Conscious Dance Practices/is

Fjölbreytt úrval af meðvitaðri dansaðferðum hefur komið fram frá síðari hluta 20. aldar, hver með sína eigin uppbyggingu, áherslur og uppruna. Þrátt fyrir stílmun er almennt sameiginleg skuldbinding þessara aðferða við frjálsar hreyfingar, útfærslu, tilfinningatjáningu og hóptengingu í fordómalausu rými.

Flestar meðvitaðar dansform forðast danshöfundun og flutning og hvetja þátttakendur í staðinn til að hreyfa sig í samræmi við innri reynslu sína. Margar þeirra eru í boði sem vikulegir viðburðir, vinnustofur eða hugleiðslunámskeið og eru studdar af þjálfunarstofnunum og kennararéttindaáætlunum.

Hér að neðan er listi yfir viðurkenndar aðferðir innan alþjóðlegs meðvitaðs danslandslags. Þó að þessi listi sé ekki tæmandi, þá varpar hann ljósi á nokkrar af þeim aðferðum sem eru mest notaðar og formlega skipulagðar.

Yfirlit yfir aðferðir

• 5Rhythms – A movement meditation practice developed by Gabrielle Roth that explores five rhythms: Flowing, Staccato, Chaos, Lyrical, and Stillness. These rhythms are danced in a sequence known as “The Wave.” Classes are held globally through a certified teacher network.

• Open Floor – Developed by senior 5Rhythms teachers, Open Floor blends movement inquiry, emotional intelligence, and relational awareness. It uses guided themes and physical anchors to support embodiment.

• freedomDANCE – A dance meditation and conscious movement practice developed by Alex Svoboda. It combines guided improvisation, music, and embodied awareness to support presence, emotional integration, and an accessible experience of personal freedom.

• Ecstatic Dance – A free-form dance gathering typically featuring a DJ, structured opening/closing, and a sober, non-verbal dance floor. Rooted in inclusivity and community, it has become a global grassroots movement.

• Integral Dance – A holistic movement practice integrating body, mind, and spirit through principles of Integral Theory. It bridges personal awareness, relational connection, and collective embodiment within one unified approach.

• Heart in Motion – A dance practice that weaves embodiment, deep listening, and emotional expression into intuitive movement journeys. It emphasizes connection with the body’s intelligence and the healing power of shared presence.
• InnerMotion – A mindful movement practice that helps participants reconnect with their bodies, emotions, and inner rhythm through intuitive dance. It blends embodiment, emotional expression, and musical attunement to support self-awareness, healing, and authentic expression.
• Movement Medicine – Integrating shamanic wisdom, psychotherapeutic insight, and somatic practices, Movement Medicine provides a structured journey through archetypes, elemental energies, and personal intention.
• Soul Motion – A conscious dance practice founded by Vinn Arjuna Martí. It incorporates solo, partner, and group exploration with an emphasis on pause, stillness, and inner awareness.

• Contact Improvisation – A dance form based on spontaneous physical contact, weight-sharing, and movement exploration between partners. Practiced worldwide, it focuses on trust, listening, and physical awareness. Though not originally framed as “conscious dance,” it shares similar principles.

• Biodanza – Created by Rolando Toro in South America, Biodanza uses structured movement exercises and music to stimulate affective experiences and human integration. It emphasizes joy, connection, and vitality.

• Nia (Movement Practice) – A fusion of dance, martial arts, and healing arts created in the 1980s. Nia combines somatic awareness with choreographed and free-form movement to promote health and wellness.

• Authentic Movement – A contemplative movement practice where movers follow internal impulses in the presence of a witness. Often used in therapeutic and artistic contexts to access unconscious material.

• Chakradance – A dance modality influenced by Jungian psychology and chakra theory. Guided by specific music and visualization, it supports energetic and emotional awareness.

These practices offer diverse entry points into conscious movement, and many practitioners explore more than one modality over time. Some are community-driven and decentralized (like Ecstatic Dance), while others have formal schools and certification paths (like 5Rhythms or Open Floor).

International Organizations

• International Conscious Movement Teachers Association (ICMTA) – A global professional network supporting teachers, facilitators, and organizers of conscious movement practices. ICMTA fosters collaboration, ethical standards, education, and international dialogue across modalities.

References