Developed by Creative Dance Center founder, Anne Green Gilbert, and informed by the work of somatic and movement pioneers, the BrainDance sequences through eight early developmental patterns that help organize the body, build the brain, and support expressive, coordinated movement. The BrainDance is a flexible framework—equally useful as a warm-up for physical activity, an energizing reset, or a calming movement meditation—and can be easily adapted for different ages and abilities. This workshop introduces the foundations of the BrainDance and practical ways to share it with movers across the lifespan, from school-age children to older adults. Participants will experience a range of BrainDances and learn how to adjust pacing, language, imagery, music, and the use of props to meet diverse needs. Using the elements of dance—Space, Time, Force, and Body—we’ll explore creative variations that bring novelty, engagement, and a sense of freshness to each BrainDance experience.

If you are interested in BrainDances specifically designed for early childhood, please attend our March workshop, Movement Matters: Creative Dance in Early Childhood, with CDC faculty member Annie Hughes, which focuses on adaptations for young children.

The BrainDance grows with us. You’ll leave with a range of inclusive, age-appropriate variations and practical tools that spark creativity, support integration of body and mind, and enrich movement experiences in any environment—from classrooms and dance studios to community programs, senior living settings, and home practice.

Terry Goetz (she/her) is Director of the Creative Dance Center (CDC) in Seattle, where she leads with a commitment to creativity, inclusion, and joyful, embodied learning. She began studying with CDC Founder Anne Green Gilbert in 1997, joined the faculty in 2000, and became Director in 2014. Terry’s teaching career spans preschools, K–12 classrooms, community programs, and studios, following a professional performing career with Pacific Northwest Ballet and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. Since 2005, Terry has taught BrainDance and Brain-Compatible Dance Education workshops locally, nationally, and internationally for educators, dance teachers, and community organizations. She has presented multiple times at National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) and Dance and the Child International conferences and has taught for the Kuopio International Dance Festival, Orff Schulwerk Associations, East Asian Regional Council of International Schools, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and universities across the U.S. and Canada. In 2024, she was invited to present at the Kennedy Center’s Leadership Exchange in Arts & Disability (LEAD) National Conference, reflecting her commitment to inclusive teaching practices. She also contributed to Washington State’s K–12 Learning Standards for Dance and has offered movement workshops throughout the King County Library System. In 2015, she was honored as Dance Educator of the Year by the Dance Educators Association of Washington (DEAW), recognizing Washington educators who exemplify excellence, innovation, and dedication in dance education.

Note:
Participants should bring a full water bottle and wear comfortable clothing that allows for freedom of movement.

Financial aid available. Contact us for details.