Education Programs
At the turn of the 20th century, Isadora Duncan revolutionized the world of dance and the performing arts. Today her work continues to inspire us to embrace the nature of humanity and free the artist’s souls. With no formal choreography texts, and only still photographs and 10 seconds of film footage to document her work, Duncan's original choreographies have been passed down from teacher to pupil for five generations.
Word Dance Theater offers regular classes, immersive workshops, informational lectures, and performance opportunities for the local community in the legacy of Isadora Duncan. Information on partnerships, community engagements, and class offerings for Youth and Adults may be found below. Any questions or queries are encouraged to contact info@worddance.org.
Sophia Series Community Events
Did you know Word Dance Theater offers workshops focused on embodied well-being? We call them Sophia Workshops, inspired by Sophia, the Greek goddess of feminine wisdom.
Sophia Workshops are designed to support healing, creativity, connection, and balance through movement, music, writing, and other practices. These workshops can be presented at your workplace, community space, school, or home, and are led by experienced Word Dance Theater artists and experienced collaborators.
Each workshop is a 90-minute experience. To book a Sophia Workshop or to learn more, please contact: Cynthia Word cynthia@worddance.org
We currently offer six Sophia Workshops:
Embodying Resilience in Times of Loss: Collaborators: Nancy Hensler, Ph.D. (Counseling Psychology) & Cynthia Word, M.F.A. (Word Dance Theater) Description: This workshop invites participants to engage body, mind, and spirit in exploring strategies that build resilience and transform our relationship with losses of all kinds.
Body/Mind Well-Being Through Music: Collaborators: Leanne Belasco, MS, LPMT, MT-BC (Director of Music Therapy, Levine Music) & Cynthia Word, M.F.A. (Director, Word Dance Theater) Description: An exhilarating and interactive session exploring music and movement as powerful tools for supporting health, learning, and emotional well-being.
The Eyes of the Heart: See, Write, and Move to Experience Beauty and Nourish Empathy: Collaborators: Mary Hall Surface (Teaching Artist, Playwright, Museum Educator) & Cynthia Word, M.F.A. (Director, Word Dance Theater) Description:This heart-opening workshop explores how beauty can shift perspective and nourish empathy through close looking, reflective writing, movement, and shared dialogue.
Art and Movement for Well-Being: Collaborators: Ruth Stenstrom (Art Therapist & Multi-Media Artist) & Cynthia Word, M.F.A. (Word Dance Theater) Description: An interactive workshop designed to disrupt chronic stress patterns and enhance overall well-being through art-making and movement practices.
Move to Heal: Finding Your Calm: Collaborator: Nancy Hensler, Ph.D. (Counseling Psychology) & Cynthia Word, M.F.A.(Word Dance Theater) Description: This workshop integrates neuroscience and gentle movement to support nervous system regulation in a safe and nourishing environment.
Find Your Flow: Using Sound, Movement, and Rhythm for Wellness: Collaborators: Jessica Phillips Silver, Ph.D (Music Neuroscience) & Ingrid Zimmer, (Executive Director, Inspired Child) Description: This simple flow of sound + movement is based on brain science. We know from brain science how we hear sound and feel movement. We also know that RHYTHM is the tool that brings sound and movement together, and that for the developing brain, rhythm is a key that underlies language & music skills. When you make simple sounds and movements within the structure of a rhythm, you are not only capturing your sensorimotor abilities and stimulating brain growth, but you are building a direct CONNECTION with yourself and with those sharing in the exercise with you.
Sophia Series for Embodied Well-Being
The Sophia Series for Embodied Well-Being provides community based experiential workshops exploring practices that enhance mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. We believe that dance can be both a healing and performative art.
Co-presented with MaryHall Surface, February 8, 2025
Co-presented with Ruth Stenstrom, October 19, 2024
Co-presented with Dr. Nancy Hensler, June 15, 2024
Participant Feedback:
Eyes of the Heart Workshop: See, Write, and Move to Experience Beauty and Nourish Empathy; Co-presented with MaryHall Surface, February 8, 2025
"I greatly appreciated how the different stages of the workshop evolved, drawing us in and opening our hearts.”
Art and Movement for Well-Being Workshop; Co-presented with Ruth Stenstrom, October 19, 2024
"We need more arts and movement workshops. They create community and boost mental health, especially in a time when loneliness is a serious public health concern."
Move to Heal: Finding Your Calm; Co-presented with Dr. Nancy Hensler, June 15, 2024
“This was a wonderful workshop. Well prepared, in a central location, and excellent participation. Very supportive, informative and experiential.”
Youth Program
Word Dance Theater offers seasonally-themed youth dance classes in the Isadora Duncan technique that explore the human experience within the natural world. Using a curriculum developed by Dicki Johnson Macy BC-DMT, M.Ed.,LMHC, IDMA, students explore how the motions of water, wind, and trees inspire the natural movements of the human body while they learn to honor the dance within themselves and each other.
Photo by Gail Bingham
Photo by Yi-Hsin Lin
Adult Program
Word Dance Theater offers weekly technique classes for adults. Our classes are designed to find or re-gain the joy of movement and to deepen in our movement practice. The Duncan technique is accessible and very effective in helping us to integrate life into our dance and dance into our life. It is an excellent dance foundation that will complement all dance styles. Students learn the use of breath as the initiation of movement, expression of emotion through movement, and choreograhic studies derived from the authentic dances of Isadora Duncan. We build cardiovascular strength and increase flexibility through our floor work, barre, and locomotor motifs.