Find a Dance
Of the hundreds of types of dance, this website is all about "conscious" dance events. What does that mean? A “conscious dance” is a term we use for any dance that emphasizes free, uninhibited movement, conscious presence and self-expression, often in a group setting. There are many practices and styles that meet this description, and on this page we'll list out the main ones, roughly in order of popularity. Please contact us if we missed any!
Ecstatic Dance
Ecstatic dance is a is form of dance that emphasizes free, uninhibited movement and self-expression, often in a group setting.
website: ecstaticdance.org (main website)
founded: Big Island Hawaii 2000, largely inspired by Gabrielle Roth
spread: hundreds of locations over the world (see the map)
Contact Improvisation
Contact improvisation (contact improv for short) is a type of improvised dance where two or more people move together, exploring the physical contact between them and responding to each other's movements.
website: Wikipedia (as a style of dance, no official website > look for "Contact Jams" near you)
founded: 1972 in New York, by Steve Paxton
spread: almost every conscious dance practice has "contact poeple"
5Rhythms
5Rhythms is a movement practice that involves five different "rhythms" or modes of movement - flowing, staccato, chaos, lyrical, and stillness - which are used to explore different aspects of the self and release emotions.
website: 5rhythms.com
founded: 1970s California, the versatile Gabrielle Roth
spread: dozens of places > check the website
Authentic Movement
Authentic movement is a form of movement exploration that involves closing the eyes and moving in response to internal impulses and sensations, with the goal of accessing deeper levels of awareness and self-expression.
website: Wikipedia (no official website we could find)
origins: 1940s in Washington, by Mary Starks Whitehouse
Biodanza
Biodanza is a dance-based system of personal growth that emphasizes connection, joy, and the expression of emotions through movement.
website: biodanza.org
founded: 1960s Chile, by Rolando Toro Araneda
spread: many countries > check the website map
Trance Dance
Trance dance a type of dance that involves moving to rhythmic music or drumming, often with hyperventilation, with the goal of achieving an altered state of consciousness or accessing deeper levels of the self.
website: trance-dance.net
founded: hard to pinpoint
spread: a few countries > check the website
Soul Motion
Soul Motion is a conscious dance practice based on mindfulness and presence, integrating elements of dance, yoga, meditation, and other spiritual practices. Soul Motion focuses on four relational landscapes: (1) Dance Intimate (dance alone). (2) Dance Communion (dance with another). (3) Dance Community (dance with everyone). (4) Dance Infinite (dance with spirit).
website: soulmotion.com
founded: 1990s by Vinn Arjuna Martí
spread: a few countries > check the website
Open Floor
Open Floor is a style of movement and dance that encourages self-expression, creativity, and connection with others. It is a free-form movement practice that draws from various disciplines including dance, mindfulness, psychology, and spirituality.
website: openfloor.org
founded: 2004 San Francisco, by Juhan & Kathy Altman
spread: global > check the website
Alixir Dance
The power and freedom of movement - when bodies, minds and spirits gather in a community-minded dance experience.
website: www.alixir.dance
founded: 2008 as Ecstatic Dance International in Oakland, CA Renamed in 2022 by Donna Carroll
spread: San Francisco Bay area
Other (Localized Practices)
Bay Area:
Underbelly - San Rafael by Amy Rogg - The art of slowing down.