Do you want to become an Embodied Dance Facilitator?
Learn the art of embodiment and develop somatically based skills to confidently guide others into a deeper connection with their bodies, experiences, and communities through the transformative power of dance.

Have you ever attended a conscious dance event and wondered how such a powerful and cohesive feeling of community is created? This potent group field is, in large part, due to the somatic skills of an embodied facilitator. Whether called a "Ceremony Leader," "Space Holder," or "Dance Facilitator," the role is the same: guide dancers, in an embodied way, into a dance journey, stay present with them throughout, and help guide them back out by grounding and integrating the experience.

Click here to view the full program with dates (subject to change).

Why take the DTM Dance Facilitator Training?
This training is a journey of self-embodiment and skill development, designed to help you step confidently into the role of a dance facilitator. In our vibrant learning community, you’ll integrate proven somatic tools and embodiment techniques with your existing skill set, all in a supportive atmosphere filled with fun and collaboration. Your team will include facilitators from diverse modalities and backgrounds—whether you’re a dancer, DJ, psychologist, yoga teacher, breathwork instructor, or wellness professional, you’ll leave with the tools to guide transformative dance experiences. Our goal is for you to feel confident incorporating dance into your offerings in a way that liberates and connects people through movement.

This training is ideal for...

• Passionate dancers eager to deepen their involvement in conscious/ecstatic dance.
• Conscious/ecstatic dance event organizers seeking to enhance participants' experiences.
• Conscious/ecstatic DJs who want to facilitate their own DJ sets.
• Therapists & psychologists looking to integrate movement-based practices with clients.
• Leaders & professionals who want to confidently guide others through dance.
• Wellness professionals looking to deepen their connection to embodiment & dance.
• Experienced dance facilitators seeking to expand their skills & find fresh inspiration.

If any of the above sounds like you register now for our Online Dance Facilitator Training! If you would rather take the In-Person Dance Facilitator Training click here

What to Expect from our Program
Our comprehensive 11-module online training runs from March 12th to June 04th, 2025, with sessions on Wednesdays via Zoom (3-hour sessions). Click here for a detailed program

• A curriculum with a proven track record of successful graduates
• A professional 200+ page manual & workbook
• Lectures on each module's topic
• Dance and movement practices
• Small group discussions
• Interviews with guest speakers
• Practical exercises
• Q&A sessions

Session Times:

CET (UTC+1): 18:00–21:00 (Madrid, Paris)
WET (UTC+0): 17:00–20:00 (London, Lisbon)
EST (UTC-5): 12:00–15:00 (New York, Toronto)
PST (UTC-8): 9:00–12:00 (LA, Vancouver)

Click here to see what time this is for you. All sessions are recorded and available within 48 hours for you to catch up or review.

The Online Version of the Dance Facilitator Training is ideal if you...

• You seek a supportive, vibrant learning community.
• You thrive in group settings and value interaction with both instructors and peers.
• Your schedule aligns with our live training hours.
• You have travel, financial, or time restrictions that prevent attending an In-Person Training.
• You want to be a part of a global network of passionate conscious dance professionals to foster embodiment, connection, and healing in our world

If the above does not describe you or your situation but you want to train with DTM as a Dance Facilitator consider either our Self-Led Dance Facilitator Training or our In-Person Dance Facilitator Training

Effectively guiding embodiment practices and somatic explorations requires both expertise and understanding. Our curriculum, shaped by years of dance facilitation experience—encompassing both successes and setbacks—is organized into 11 engaging modules. By merging theory with live demonstrations and hands-on practice, we’ll help you integrate your existing skills with fresh ideas to craft unique facilitations, ceremonies, and exercises. We also include time for dancing, Q&A, exploring common challenges, and connecting with other facilitators from around the world, all within a collective learning journey.

 ✤Module 01 • EMBODIMENT (12 Mar)
→ Explore the science of dance/movement and its intersection with the body-mind connection.
→ Learn why dance and music are so effective at creating meaningful community experiences and how to harness this potential.
→ Uncover your unique leadership skill set and create a plan to incorporate somatic methods and embodiment techniques.

✤ Module 02 • CONTAINMENT (19 Mar)
→ Explore the role of the facilitator, from the moment they walk into a venue until they walk back out again.
→ Move from the theoretical to the practical; discuss what is necessary to contain the spiritual, physical, emotional, and intellectual dance space in real-life, tangible ways.
→ Learn no-nonsense methods to deal with the everyday joys and struggles that are common in conscious dances (e.g., how to encourage people to remain non-verbal).

✤ Module 03 • HOMEBASE (26 Mar)
→ Explore the foundational role of facilitation, which is to hold a reverent opening and closing while steering the collective experience during the dance journey.
→ Gain tangible skills to stay grounded and present, even when things don’t go as planned.
→ Learn practical ways to prepare your facilitation ideas and create timelines.

