Core Methods and Techniques/Intention and Ritual/is

Ásetningur og helgisiðir þjóna sem ósýnileg byggingarlist meðvitaðs dans. Þótt hreyfing geti virst sjálfsprottin og óuppbyggð, þá veita þessir þættir grunn sem dýpkar nærveru, merkingu og umbreytingu. Þeir hjálpa til við að marka dansinn sem sérstakt rými - rými þar sem athygli, umhyggja og meðvitund eru vísvitandi færð í hreyfingu.

Kraftur ásetningsins

Ásetningur er lúmskur en öflugur kraftur sem stýrir athygli og mótar upplifun. Hann ræður ekki niðurstöðu eða hegðun, heldur beinir hann dansaranum að ákveðnum eiginleikum, fyrirspurnum eða tilveruháttum.

Að setja sér markmið getur:

• Festa hugann og beina athyglinni að villandi augum
• Styðja tilfinningalegt öryggi og persónuleg mörk
• Hvetja til dýpri könnunar á þema eða mynstri
• Hvetja til vaxtar, lækninga eða skýrleika

Intentions can be spoken or silent, specific or open-ended. Some dancers may arrive with a clear theme (“I want to explore my relationship to anger”), while others may choose a felt quality (“I want to move with softness”) or a question (“What am I avoiding?”).

Holding intention lightly is key—it serves as a compass, not a rule.

The Role of Ritual

Ritual marks transitions. It creates a container that helps the body and psyche shift from ordinary time into the altered space of dance, and back again. In conscious dance, rituals are often simple, embodied, and shared. They signal respect, presence, and care for the group field.

Common rituals include:

• Opening Circles: Gathering at the beginning to acknowledge presence, set tone, or name intentions
• Smudging, Sound, or Breath: Using sensory cues to clear space and center attention
• Silent Entry: Entering the dance space without speaking to preserve focus and quietude
• Closing Circles: Sharing reflections, gratitude, or simple presence to complete the experience
• Gestures or Symbols: Using a bow, hand on heart, or lighting candles to acknowledge connection and intention

These rituals help participants feel safe, seen, and anchored in the shared space.

Personal Rituals in Practice

While group rituals shape the collective space, personal rituals support individual presence. These might include:

• Taking a few moments to breathe or stretch before dancing
• Touching the ground or a part of the body to come into awareness
• Repeating a movement or phrase to signal entry into focused attention
• Creating a small altar or intention space at home for solo practice

When repeated over time, these rituals become embodied anchors, helping dancers drop more quickly into a state of mindful presence.

Ritual and the Nervous System

Ritual supports nervous system regulation. Predictable, rhythmic actions calm the brain and signal safety. This allows deeper emotional processing, creative risk-taking, and social connection. The predictability of ritual balances the spontaneity of free movement.

Intention and Transformation

When held with clarity and presence, intention becomes a catalyst for transformation. It focuses the dancer’s awareness, opening space for insight and change to arise naturally. The combination of clear intention and embodied ritual transforms conscious dance from a recreational activity into a meaningful practice of personal and collective evolution.

In conscious dance, intention and ritual are not rigid formulas. They are living elements that adapt to the needs of each dancer, group, and moment. When consciously engaged, they enrich the dance with purpose, structure, and sacredness—turning movement into ceremony, and presence into power.

← Integration and Reflection | Core Methods and Techniques