Movement with Deb Grant

22/03/2026

Dear friends and fellow movers,

I'm excited to share an upcoming workshop I'm offering this May with Aaron Brandes (aka Brando), at Earthdance:

POLYVAGAL THEORY EMBODIED: WHERE YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM LEARNS TO DANCE
A weekend workshop with Deb Grant & Aaron Brandes (Brando)

When: Thursday, May 7 – Sunday, May 10, 2026
Where: Earthdance, Plainfield, MA

What you'll explore:
• The three neural pathways of the autonomic nervous system and how they show up in daily life and in dance
• How to track your own patterns of neuroception
• How to recognize and shift between states of mobilization, immobilization, and social engagement
• Movement practices for co-regulation and self-soothing you can take into everyday life

Many of you may already know Brando from Dance New England or Earthdance. I'm honored to be collaborating with him! He is a phenomenal and highly experienced teacher of both the hard skills and nuances of contact improvisation, and in recent years has also become a psychotherapist, bringing movement and a strong body orientation to his practice.

For my part, I've been teaching embodied approaches to Polyvagal Theory — with individuals, groups, and helping professionals — for over ten years, including collaboration with Deb Dana and a co-authored chapter in the clinical PVT literature.

I know this workshop is going to reflect the best of what we each bring. What excites me most about this workshop is the balance we've built into the flow of it:

~Extended movement explorations and in-depth experientials designed to be met fully in the moment — the kind of work that's only possible within a held, residential container.

~Concrete, practical tools for nervous system regulation that you can carry home and actually use in daily life.

Both feel essential to me, and I love that this long weekend offers both.

Throughout the workshop, I'll help bring Polyvagal theory as well as the UZAZU Embodied Intelligence (with its unique PVT perspective) to embodied life, and Brando will guide us into direct experience through collective movement exploration — in solo, dyads, and group work.

Contact improvisation is woven throughout: if you're an experienced CI dancer, the Polyvagal framework will offer a rich new lens for understanding what's already happening in your dance. And if CI is new to you, this is a wonderful, supported way to be introduced to it — through the body and through relationship, with safety and connection as our baseline of exploration, and with no prior experience needed.

This weekend is open to anyone drawn to personal growth, embodied practice, or simply curious about how the nervous system shapes our lives. It will be particularly useful for therapists, coaches, teachers, and other helping professionals looking to bring this framework into their work — but you don't need a clinical background, or any dance background, to get a great deal out of it.

And if you've never been to Earthdance — this is a lovely reason to finally make the trip. It's a special place, and a residential weekend there has its own kind of nourishment built in.

Open to everyone — no dance or clinical experience required. Especially valuable for helping professionals looking to bring a Polyvagal lens into their work.

Pricing is sliding scale based on financial capacity. Registration closes May 6th. Please note that Early Bird pricing ends April 1st, after which base pricing runs until the 29th.

LEARN MORE & REGISTER: https://bit.ly/4bDfsfe

For questions about workshop content, feel free to message me. For registration details, contact Earthdance at [email protected]

One last note: The success of offerings like these depends on getting the word out. If a friend comes to mind for this workshop, please pass it along — perhaps you'll both end up sharing a ride out to Plainfield, MA on May 7! :)

Drawing from Contact Improvisation, Authentic Movement, and UZAZU Embodied Intelligence, this workshop offers a profound journey into the landscape of your inner experience. We return to the body as a steady, trustworthy resource, exploring how our autonomic nervous system shapes our sense of safety...

02/03/2026

Hello dancing/movement friends, registration is now open for my/our upcoming workshop at Earthdance:

Polyvagal Theory Embodied: Where Your Nervous System Learns to Dance with Aaron Brandes and Deb Grant

I'm delighted to be collaborating with Brando! And hope you'll join us.

Drawing from Contact Improvisation, Authentic Movement, and UZAZU Embodied Intelligence, this workshop offers a profound journey into the landscape of your inner experience. We return to the body as a steady, trustworthy resource, exploring how our autonomic nervous system shapes our sense of safety, connection, and adaptability.

Polyvagal Theory helps us understand how the autonomic nervous system shapes our responses of connection and defense.

Through movement explorations and reflective dialogue, this workshop supports the development of nervous system fluency and somatic coherence, integrating body, mind, and awareness as a whole.

Participants will learn to recognize their autonomic states and use direct physical experience as a pathway for expression and psychological understanding.

This workshop integrates psychoeducation with direct embodied experience, making it equally valuable for personal transformation and professional application.

What you’ll explore:
~The three neural pathways of the autonomic nervous system and how they show up in daily life (and in dance)
~How to track and understand your own patterns of neuroception
~How to recognize and shift between states of mobilization, immobilization, and social engagement
~Open to helping professionals, movement practitioners, and those drawn to personal or professional growth, this weekend offers an opportunity to reconnect with movement, presence, and resilience while building a practical toolkit for nervous system support.

