Held at the renowned Esalen Institute, Big Sur, California

Daria Halprin with guest artists/musicians Jahan Khalighi and Miles Lassi

Throughout times movement, dance and the expressive arts have provided individuals and communities with a means of soulful expression, healing and connection with spirit. This workshop will generate opportunities for participants to find such meaning connected with the real issues in their lives. The Halprins approach to Integrative Movement will take participants on a unique journey into the sensing, feeling and imagining body. The Life/Art Process® developed by Anna and Daria Halprin bridges body awareness, art expression and psychological processes.

Participants will experience dance as a healing art and the expressive arts as as a way to develop body/ mind connection and expand personal and collaborative creativity. They will leave having developed embodied, art based resources and strategies for personal and professional life.

Each day will include somatic awareness practices, individual and group movement/dance, drawing, poetic narrative, improvisation, witnessing, and life/art reflections. Supported by the immersive Esalen experience and the beauty of the natural environment, with the arts as our guide and inspiration, we will delve into personal and collective themes that matter. We will explore deeply and play wildly.

Live music with exceptional guest artists will support the daily work and will be featured in an evening dance jam. Guest artist Jahan Khalighi will lead the community in the Planetary Dance, a community ritual that has been performed in over 40 countries since 1975.

Pioneers in their respective fields, Anna and Daria Halprin worked with Fritz Perls, Ida Rolf, Will Schultz and others in the early years at Esalen. Their work has been a pivotal part of the groundbreaking human potential, postmodern dance and healing arts movement since the 1960’s.

Recommended readings:

The Expressive Body in Life, Art & Therapy by Daria Halprin. JK Press

Dances That Matter: Anna Halprin with Rachel Kaplan. Wesleyan Press

This workshop is designed for everyone. No previous experience in dance/art needed.

Art materials provided.

Daria Halprin, MA, REAT, RSMT: co-founding director of Tamalpa Institute, dancer, poet, teacher, and author, is among the leading pioneers in the field of movement/dance and expressive arts education and therapy. Her work bridges the fields of somatic psychology, movement/dance therapy, expressive arts therapy, community-based arts and health education, organizational consultancy, leadership development, social change and performance. Bringing a life-long practice in the arts to her work, published writings include: Coming Alive; The Expressive Body in Life, Art and Therapy; contributing author Expressive Arts Therapy: Principles and Practices; Poesis: Essays On the Future of the Field; and Body Ensouled, Enacted and Entranced. 

Jahan Khalighi is a poet, spoken word artist, educator, musician and activist, weaving social justice and art. A teacher for the innovative June Jordan Poetry For The People program at UC Berkeley and Chabot College, a teaching poet artist for California Poets In The Schools and at Tamalpa Institute, his original poetry is published in the anthology “Stay Amazed” and on Whoa Nelly Press. He has performed on national and international stages at national slam festivals, YBCA, The Lyon Museum, Venice Biennale, Watershed Poetry Festival, SF LitCrawl, La 

Miles Lassi has performed in over 150 cities throughout North America, Europe and Asia with many different ensembles ranging from the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall to the national tour of Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage. As a session musician, Miles has recorded for producers Sean C and LV (P. Diddy’s Hitmen) for artists including Talib Kweli, Miguel, Fabulous, Bun B, and Jadakiss. He has also worked with Grammy award winning producers Om’Mas Keith, Corte Ellis, Jack Vad and Tony award winner Peter Schneider. . He composed the percussion score for David Rhymer’s musical Mata Hari in 8 Bullets for the 10th New York Musical Festival and developed parts for Rockstar Games Grand Theft Auto V Live Concert at the 51st New York Film Festival. 

For more information and to register for the workshop please visit

The Esalen Institute Calendar