The People
Danced
A ritual gathering for embodied movement.
Taungurung Country, April 2026.
2026 Theme
Decolonise Your Dance
An invitation to move beyond inherited forms, reconnect with body, land, and lineage, and listen deeply.
April 17–19, 2026
Lake Nagambie, Victoria
Acknowledgment of Country
We acknowledge the First Nations Peoples of this Country and their continuing connection with land, sea, community and story. We offer our respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and emerging.
Sovereignty has never been ceded. It always was and always will be, Aboriginal land.
Mob Dance Free
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are warmly invited to attend at no cost.
A weekend of rhythm, movement, and connection
The People Danced returns for it's 3rd year in 2026. Join us for a weekend with some of the country's finest facilitators across 5Rhythms, Open Floor, The 360 Emergence, Wayapa Wuurrk, Dancing Freedom, Ecstatic Dance and more.
This is not a festival. This is a ritual container, held, intentional, and alive.
When
April 17–19, 2026
Fri 5pm – Sun 5pm
Where
Lake Nagambie
Taungurung Country, VIC
The Practices
Eight modalities, one journey
Welcome to Country
Traditional Taungurung Welcome and Smoking followed by a dance workshop from The People of the Rivers and Mountains-Buk-Ngarrgi-Biik • Taungurung Dance Group
Wayapa Wuurrk
Wayapa Wuurrk is an Indigenous-led wellness practice from Australia that teaches holistic well-being by reconnecting people to the Earth, blending ancient wisdom with mindfulness, movement, and narrative meditation, emphasizing that caring for the planet is the first step to personal health. Co-founded by Jamie Marloo Thomas, it combines earth mindfulness, physical movements, storytelling, and reciprocity to foster a deeper relationship with nature for all cultures, ages, and abilities
5Rhythms
A dynamic movement practice of being in your body that ignites creativity, connection, and community. The 'Wave', five distinct rhythms; Flowing, Staccato, Chaos, Lyrical, and Stillness, offer a journey to heal the psyche, release creativity, and connect with oneself through freeform movement, focusing on embodying energy rather than specific steps. The 5Rhythms practice, facilitates deep and unending explorations, moving the dancer beyond self-imposed limitations and isolation into new depths of creativity and connection. Founded by Gabrielle Roth
Open Floor
Resource the Self, Revive the World Resourced by their own embodiment practice, people create adaptive and regenerative relationships with themselves, each other, and the planet. Open Floor movement practice offers a dynamic, creative tool kit of resources to move through life, fully embodied. We use the universal language of dance and mindfulness for self discovery, connection and healing. Founded by Andrea Juhan, Kathy Altman, Lori Saltzman, Vic Cooper
Dancing Freedom
A transformative, free-form conscious dance practice blending earth-wise, somatic, and ecstatic movement to foster personal healing, spiritual awakening, and community connection through an elemental journey (Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether). It's a non-judgmental space for releasing inhibitions and exploring authentic self-expression. Founded by Samantha Sweetwater
Ecstatic Dance
A free-form, unchoreographed dance practice where people move freely to live DJ music in a judgment-free space, focusing on internal experience rather than external appearance, often leading to trance-like, meditative states and emotional release. It emphasises natural, intuitive movement, connecting with the body, and fostering a sense of community, typically without alcohol, drugs, or verbal communication, relying instead on music and movement. Founded by Tyler Blank, along with Max Fathom and Donna Carroll
The 360 Emergence
The 360 Emergence is an embodiment, free-form, movement practice motivated by an ethic of care that bridges dance and personal growth, rigor and freedom, individuality and the global collective. The 360 Emergence offers movement maps that create journeys of discovery, healing, and actualization. We create a community of communities that connect local embodied practice to a global embodiment movement. Founded by Amber Ryan & Kate Shela
5R SOMA
This is the work where 5Rhythms® dance & Somatic Movement Education BMC® intersect. This is a practice of moving from our insides. This is a practice of sensing our movement from an informed, curious and specific exploration of our body-system’s creative expression, through Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen’s Body-Mind Centering® in relationship with Gabrielle Roth’s Wave maps
Plus Zenthai Shiatsu, Kahuna, Lomi Lomi Bodywork, and more
Your Guides
Facilitators
Welcome to Country & Dance Workshop
Taungurung Dance Group
Buk-Ngarrgi-Biik (The People of the Rivers and Mountains)
Embodying Country
Nartarsha Bamblett
she/her
Manahau Embodied Movement
Kaia Hawkins
she/they/ia
Ngāti Pahauwera, Ngā Ruahine, Ngāti Pākehā
5Rhythms
Evelyn Switajewski
she/her
5Rhythms
Sue Andersen
she/her
Creative Producer
Rivka Honeybee Worth
she/they
Ecstatic Dance
Kundalini Project
He/Him
Dancing Freedom
Phoenix Onesong Marolda
She/Her
The 360 Emergence
Annaki Kissas (Sex)
Zenthai Shiatsu
Kynan Wu
Lomi Lomi Bodywork
Tara
she/her
Hawaiian Lomilomi Massage
Klaudia
She/Her
The Gathering
Bodies in motion
Where earth meets rhythm
Details
The Details
Schedule
Experience a diverse program of embodiment and somatic modalities. Each facilitator is an expert in their practice and will hold space for the collective group to journey together through embodied movement using music and guided facilitation. Sessions run from 9am–10pm with 30 minute breaks between sessions, plus 1.5 hour breaks for lunch and 2 hour breaks for dinner. Food is available at local eateries, or bring your own. Please pace yourself—you know your body best.
"Dance YOUR dance, your body holds the medicine you need."
Venue
The Mechanics Institute Nagambie is one of country Victoria's finest old halls. Swim in the lake right opposite the hall. Getting there is so easy. Only 1.5 hours from Melbourne by car or catch the V Line train direct to town. Station is 5 Mins to hall
286 High St, Nagambie VIC 3608
Accommodation
Accommodation is self-organised. 20 x places are available to camp on lawn rear of hall. Alternatively you can book at a local campground, hotel or Air BNB/Stayz. We recommend booking early as this small lakeside town fills up quickly. Options include caravan parks, Airbnb, and even houseboats! Make it a holiday—share a place with friends. See suggestions below.
All Welcome
LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, Disability friendly space. All people, all bodies welcomed. Young ones can join during the daytime sessions if fully supervised by their adult.
This is an alcohol and substance-free gathering
Sacred Space
Our agreements
Together, the space is held sacred and safe. Touch always requires consent. Personal space must be respected at all times. This is a clothes on practice.
Chat Free
The dance floor is sacred silent space. Please take conversations to the foyer or outside.
Substance Free
No drugs, alcohol or plant medicines. We get high on being alive.
Phone Free
Leave phones in the foyer. Be present.
Shoe Free
Bare feet or dance shoes only.
Judgement Free
All people welcome. We evolve in our own timing.
Health & Safety
Do not attend if unwell or exposed to Covid, Colds & Flus. Full refund issued if proper unwell. Organisers reserve right to refuse participation.
Gather on Taungurung Country
Secure your place
Join us for a weekend of movement, connection, and honoring the land
Mob Dance Free
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are warmly invited to attend at no cost.
Afterpay available
REFUND POLICY: Refunds available up to 20 March 2026- subject to 15% admin fee. No refunds available after March 20. Name changes must be emailed in writing before April 10 to movingcommunity@protonmail.com
This gathering takes place on Taungurung Country. We walk gently on this land.