To register or FMI go to the Earthdance Website.
https://www.earthdance.net/event/polyvagal-theory-embodied-where-your-nervous-system-learns-to-dance-with-deb-grant-and-aaron-brandes/

18/11/2025

🌀 Experience the 9 Modes of UZAZU with Deb on Dec. 6🌀 -

Join me on December 6 and experience UZAZU’s creative, engaging approach to embodied state-shifting that supports navigating inner life, relationships, and your place in the larger world…with greater coherence and responsiveness.

22/09/2025

Last call for the UZAZU Embodied State-shifting & Rebalancing workshop this Friday (Sept 27, 10am-5pm)!
If you're imagining this day will be about learning to work with somatic awareness, you wouldn't be wrong—but you definitely wouldn't be getting the full picture. UZAZU works with movement, posture, and spatialized experience in very specific ways that make it uniquely different from modalities like somatic experiencing or sensorimotor psychotherapy.
What makes it even better? It weaves beautifully with other therapy modalities. A little goes a long way and can deeply support what you already do, whether you use it for yourself, your clients, or both!
The day will be largely one of learning by experiencing.
I hope this tickles your curiosity!
PS - 5 CE's for social workers. Studio environment, no stuffy conference room.
https://www.uzazu.org/embodied-state-shifting-rebalancing-with-clients-workshop/

10/09/2025

My series of 4 contact improv classes, biweekly, starts tomorrow night (Thursday, 6:30-8:30 pm):
Contact Improv Fall Class Series
with Deb Grant

4 Sessions: 2nd & 4th Thursdays, September 11- October 23

Location: Maine Center for Taiji & Qigong, Portland, Maine: 500 Forest Avenue

Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Commitment: In order to support your continuity of learning, full participation in all four classes is encouraged! However, as life can be full, these may also be attended as drop-in’s.

What We'll Explore

This series will blend wisdom from Contact Improvisation, Body-Mind Centering, and UZAZU Embodied Intelligence. Rather than drilling technical skills, we'll venture into the more nuanced territory of discovering embodied support and authentic connection — within ourselves and with each other through movement.We'll focus on cultivating movement that feels whole and integrated in our own bodies, then expanding that awareness into the relational space we share. Together we'll investigate how principles like listening through touch, sharing weight, and drawing support from ground and space can enhance our capacity for sensitive, responsive partnering—essential groundwork for more advanced skills related weight-sharing, flying, and high-velocity or high-energy dance.
..Following Our Collective Curiosity!
Each session will have a guiding framework, but this series will bloom organically, shaped by our shared interests and learning edges. We'll create space for the questions, challenges, and insights that naturally arise in our practice together.

All levels welcome- the principles we will explore can be accessed by beginners, and more experienced dancers will enjoy layering in these key capacities, to further enhance their dance.

Investment & Accessibility
Grounding ($20/$70) - Rooted and steady
Centered ($25/$85) - In your sweet spot
Soaring ($30/$100) - Lifted and expansive
Supported - Held in community care: If financial considerations prevent you from joining us, please reach out directly—I'm happy to work within your means.

To join, reach out to Deb ([email protected]) with "Yes" (or a bizarre/surreal version of YES simply because that’s fun)…and send your payment in advance via Venmo (-Grant-3), or with cash at our first class.

Is it ok to join at the last minute? Yes. Caveat: in case we fill up I will prioritize those who have prepaid/registered.

Please share this invitation with anyone who might be interested. And be in touch if you have questions!

10/09/2025

Today (Sept.10) is the last day for the Early-bird rate for my upcoming in-person UZAZU/embodiment workshop on Friday, September 26 (save $40):

Embodied State-Shifting and Rebalancing with Clients:
Working Skillfully with the Full Range of Embodied States
for Therapists, Coaches and other Helping Professionals

10 a.m.-5p.m.
500 Forest Avenue, Portland, Maine
$145 Through September 10; then $185

FMI and to register, go to:
[[https://www.uzazu.org/embodied-state-shifting.../](https://www.uzazu.org/embodied-state-shifting.../...)]

This UZAZU-based training will help you become more skilled at discerning how (and in which embodied states) each of your clients tends to become dysregulated or under-resourced. You'll gain a simple & effective 'embodiment roadmap' to help guide yourself and your clients back into balance and integration.
Immerse yourself in this research-based, intuitive and surprisingly powerful system for working with body and mind as an integrated whole:

~The 4 foundational embodied states - balanced vs. dysregulated
~Simple movement protocols to help clients rebalance in real-time
~An integrative framework explaining why clients get stuck in certain states and how to help them shift
~Energy management techniques built into the framework itself

Leave feeling confident and equipped to create lasting change with your clients.