✤ Module 04 • BODY EXPLORATION (02 Apr)
→ Introduction to DTM's 5 Pathways.
→ Dive into Body Exploration, the most straightforward of the pathways.
→ Learn ways to explicitly draw attention to body parts, movements, sensations, and impulses—aka "getting dancers into the body."

✤ Module 05 • PSYCHO-SOMATIC EXPLORATION (09 Apr)
→ Explore the second pathway, integrating body and mind by embodying emotions and key themes through dance.
→ Use shared human experiences to encourage connection, coherence, and community.
→ Link emotions to sensations, postures, and movements—the foundation of embodiment.

✤ Module 06 • VISUALISATION (16 Apr)
→ Tap into the realm of imagination to move beyond time, space, and abilities.
→ Learn visualization techniques that encourage dancers to translate their visions into expressive physical movement.
→ Facilitation that ignites imagination, while leaving the perfect amount of space for dancers to fill in the blanks.

✤ Module 07 • SOCIAL ACTIVATION (23 Apr)
→ Explore social activation, its vital role in collective action, and the universal need for human connection.
→ Examine the comfortable and uncomfortable aspects of social activation, acknowledging the need for both in a healthy community.
→ Facilitators as community leaders, encouraging non-political community action.

✤ Module 08 • RITUALISATION (30 Apr)
→ Demystify the base meaning of the word "ritual" and apply it to the act of facilitation.
→ Use gestures, words, actions, and/or objects within sequences to create meaningful experiences and connections between community members.
→ Get real and learn to ritualize without religious dogma or cultural appropriation.

✤ Module 09 • INTEGRATION 01 (07 May)
→ Review past concepts with discussion and Q&A for integration.
→ Address extra foundational principles and frequently asked questions.
→ Brainstorm facilitation ideas as a group.

✤ Two Session Break (14 May & 21 May)
→ Time to go out into the world and gain some facilitation experience.

✤ Module 10 • INTEGRATION 02 (28 May)
→ Return after some time away to discuss progress and share stories.
→ SPECIAL GUESTS! We’ll provide a panel of seasoned dance facilitators to share insights and stories.
→ Enhance your facilitation skills by filling in the gaps and addressing unexplored topics.

✤ Module 11 • ONWARD — (04 Jun) (Graduation)
→ Final tips, Q&A, and words of wisdom.
→ A chance to ask any unanswered questions.
→ Graduation ritual and certification as DTM facilitators. ♡

✤ BERNICE RAABIS • Founder of Dance The Medicine

Having begun humbly in the Kootenay Mountains of Western Canada, Bernice is now a respected mentor for Conscious Dance Leaders across the globe. Her journey started with hosting Dance Church for over ten years, where she harnessed her expertise from training in various disciplines, including Soul Motion, Movement Based Expressive Therapy (The Life Art Process), and Relational Somatic Therapy. These were brought together to nurture her local multi-generational dance community, which flourished and surpassed even her most ambitious expectations. 

In 2016, she stretched her wings co-founding Ecstatic Dance International, facilitating successful leadership trainings in the US, the Netherlands, Guatemala, and Portugal. Driven to incorporate DJ and dance facilitation skills into available trainings, she used the name of her unique practice, and founded Dance The Medicine, a collective of accomplished conscious dance professionals determined to infect the world with dance.  

While Bernice loves DJing and creating transformative events, her deepest fulfilment comes from facilitating deep somatic processes using a combination of dance, art, and ritual; to help dancers find freedom through connection to self, community and humanity. 

✤ ESTA POLYESTA • Co-teacher @ DTM, Global Ecstatic Dance DJ & Dance Facilitator, Event Organizer & Resident DJ @ Ecstatic Dance Amsterdam & Ecstatic Dance Goa 

Introducing Esta, your globe-trotting full time professional DJ and ceremony leader from Amsterdam. While she found her passion for music and dance early in life, she waited until 2005 to share her talent with the world. Nearly two decades later, Esta is celebrated for her significant influence on global beats, world music, and Ecstatic Dance, extending her reach from Russia to Thailand, USA to India, and beyond. Her playful facilitation and adventurous sets invite expression, connection, and joy have enchanted crowds worldwide. 

Esta's expertise isn't confined to the decks; Her versatile skill set includes ritual design, music production, and Trance Dance facilitation. She showed her entrepreneurial prowess by pioneering Ecstatic Dance at Odessa and co-organising both Ecstatic Dance Amsterdam and Ecstatic Dance Ruigoord. She further shapes the Ecstatic Dance scene by offering 1-on-1 mentorship of emerging DJs and conscious leaders and teaching in several DTM trainings.

Esta's collaboration with DTM stretches back to the very first live DJ Training when she was hired as DJ Coach after Bernice stumbled across her play on a pirate ship. As one of DTM's first team members, she's been instrumental in shaping its identity as professional, fun, and supportive, and remains a crucial team member until this day.

