Brain Dance: Moving for Learning and Development

The Brain Dance is a series of eight developmental movement patterns that integrate the brain and body, supporting focus, coordination, and learning readiness. These movements mirror the primitive and postural reflexes infants experience as they develop, patterns that build neural pathways across the brain stem, midbrain, and cortex. By revisiting these patterns at any age, we can help reorganize the central nervous system, improve alignment and core support, and stimulate the brain for optimal learning. In this interactive session, participants will: Learn the eight foundational movement patterns of the Brain Dance and their connection to infant and ongoing development. Understand how gaps in these patterns can appear in student learning and behaviour. Explore how Brain Dance can be used as a classroom management or transition tool, a warm-up for physical education or music, or a framework for teaching curriculum through movement. Discover adaptable strategies for different grade levels and cross-curricular integration to support kinesthetic learning. Grounded in movement science and the joy of embodied learning, this session will help teachers experience firsthand how movement can strengthen brain-body connections and enhance engagement, focus, and well-being, for both students and educators.