Emotional Intelligence for Dancers is a workshop experience designed to help dancers build confidence, deepen storytelling, and strengthen authentic performance presence. Through acting tools, guided improvisation, mindfulness, and movement exploration, dancers learn how to connect more fully to themselves, their artistry, and the stories they’re telling on stage. (Replay Available)
Why Emotional Intelligence Matters in Dance
Technical training teaches dancers how to execute movement. Emotional intelligence teaches dancers how to connect to it.
When dancers develop emotional awareness, presence, nervous system regulation, and authentic expression, performance becomes more than choreography — it becomes communication.
Instead of relying solely on “facials” or external performance tricks, dancers begin learning how to embody story from a more truthful and grounded place. The result is often greater confidence, stronger stage presence, deeper connection, and more freedom within movement and performance.
The Emotional Intelligence for Dancers workshop is designed as a 90-minute introduction to the foundations of the Acting For Dancers approach.
Through guided exercises, movement exploration, acting tools, and mindfulness-based practices, dancers are invited into a deeper relationship with themselves, their artistry, and the stories they’re telling through movement.
This experience is designed to spark curiosity, build connection, and offer dancers practical tools they can begin applying immediately — both in the studio and in performance settings.
A First step into the work
what dancers will experience
Workshop experiences may include:
Emotional intelligence tools for dancers
Acting and storytelling foundations
Guided improvisation and movement exploration
Breathwork and grounding practices
Sensory and imagination work
Building confidence and authentic stage presence
Partner and group connection exercises
Performance quality and artistic development tools
Each workshop is designed to create an environment where dancers feel creatively challenged, supported, connected, and more free within their expression.
Performance Begins With Connection
Powerful performance does not come from forcing emotion or trying to “perform bigger.” It comes from connection.
When dancers feel grounded and emotionally connected to what they are expressing, movement naturally becomes more dynamic, nuanced, and alive.
This work helps dancers strengthen not only their artistry, but also their ability to trust themselves — allowing performance to emerge from honesty rather than pressure or perfectionism.
For dancers wanting to go deeper, this workshop also serves as an introduction to the larger Acting For Dancers training experience explored inside AFD: The Intensive
The Intensive is an immersive weekend experience focused on emotional intelligence, storytelling, confidence, artistry, and embodied performance practice — designed for dancers ready to deepen their connection to themselves and their work in a more expansive way.
Continue the Journey
This workshop is for dancers who want to feel more connected to themselves and their performance.
It’s designed as an accessible introduction to the Acting For Dancers approach — offering dancers a first experience with the tools of emotional intelligence, storytelling, grounding, and authentic expression in a supportive and creatively expansive environment.
For many dancers, this workshop becomes the beginning of a deeper artistic journey explored more fully inside AFD: The Intensive.
No prior acting experience is required.
Who This Workshop Is For
Testimonials
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Tara IACABUCCI
Sarah has such an authentic and inviting way of connecting with young artists. She leads from an honest place, which allows the classroom to explore from a safe one.
Her gentle approach gives the students a chance to discover their artistry further, and with wonderful enjoyment. Her passion and belief in what dance enables in us all leaves everyone feeling seen, supported and fulfilled!
Studio Company Director, Rhode Island
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Tegan Chou
Sarah has been an extremely influential mentor in my dance journey. In addition to helping me improve physically, what makes Sarah’s mentorship special is how she contributed to my mental, artistic, and energetic growth.
Through her creative workshops and coaching, Sarah helped me dig deeper beyond the physicality of dance. She helped me find how to discover the “why,” or the intention behind my movement.
Sarah is a kind, genuine, and caring teacher- she has made me feel loved, and has curated a healthy dance environment that has allowed me to feel safe and inspired!
Currently at Juilliard
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Jennifer Eaton
Sarah is an incredible mentor. I have witnessed tremendous growth in my daughter’s confidence and stage presence since she started Sarah’s mentorship program.
Sarah is completely invested in her growth not just as a dancer, but as a human. It is obvious that she really cares. This means the world to my daughter and to me as a parent.
Mother of current Mentee, Blake.
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Lindsey Gentry
"…I saw things this weekend, from dancers I've trained for over 10 years, that were completely unexpected –just mindblowing how vulnerable they were!”
[Acting for Dancers]
Studio Owner, Charleston
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Annabel Kohn
Working with Sarah has been a truly transformative experience for me as a dancer and as a person. Her exceptional teaching methods create a safe environment where dancers can explore the depths of their artistry. After just one class with Sarah, I gained an entirely new understanding of the connection between mind and body while working through movement.
Without her mentorship and guidance, I would not be the dancer I am today. Whether it was summer intensive auditions, competitions, college chats, or personal check-ins, she consistently offered unwavering support and intuitive thoughts.
Currently at European School of Ballet
