Soma Dance

dancers in photo: Lada Santic in Soma Dance class with Donna at MASS.

What is Soma Dance?
Soma Dance was founded by Donna Redlick

Soma Dance is a unique amalgamation of Bartenieff Fundamantals, Developmental Movement, and movement concepts from Laban Movement Studies, in direct applications to dance with a somatic approach.

Rather than focusing on mastering dance forms and techniques, like one might in a ‘formal’ dance technique class, students are guided to hone in on the sensing experience.

The interplay and bridging between inner bodily-space and kinesphere space is explored while dancers are supported to find emergence of 'feeling forms'. These feeling forms, supported by inner rhythm and individual to each person, are then taken into shared dance experiences.

In these classes one’s subjective experience is foregrounded and awareness of kinesthetic empathy is developed while dancing in relation to others.

For details about class structure see below.

Soma Dance on Friday Mornings: 10:00am-12:00pm

for dancers and movers who already have at least 2 years of dance/ movement experience

This class is open to community-based dancers, pre-professional and professional dancers. Participants should have at least 2 years of dance experience, or a background in a dedicated movement practice such as yoga, martial arts, etc. The most important prerequisite is an open mind and the ability to stay curious.

Students registering should feel comfortable with:

floor-work
rolling
level change
hands-on work (guided and facilitated)
movement re-patterning
dance improvisation
group process (moving together)

See below for detailed description of class.

Location: Scotia Bank Dance Centre, downtown Vancouver, 677 Davie Street

Registration Information:

Soma Dance is not a drop-in class. Participants must register for the session.
Payment is by E transfer.
Donna will be in touch with you about payment by email, after you register.

Fall Session 1: - now complete

Fall Session 2: 5 class session (no drop ins)

Oct 17th to Nov 14th, 2025

Registration fee: Sliding Scale $150-$175.00

No refunds for missed classes

Payment by E-transfer

Fall Session 3: 4 class session (no drop ins)

Nov. 21st to Dec 12th, 2025

Registration fee: Sliding Scale $120-$140.00

No refunds for missed classes

Payment by E-transfer

How is the Class Structured and What should I expect within a Soma Dance Class:

Classes are based on Donna's own methodology called Somatic Dance Practice Method™

The first part of class takes place on the floor exploring Developmental Movement Patterns and Bartenieff Fundamentals. In this part of class some hands on for re-patterning work (with partners) may also integrated. Participants explore the support of gravity and wake-up inner bodily pathways to develop kinetic chains for total body connectivity. The floor work progresses towards rolling, weight shifting and propulsion through space. Some level changing is also explored.

The second part of class transitions into dancing in kinesphere space, as well as general space, exploring concepts found within Laban/ Bartenieff Movement Studies (LBMS). In this part of the class students are guided to dance with a somatic approach through a specific methodology based on structured improvisation, presence, repetition, recall, and awareness of phrasing. Witnessing and ‘holding space’ for each other to dance towards newness, beyond habit, is key to this part of the class.

The third and final part of class hones in on working with personal dance phrases in relation with others, to create compositions in the moment. Kinesthetic empathy and attuning to one another is fore-grounded. Throughout the entire class we will move in relation to ourselves and in relation with others in order to support both a subjective and inter-subjective experience. There will be moments for self-reflection, sharing and dialogue.