Frequently Asked Questions

How do workshops differ from regular classes?

A weekly class offers a chance to move, reconnect with your body, and return to yourself. A workshop gives us more time to go deeper.

If you've only attended regular classes, you might imagine that a workshop means hours and hours of nonstop dancing. It doesn't. While movement is at the heart of the Dance, workshops include a variety of experiences designed to deepen our exploration of ourselves and our connection with others.

A workshop will often begin much like a regular class: moving to warm the body, loosen the muscles, quiet the mind, and become more present. From there, the teacher may guide the group through different explorations related to the workshop's theme. Some are individual, some involve a partner or small group, and some engage the whole room.

Many of these explorations happen through movement — bringing an intention, question, feeling, or part of ourselves into the body and allowing it to move. Others may involve speaking, listening, reflection, or sharing with another person. There may also be opportunities to come together as a group and reflect on what we've experienced.

And there are breaks! Workshops include time to rest, eat, integrate, and simply be.

Rather than following a rigid schedule, the teacher pays attention to what is happening in the room and adapts the work to the energy and needs of the group. This allows the experience to unfold organically while remaining grounded in the theme and intention of the workshop.

The additional time and depth of a workshop can open possibilities that are difficult to reach in a shorter class. Participants often leave feeling more grounded and present, more at home in their bodies, emotionally open, and deeply connected to themselves and the people with whom they've shared the experience.

For many people, this is where the Dance becomes more than something we do on the dance floor. It becomes a practice for how we meet ourselves, one another, and our lives.

Are children allowed in classes and workshops?

Young people under 18 may attend regular classes with a parent or guardian. Because the Dance invites body awareness, emotional expression, connection, and self-discovery, it can also be a meaningful experience for younger dancers. However, our regular classes are created primarily for adults, and parents should consider whether the environment is appropriate for their child. We recommend that parents attend a few classes themselves before bringing a child so they can make an informed decision about whether the experience is a good fit.

Parents and guardians are responsible for their children at all times — before, during, and after class. Children should be able to participate or occupy themselves in a way that does not disrupt or distract from the experience of other dancers.

Like everyone in the room, children are asked to respect the dance space. We keep the dance floor free from conversation so that people can stay connected to their movement and their own experience. A child who needs a break from dancing may quietly use a silent electronic device, provided it does not distract others.

Music at the Dance can sometimes be loud. Children's hearing may be more sensitive than adults', so parents are responsible for deciding whether hearing protection is appropriate and providing it when needed.

Outdoor residential retreats, such as those we offer at Buffalo Gap, can be especially well suited for families. Children have the freedom to play outside, explore, or retreat to their cabin (with appropriate adult supervision). This allows parents to participate while children move in and out of the experience according to their own needs and attention spans. The guidelines above also apply during retreats.