Dancing words

1. Introduction (5 mins): Explain the purpose of the activity (dance improvisation, self-expression, human rights, relationship between self and society).
2. Breaking the ice (25 min): If the group is meeting for the first time or consists of mixed participants, begin with a preparatory activity such as a name game. It’s also important to include a body scan, grounding exercise, or warm-up to help participants relax and connect with their bodies, the floor, to breathe and let go of all the worries. You can also use 1-2 introduction activities from the additional chapter at the end of the Toolbox, based on your needs.
3. Visualization and flow writing (30 min): Participants are invited to find a spot in the room and a comfortable position (they can sit, lay down on the floor, but should take a relaxed body position). The facilitator then leads a visualisation exercise to imagine for instance a happy place in nature, or an ideal city/community/world, depending on a topic or question (e.g. “How would a world with complete equality/inclusion/sustainability look like?”). The participants visualize it using all the senses in their imagination and to connect with feelings (“How does this place/world make you feel? What are the textures/colours/shapes that you see? What are the sounds, the smells?”). Then, they are invited to come back to the present, but with the visualization in mind. The facilitator hands out papers and pens and invites the participants to engage in ‘flow writing’, related to their visualization. That is, they can write freely their flow of thoughts without worrying too much about whether the text is coherent or structured. The important thing is that they try to unwind and write down their thoughts and feelings as freely as possible, without judgement, letting the flow take over. They can write whatever comes to mind—how they’re feeling right now, what they’ve been thinking about in the visualization, what did the world they imagined look like, what problems do they see related to the topic/question in the real world compared to the imagined world, or just anything that’s on their mind. This should last for 10 to 15 minutes. In the end, they are asked to circle out three key words from what they’ve written: a noun, verb and adjective (if possible). Provide an explanation with examples if some participants don’t understand these words.
4. Dance improvisation (35 min): Now the participants are given the task to create a small improvisation dance based on their three key words. The facilitator begins with a quick warming-up in a circle, and gradually lets the participants slip into their own movement. Their three key words are serving them as guide and inspiration for the movement, while music is played. The participants are encouraged to explore the movement and exercise their improvisation until they have a fixed small choreography. This part should last about 10-15 minutes. If there is time left, half the group can show their choreographies by performing for the other half as the audience, and vice versa. Afterward, the group gathers in a circle to share how it felt, what the key words were, and how they translated them into movement/dance.
5. Reflection and evaluation (15 min): The participants sit in a circle and reflect about how the activity was for them, sharing thoughts and discussing.

Reflection Questions:

• • How was the exercise for you?
  • What feelings emerged in the visualization?
  • Was it difficult to translate the words into movement?
  • Do you think such a place/community/world is possible? If not, why? If yes, what should happen to direct us towards this vision?

For evaluation, observe participant engagement and mood, the way they move and what they share in the reflection/discussion. Collect feedback verbally, via a quick survey or through association