Conscious Dance Practices/Chakradance

ChakraDance™ is a movement meditation practice that uses spontaneous dance, guided imagery, and music to explore the body–mind connection through the lens of the chakra system. The practice is designed to support emotional integration, self-awareness, and embodied expression rather than technical dance skill.

Chakra Dance is practiced internationally through classes, workshops, and facilitator training programmes.

Origins

Chakra Dance was developed in the early 2000s by Natalie Southgate, an Australian dance therapist and movement teacher. Drawing on her background in dance therapy, Jungian psychology, and somatic movement, Southgate created Chakra Dance as an accessible form of movement meditation that bridges therapeutic and contemplative approaches.

The system integrates contemporary understanding of psychology with symbolic and archetypal frameworks associated with the chakra model.

Core principles

Chakra Dance is grounded in several key principles:

• Embodied awareness — listening to sensation, emotion, and impulse through movement.
• Symbolic exploration — using imagery and metaphor associated with the chakras.
• Non-judgement — prioritising inner experience over aesthetic form or performance.
• Integration — supporting the connection between body, psyche, and meaning.

The practice views dance as a direct way to access unconscious material and integrate it into conscious awareness.

Practice

A typical Chakra Dance session involves:

• a brief verbal introduction and intention-setting,
• guided imagery related to a specific chakra,
• spontaneous movement or dance with eyes closed or softly focused,
• carefully curated music sequences,
• a period of rest or reflection following movement.

There is no choreography to learn. Participants are encouraged to move in ways that feel authentic and responsive to inner experience.

Classes are generally practiced individually within a shared group space rather than through partnered or contact-based movement.

The chakra framework

Chakra Dance works with a seven-chakra framework, commonly associated with:

• grounding and safety,
• creativity and emotion,
• personal power,
• love and connection,
• expression and communication,
• intuition and insight,
• transcendence and integration.

Rather than treating chakras as anatomical structures, the practice uses them as symbolic maps for psychological and emotional exploration.

Music and imagery

Music plays a central role in Chakra Dance. Selections are chosen to evoke specific emotional and energetic qualities aligned with each chakra. Guided imagery supports participants in accessing movement impulses, memories, and inner states.

Teacher training

Chakra Dance is taught by facilitators who complete a structured Chakra Dance Facilitator Training Programme. Training typically includes:

• experiential study of the chakra system,
• movement and imagery facilitation skills,
• group holding and safety awareness,
• ethical and professional practice guidelines.

Graduates are authorised to offer Chakra Dance classes and workshops under the Chakra Dance name.

Community and reach

Chakra Dance is practiced in many countries across Australia, Europe, the Americas, and Asia. An international network of facilitators offers regular sessions, workshops, and online programmes, supported by central training and organisational structures.

Relationship to conscious dance

Chakra Dance is part of the broader conscious dance and movement meditation field. It is distinguished by its explicit use of chakra symbolism and guided imagery, and by its primarily inward-facing, non-contact movement style.

It shares common ground with other conscious dance practices in its emphasis on embodiment, awareness, and personal meaning, while differing in structure and thematic focus.

External links

• Official website: https://www.chakradance.com/