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Neuroscience of Dance

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About us

Founded in early 2018, this project serves as a vessel through which I teach about the brain mechanisms of dance in a fun, engaging, and accessible way, allowing everyone to maximize its benefits. Often, dance science and education focus primarily on the body, overlooking its deep connection to the mind and brain. However, understanding the neurological and psychological mechanisms behind dance can improve performance, enhance inclusivity in classes, prevent injuries, and optimize both learning and teaching.

https://www.neuroscienceofdance.co/

### About the founder...

Sofia Amaral Martins is an international dancer, performer, dance educator and trainee somatic psychotherapist working at the intersection of brain, movement, mind, and behaviour.

With postgraduate background in neuroscience and psychology, her work explores how the brain perceives, learns, and expresses dance and its benefits for neurological and psychological well/being. Her research on dance perception has been published in Dance Data, Cognition, and Multimodal Communication (Routledge, 2023), and she is the author of the upcoming book Introduction to Neuroscience of Dance with Palgrave Macmillan.
Sofia is recognised as a Healthier Dancer Practitioner and has been nominated for One Dance UK’s Applied Dance Science Award and the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science Dance Educator Award.

Through her project Neuroscience of Dance and the Dance Integrated Healing Method, she integrates neuroscience, somatic psychotherapy, and psychology into practical frameworks for movement. Her work supports dancers, educators, and mental health professionals in areas including performance, learning, injury recovery, emotional regulation, and the use of dance as a therapeutic and transformative practice.

Her approach is grounded in both scientific rigour and embodied experience, offering a contemporary model for understanding dance not only as an art form, but as a cognitive and therapeutic process.

Upcoming events

1

Dance Therapy Course - Science and Psychology Lisbon
Sun, Jul 26 · 10:00 AM WEST
Little Big Apple, R. Prof. Mira Fernandes 10A Lj. B, 1900-381, Lisboa, PT
A transformative weekend that bridges science, psychology, and movement, showcasing the therapeutic and educational power of dance. This immersive two-day experience blends cutting-edge neuroscience, psychology, and dance therapy to enhance well-being, deepen self-awareness, and revolutionise the way we learn and teach through movement. Whether you're a therapist, educator, dancer, or simply curious about the mind-body connection, this workshop offers practical tools and scientific insights to elevate your practice.
All workshops have theory applied to practice.

📅 26th of July, 2026 | Little Big Apple Studio
⏳ 10AM – 9PM (with a 1-hour break)
Book https://www.neuroscienceofdance.co/plans-pricing

💃Part 1
- The Science of Dance therapy
Delve into the neuroscience, psychology, and therapeutic applications of dance in this intensive course. Through a blend of theory and hands-on exercises, you’ll explore how movement impacts the brain, emotions, and overall well-being.
🔹 Neuroscience of Dance – How movement stimulates brain regions linked to creativity, memory, and emotional regulation.
🔹 Psychology of Dance – Understanding embodiment, nonverbal communication, and symbolism in movement therapy.
🔹 Therapeutic Applications – Practical techniques that enhance the benefits of dance.
🔹 Experiential Learning – Engage in improvisation, group discussions, and reflective practices to develop self-awareness and resilience.
For: Dancers, therapists, educators, and anyone interested in integrating dance into personal or professional wellness practices.

🧠 PART 2
The Neuroscience of Dance
– Learn and Teach Better
Unlock the science behind movement-based learning and teaching with insights from neuroscience. Whether you're a dancer looking to refine your learning process or an educator seeking to enhance instruction, this session will transform the way you approach dance.
🔹 Neuroscience Demystified – Understand how the brain processes dance and movement for optimal learning, teaching and performance.
🔹 Accelerated Learning Strategies – Evidence-based techniques to enhance skill acquisition and retention.
🔹 Teaching Excellence – How to structure dance instruction in alignment with the brain’s natural learning mechanisms.
🔹 Fostering Creativity – The role of dance in boosting creative thinking and problem-solving.
🔹 Neurodiversity: How to learn and adapt teaching techniques to neurodiverse dancers.
For: Dance educators, choreographers, performers, and movement enthusiasts looking to optimize their practice.
1 attendee

Past events

39

Organizers

Selene Neuroscience of Dance

Members

825

Related topics

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Dance Movement Therapy

Science of Mind

Neurodivergence

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