✤ FABIO FREDDI (DJRonin) • Leadership Coach, Ecstatic Dance DJ & Facilitator & Founder of Ecstatic Dance Italy 

Fabio, aka DJRonin, began his DJ journey at just age 16, rising quickly to become a turntablist in national and international scratch competitions, even making it as a world finalist at the DMC London 2004. He spent a decade producing music for prominent Italian hip hop artists, gaining professional DJing experience and recognition.

In 2010, an existential crisis sparked an awakening, prompting Fabio to see music not merely as entertainment but as a potent healing and transformative force. This led him on a self-discovery path, diving deep into rhythm, transpersonal psychology, and shamanism. He trained in various traditions across Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia, eventually discovering Ecstatic Dance in 2012.

Integrating his passion for DJing with his newly found spiritual insights, Fabio developed a unique approach to fostering transformation and awareness through music and dance. His journey with DTM began in 2018, deepening his knowledge of conscious dance and leading to the establishment of Ecstatic Dance Italy a year later.

Since 2020, Fabio has served as a DTM coach, helping individuals worldwide blend their intuitive power with technical DJing skills, emphasizing the transformative potential of music. His unique blend of spiritual insight, musical talent, and psychological understanding underpin his effective mentoring and inspiring approach.

✤ IONA MCNIEL • DJ, Authentic Relating Facilitator, Event Organizer & Founder of Ecstatic Playground London
In her passionate journey to foster authentic and embodied connections between people,  Iona has sculpted a vibrant path steeped in dance and community engagement. This path became intertwined with dance more significantly in 2018 when she participated in the Ecstatic DJ Training in Portugal, followed by the Online Dance Facilitator Training. Her belief in the transformative power of dance, not only as a tool for self-development, but also community building, solidified during her Dance Movement Psychotherapy studies at Goldsmiths University.

During the pandemic, Iona's creativity combined with her resilience led her to host a series of online dance events and from the confines of kitchens, bedrooms, and gardens, people globally found comfort in her uplifting tunes and vivacious personality. Her vibrant sessions, ranging from Morning Gloryville's popular sober raves to 'Pop-up boogie' parties, even earned her a spot on a BBC News segment discussing her notable Madonna zoom party.

As the world gradually embraced normalcy, Iona founded Ecstatic Playground, a lively conscious dance event renowned for its playful twists and authentic connections. As a beloved facilitator of Ecstatic Dance, Authentic Relating, and Embodied Games, she now conducts a range of workshops at esteemed festivals like Wilderness. Moreover, she contributes her nick for creating connection and spreading joy through dance as a special guest at the DTM Dance Facilitator Training.

"This training is for the big visionaries, event organisers, and executives of dance programs out there. It takes you through step by step how to create an Ecstatic Dance event. The best part is, you’re surrounded by super rad people who truly believe in the vision as much as you do, and who feel alive in sharing that vision. I feel absolutely honoured to be a part of this amazing group of dancers, organisers, and beautiful human beings. Showing up with my whole heart, it changed me, and I feel like I’ve grown a lot."

→ Carol Boccaccio • Canada

"Dance the Medicine prepared me with the tools to grow as an Ecstatic Dance leader and warrior! The container held, even online, was potent and full of space to explore the building blocks for the foundation of my dance. It was an honour to be a part of this community of conscious dance leaders. I now feel fully equipped to go out and infect my communities with the medicine of Dance!

→ Elissa Eskridge • Costa Rica

"This online training has come at the right time, just when I felt the call to share the awesomeness of conscious dance with my people, after such a crazy year. I am amazed by the connections I have made during this training and the quality of its content, which was more than I expected."

→ Dounia Acef - Morocco

→ Will I receive a certification?  Yes! Those taking the training live via Zoom or in person will be certified as completing our Level 01 Dance Facilitator Training and receive a certificate upon request. We do not certify those who take the course self-paced, as we have no way of knowing whether they have completed the course and homework. If this is an issue for you, please contact us, so we can discuss it.

→ Will this training cover DJing?
We speak about music in nearly every module as it is an intrinsic part of dance facilition but this is NOT a DJ Training, and we won't cover any of the technical aspects of DJ-ing. We do offer Consious/Ecstatic DJ Training for both beginner and Intermediate students. CHECK HERE FOR OUR CURRENT DJ TRAININGS

→ For how long will the recordings be available? 

The videos will be uploaded online and available for a period of 1 year from the first day you log into your online classroom portal (We use Thinkific)

→ I'm not sure which path is right for me. Can you please advise me? 

Absolutely! Simply send us a message here on WeTravel or email us at info@dancethemedicine.com

→ Are there any software requirements for the training? 

No, neither the live training nor self-led require any software. Please note, for the live online training you are required to have a high-speed internet connection.

→ What's your cancellation & refund policy? In case of cancellation from your side, we don't offer any refunds, regardless of the reason.