Whether you're new to somatic work or an experienced practitioner, UZAZU's embodied state-shifting approach offers fresh insights and immediately applicable tools:

~Newcomers: Learn an accessible framework for bringing embodiment into your practice. It can even be used as your initial 'scaffolding' for future body-oriented work!
~Experienced practitioners: Discover a fresh perspective that helps organize and deepen the body-based approaches you're already using, and more.

FMI and to register, go to:
[[[https://www.uzazu.org/embodied-state-shifting.../](https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.uzazu.org%2Fembodied-state-shifting...%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExczM1QlRzMjhjazdjTXlBQQEerwb4KZQnnRlK56zHdwhZUNSXL6p8ZhAMUmcST-PyDZ3iOC30Dq4M98aPCvo_aem_I5Q3LBPgaZYqLzkXew3xVg&h=AT38PGEEXpAufn7XpsagnX4qWO-8tuBvqu1w4FDHNYE9tW5K2FEFzWIpoGh7Q87TpjNztQnRoumxJJgjLL5bjFjdoroUU9umcuWwjbFwlSuxxUw65x7o15A3cYfgrdegRpj5KR4rjU_LqEEi_UpOJQ&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT3SYLlB41sz37IDwuEf8NQ530yI2r1iJXvp8rPtrqvOrgOsag0jBsY-jbZ4Ww_zvHW5jC5sATlAf_s4k5GomeSCEQnNVpLjz3MskXUqe8fXWRPuKV9FHTzmfEadwVXSqNAVbMGCKBpvAnOEKIJ22pNYlkgD5RkSG_3vMYv0yGxd6wTSsz0XPOOwmFnvVMVCciL3Y7mCfn21wrgydP48Nc-23jn1eCZxaH-XWnKFEcsi)]

Reach out directly if you have questions! [email protected]

28/08/2025

Embodied State-Shifting workshop now IN PERSON! -

While my embodiment work translates well online, nothing beats in-person learning—which is why I'm shifting my September 26 workshop from virtual to on-site at a lovely Portland Maine studio. We'll get to explore UZAZU together more fully, with greater opportunity to support each other's learning ...

03/05/2024

Last call for tomorrow's (Saturday) Contact Improv workshop!
Hone your habits and sweeten your skills in CI
with Katey Branch and Deb Grant
Saturday May 4, 2024
10 AM to 4:30 PM
At Maine Center for Taiji in Portland Maine
Part of the joy of taking this day-long workshop in our local community of dancers are receiving the gifts we will bring to each other as we hone our capacities as dancers in curious, playful and depthful ways.
In this 6-hour workshop, we will continue to develop the skills of attention, intention, attunement and physical technique developed in Deb and Katey's previous workshops (Deb focused on directing attention clearly to move more freely beyond habits. Katey worked on foundational partner skills like rolling, lifting and melding).
We will devote extended time to embodiment-focused movement practices to cultivate inner awareness, and explore subtle and dynamic ways to connect as we move with partners. Expect a full day of community-building, skill-development and creative discoveries as we deepen in our contact improvisation practice.
Dancers of all levels are welcome to join as we further strengthen our abilities to meet, blend and move together with responsiveness, creativity and care (and it is fine if you take only this workshop and not either or both of the 3-hour workshops in March/April).​
Sliding Scale $75-110; no one turned away for lack of funds
Class limited to 20
🤸🏽‍♀️For more info and to register, go here:💃🏻
[email protected]/contactimprovisation
Together may we become increasingly delightful to dance with, and dance with each other with delight!

28/03/2024

Starting in just over a week:
LEARN A COMPREHENSIVE, TRAUMA-INFORMED EMBODIED FACILITATION METHOD
Join me for an immersive 3-day UZAZU Embodied Intelligence training:
📅 April 5-7 in Portland, Maine
💪 Gain a flexible body-based framework and practical somatic movement tools to guide clients through state-shifting and re-balancing
👥 Suitable for both seasoned professionals and those new to embodied work
🎓 Social workers in Maine earn 18 CE Credits
🔥 Limited spots available - Don't miss this opportunity to deepen your capacities in the essential skills of embodied facilitation!
https://www.uzazu.org/foundations-of-embodied.../
Please don't hesitate to be in touch if you have any questions or want to discuss.

14/03/2024

Hi dancers,
The first of 3 contact improvisation classes is happening this Sunday!

Bringing the skills of Attention and Intention
to Contact Improvisation

with Deb Grant
Sunday Mar 17, 2024
10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
At Maine Center for Taiji
Sliding Scale $30-45.

With so much to pay attention to in the dance of contact improvisation, how can you fully attune, engage and move more freely with others, in less conditioned ways? This workshop teaches you to direct your attention with clarity of intention, helping you to cultivate more range and explore beyond habitual movement. Through embodied awareness practices, you’ll develop somatic ‘chops’ for the responsive movement you just might be longing for.

Dancers of all levels welcome. Space is limited, so I recommend you register in advance!

debgrant.net/contactimprovisation