.
Curated by Dr Suzy O’Hara, Blue Wave was co-created with artists Tracey West, Maggie Hsaio, Lijie Zhang, Bettie Hope and Abigail Santos, along with female members and organisers of Friends of the Drop-in for Asylum Seekers and Refugees (FODI) and Sangini (a BME-led, multicultural women’s arts organisation) and the North East Migration Project (NEMP). Additionally, the Hartlepool Sewing Group aka, the Gallery Girls and students from the Northern School of Art collaborated on the costumes.
Commissioned by Co/Lab Sunderland
Funded by Arts Council England in collaboration with and supported by National Trust.
Produced by Moving Arts Management
Performance at Tall Ships Festival, Hartlepool, UK
Photos: Colin Davison
Friends of the Drop In Centre (FODI), Sunderland, with Tracey
Movement, choreography and sound healing supporting women and families.
Every week, I support women and families in our community through the transformative power of dance, relaxation, and sound healing. I provide a nurturing space for healing, care, and ease. We find joy and expression through dance, while sound healing helps us relax and rest. I am passionate about creating a supportive environment where women and families can unite. Together, we embark on self-discovery and self-care, fostering healing and resilience within our community.
Weekly West African Drumming class in Sunderland with Mark
Mondays 7-9 pm, Eagle Building, Sunderland SR2 9SB. I run blocks of 4-6 weeks
Next block is 21st 28th Sept, 5th 12th and 19th October £50 including drum hire.
We begin with a gentle guided relaxation with handpan to help us arrive and put the day behind us.
Then I lead a warm-up to practice basic technique and coordination, and then we dive into some drumming rhythms using djembes and bass drums (played with sticks and accompanied by a bell part)
We learn djembe accompaniments - accessible, repetitive parts which are essential to building layers of rhythm
Some solo phrases which we learn to play together and may form the basis of free soloing (for more progressed players)
Dunun - 3 sizes of bass drums - dununba, sangban and ken keni and bell parts which form the foundation of West African rhythms
Breaks and introductions - funky and memorable rhythm features which are fun for players and audiences
Songs - I bring in some traditional songs which are associated with the rhythms I teach. They help deepen the understanding of the music and culture.
Performance - we play for the Great North Run every year - this year its Sunday 13th September. We have also played as part of BBC1's Big Weekend Wraparound event in Sunderland and Unity in the Community events across the city. Participation in performances is entirely optional but great fun!!
Email sacredsoundscic@gmail.com to book your place
Unlock Music CIC - Carnival House and Better Days Project
Carnival House After‑School Clubs
A vibrant weekly after‑school club for primary‑aged children, exploring the joy and energy of traditional West African rhythm. These sessions introduce young people to djembe, dunun and hand‑percussion patterns, teaching foundational beats, call‑and‑response, group rhythm‑making and creative play.
Children learn through movement, music and teamwork, building confidence, coordination and cultural awareness. The sessions are lively, inclusive and fun — a safe space for young people to express themselves, make friends and discover the grounding power of rhythm.
Held weekly at Carnivala House, 4–5 pm on Thursdays during term time.
Better Days Music Sessions with Mark
A collaborative music programme for adults with learning disabilities, delivered in partnership with the Better Days project in Byker, Newcastle. These sessions centre joy, creativity and accessibility, inviting participants to explore percussion, rhythm, drumming and group music‑making in a supportive environment.
The focus is on expression — building confidence, celebrating individuality, and creating shared musical experiences. Participants learn simple rhythmic patterns, experiment with instruments, and develop their own musical voice within the group.
A warm, welcoming space where music becomes a tool for connection, empowerment and community
Tynemouth Nurseries - Early Years Music Play with Mark
A joyful, sensory‑rich music experience for pre‑school children at Tynemouth Nurseries. These playful sessions introduce little ones to rhythm, movement and sound through gentle exploration, singing, drumming, shakers, call‑and‑response games and imaginative musical storytelling.
Children learn through curiosity and play — developing coordination, listening skills, early musical awareness and confidence in their own expressive voice. The sessions are designed to be warm, nurturing and developmentally attuned, supporting children's social interaction, creativity and emotional regulation.
Perfect for summer and holiday periods, these musical playtimes offer a lively, heart‑centred space where young children can move, explore, laugh and discover the magic of music in community.
Baby Boogie Gong: Movement Play & Gentle Sound Bathing (0–6 months) with Tracey
In 2002, I was 32 years old, and with my daughter Arianwen, I decided to run a movement play session. With support from Jabadao and The Barefoot Dance Company, I launched 'Baby Boogie Sunderland,' held every Friday at The Winter Gardens and Museum.
I remember walking in with my baby girl, seeing the community room, and asking Jennie Lambert if it was possible to run these sessions. She agreed, and since then, The Winter Gardens have generously provided in-kind space for my events and family sessions for the various communities I work with. I am very grateful for this.
Now, I feel a strong desire to revive the Baby Boogie sessions—this time with live music, movement, and music play sessions at our Sacred Sounds CIC space, Eagle Building.
Thursday, last week of September
9:00–10.15 AM
£10 per adult
Venue: SR1 2AX (Eagle Building)
Buzz Space 10, first floor; there is a lift for you, your baby and your buggy.
Accessible toilet with baby changing facilities.
Arrivals- 9 am
Session starts at 9.15 am
Bring everything you and your baby need.
Begin your morning with a soft, joyful blend of movement play and gong bathing, created especially for families with babies aged 0–6 months.
After the session, I highly recommend The Chair Snug coffee shop, located in the courtyard of the Eagle Building.
Baby Boogie weaves together:
- Jabadao-inspired movement play with props, themes, and gentle baby-led movement and connection
- A low‑level sound bathing practice offering soothing resonance for babies and adults
- A warm, welcoming space to meet other families, share the morning, and enjoy a calm start to the day
A vibrant, nurturing session to support connection, sensory development, and wellbeing — all held within a gentle sound-based landscape
Baby Gongs- Restorative Yoga, Pranayama & Gong Bathing for Pregnancy wth Tracey
last Thursday of each month
9:00–10:30 AM
£15 per person
Venue: SR1 2AX (Eagle Building)
A deeply restorative morning for mums‑to‑be. This session offers:
- Restorative yoga to ease tension and support the changing body
- Pranayama breathing practices for grounding, calm, and wellbeing
- A pregnancy‑safe gong bath, inviting spaciousness, deep listening, and gentle resonance
A peaceful, nurturing environment to relax, reset, and connect with your body and baby.
About Sound & Gong Bathing
Sound is for everyone - from babies in the womb to those in every stage of life. Gong bathing offers universal tones and vibrations, a gentle and nurturing sound made with love and intention.
During pregnancy, many women find that being surrounded by live music and resonant sound helps them connect deeply with their bodies and their babies, supporting relaxation, emotional wellbeing, and a sense of harmony. When I was pregnant, I chose to be immersed in live music and sound-based practices more than ever - and twenty‑five years later, that journey continues.
For families and mums‑to‑be, these sessions are gentle, nurturing, safe, and soothing, combining movement and low‑level sound with many years of experience in holding space and facilitation. I offer my practice with care, inviting calm, connection, and gentle restoration.
Each sound bathing session is a space for relaxation, presence, and embodied awareness. Participants are always invited to listen deeply to their own comfort, to rest as needed, and to honour the power of stillness.