A five-day intensive course for community arts practitioners
22–26 February 2027 | Rotterdam | €550 | Part of the ICAF 2027 Professional Programme
How do you create dance with people who are not professional dancers? How can movement become a way to connect people, open up creative possibilities and create meaningful encounters within a community?
In the lead-up to ICAF 2027, ICAF invites community arts practitioners from the Netherlands and abroad to join The Human Dance Method: a five-day intensive training led by Jordy Dik and Loura Sita van Krimpen of DIK Danstheater. The course takes place from 22 to 26 February 2027.
The Human Dance Method
The Human Dance Method is een artistieke filosofie en community art-toolbox van DIK Danstheater. De methode bundelt jarenlang onderzoek, praktijkervaring en werkvormen voor makers, docenten en facilitators die met uiteenlopende communities willen werken.
The Human Dance Method ziet dans niet als een techniek, maar als een uitnodiging om samen mens te zijn, elkaar eerlijk te ontmoeten en het leven in al haar kleuren te vieren.
De methode geeft mensen de tools om beweging om te zetten in ontmoeting, en ontmoeting in blijvende verandering.
As artists, we bring more colour, expression, and humanity into the world. The Human Dance Method gives you the tools and confidence to do just that.
What you will explore
During the week, you will discover:
- The philosophy and vision behind The Human Dance Method
- An extensive Community Art Trick List filled with practical, ready-to-use tools
- More than 5 powerful methods, including Happy Dance, The 11 Point System, and The Rainbow Technique and 15+ inclusive exercises
- Access to an online platform with all exercises, videos, and reference materials
By the end of this training, you will have a powerful toolbox to work with any community, regardless of background, age, or experience.
Who is it for?
The course is intended for community artists, socially engaged artists, dance and theatre makers, arts educators, facilitators and other professionals working creatively with communities.
You do not need to work exclusively in dance. What matters is an interest in using movement and physical expression within participatory and community-based artistic practices.
This course may be especially valuable if you are looking for concrete ways to:
- get groups moving, regardless of previous dance experience
- create inclusive processes with diverse communities
- build trust and connection through movement
- expand your facilitation and creative toolbox
- bring dance and physical expression into your community arts practice.
Part of ICAF 2027
The Human Dance Method takes place one month before ICAF 2027 and forms part of the festival’s Professional Programme.
The week offers practitioners an opportunity to immerse themselves in a methodology before entering the wider international exchange of the festival. It creates space not only to learn new tools, but also to meet and exchange experiences with fellow community arts practitioners.
Practical information
Dates: 22–26 February 2027
Duration: Five days
Location: Rotterdam, exact venue TBC
Language: English
Early bird fee: €550 for the full five-day course (after December 1st ’26, the price will be €675). Excl. VAT.
Certificate: Participants completing the course receive a certificate
Included: Access to The Human Dance Method online platform by DIK Danstheater
Join the course
Would you like to deepen your community arts practice and discover new ways of creating dance and movement with people? Register for the Human Dance Method. Places are limited.
