Storytelling Through Dance
Storytelling Through Dance, a 4 Week Movement Series with Melvin AC Howell
Tuesdays January 13th, 20th, 27th and February 3rd from 4:40-5:45pm $90
Storytelling Through Dance is an all-levels movement series designed to help participants deepen their connection to their body, emotions, and inner narrative—using dance as a tool for expression, understanding, and communication.
At its root, dance is one of humanity’s oldest languages. Long before words, movement was how stories were shared. This series returns to that origin—not for performance or perfection, but for clarity, connection, and truth.
Throughout the series, we will explore a wide range of dance styles, movement techniques, and movement modalities, focusing on how movement communicates emotion and how different qualities of movement are felt and interpreted—both by others and by ourselves. We will work with texture, dynamics, speed changes, weight, breath, stillness, musicality, and intention, learning how each element shapes storytelling and emotional impact.
How the Series Is Structured
Weeks 1–3: Building the Language of Movement
The first three weeks focus on building the foundation of storytelling through movement—without rigidity or pressure. Think of this phase as expanding your creative vocabulary.
Instead of having just one crayon to color a picture, you’ll gain access to a full box—then paints, pastels, brushes, and new tools you didn’t even know you had.
During these weeks, we will:
- Strengthen mind–body and mind–spirit connection
- Explore how movement relates to emotion and emotional response
- Learn how different movement qualities tell different kinds of stories
- Expand movement vocabulary across styles, techniques, and modalities
- Understand why certain stories, movements, or performances evoke specific feelings
This phase is about giving you more tools in your arsenal—so when you move, you have options, intention, and clarity.
Week 4: Story Application & Prop Exploration
In Week 4, we take everything learned in Weeks 1–3 and bring it into application.
This week will focus on working with props, making it especially valuable for those who practice:
- Pole
- Aerial silks
- Lyra
- Trapeze
- Flow arts
- Or any prop-based or apparatus-driven movement practice
Participants will begin developing an individual story, using a prop (if applicable) as part of the storytelling process. We will work on these stories together as a group, while still allowing space for each person’s personal expression. I’ll guide participants in shaping, refining, and clarifying their story—helping them apply the principles of storytelling directly to their own movement practice.
This allows dancers and movement artists to take what they’ve learned and immediately integrate it into the style or discipline they already love and practice regularly.
Who This Series Is For:
This series is fully all-levels friendly and intentionally inclusive.
You are welcome whether you are:
- Completely new to dance or movement
- A beginner, intermediate, or advanced dancer
- A pole dancer, aerial artist, flow artist, or movement-based performer
- Or someone simply looking to deepen their movement and expressive practice
You do not need to be a professional.
You do not need prior dance experience.
You do not need to perform or share your story publicly.
This work is about learning how to understand your movement, honor your internal experience, and express it in a way that feels authentic and complete—to yourself first.
Storytelling Through Dance offers a supportive, exploratory environment where vulnerability is approached with care, curiosity, and respect.
This is dance as expression.
Dance as communication.
Dance as connection—to yourself and to others.
