Arts Disaster and Crisis Preparedness Conference 2026

Over the years, we have seen direct evidence of the shift that happens when people dance together, specifically when they dance together to address a shared concern. The impact of moving in concert has been evidenced by many community artist practitioners (Liz Lerman, Allison Orr, Lynn Neumann, Edisa Weeks, and many more), demonstrating that dance moves us in ways that are powerfully organizing. As Marylee Hardenbergh, Co-founder of Global Water Dances and Director of Global Site Performance, points out “Everybody can’t talk at the same time; that just created bedlam. But when people dance together, that creates connection and understanding.”


Movement choirs offer a specific and generative process of building both individual voice and common ground. In this workshop, the presenters will provide an overview of what a movement choir is, how to build one, and why it can be highly effective in organizing a community that otherwise might find itself at odds, in conflict, or disgruntled.


The specific impacts on a community include:
Collective joy
Readiness to resolve concerns
Loss of victim mentality
Presence
And, as one participant wrote: “Dance demanded that I be visible. That I take up space.”


The session will offer theory and practice, participation and reflection, thoughtful and joyful experiences. We will present an overview of the evolution of the movement choir from the early days of community building to the ways in which choirs have successfully engaged people in coordinated actions across the world. Participants will co-create a movement choir as a culmination of the session.