Dance as a field of relationship and educational transformation

What is the A Thousand Languages of Dance research?

A Thousand Languages of Dance is an ongoing research project focusing on the use of dance as a tool for embodied and inclusive education in multicultural school environments where Greek is not the first language for the majority of students. This study accompanies, documents, and reflects upon a four-year program implemented at the 132nd Primary School of Athens from 2021 to 2025, following the same group of children from 3rd to 6th grade.

Research Objectives

Our research process explores how dance, as a multidimensional form of expression and communication, can foster collaboration, emotional intelligence, and embodied learning within settings marked by linguistic and cultural diversity. Through their engagement with dance, students are encouraged to recognize and express their emotions, understand cultural differences, and actively participate in a learning process that is not only cognitive, but also physical and emotional.

Research Questions

The research investigates a series of questions arising from the implementation of the program:

• How can we address inequalities in a multicultural school context through dance?

• What are the potentials of dance for creating a space of collaboration, interaction, and respect—especially among children from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds?

• What are the educational benefits of integrating dance into the school environment, and what are the outcomes of incorporating dance into the learning process?

• How can school be connected to positive experiences of self-expression and fulfillment, enhancing participation and meaning-making for all children?

  
  

Methodological Approach

The research is grounded in the methodology of Educational Action Research and has been adapted to the needs and challenges of the specific context. This documentation, combining theoretical perspectives, reflective writing, and practices of dance and embodied learning, aims to enrich the dialogue around embodied and intercultural education—positioning dance as a field of relationship, encounter, and pedagogical transformation.

Presentations of the Work

The findings of the project have been presented at conferences and events, offering valuable insights and analyses for the development of future interventions. Key presentations include:

• At the conference of the Hellenic Theatre/Drama & Education Network (30/6–2/7/2023, Serafio City of Athens), within the special interest group “SIG1: Models of collaboration between educators and artists – Case studies of good practices”.

• At the 6th Panhellenic Conference on Sociology of Education (23–25 May 2025, Volos), with the presentation: A Thousand Languages of Dance: A 4-Year Dance Program in a Multicultural School Context, as part of the conference theme “Education as a common good in a vicious world: Democracy, activism, and society”.

• At a teacher training workshop titled A Thousand Languages of Dance: Dance as a Tool for Inclusion (Athens, 21/03/2025).

  
  

Next Steps

The full proceedings and publications documenting the research will soon be made publicly available. Additional audiovisual and digital outputs are also planned, contributing to the broader dissemination of the project.