“Tehani is so very passionate about her work and carefully tailors my sessions to my specific needs. She is extremely professional and her warmth immediately placed me at ease even while she was assessing my needs via telephone. As a teacher, she is well-rounded in her experience and draws from a multicultural perspective that fully enriches the process which is exactly what I was seeking. Tehani’s insight is phenomenal and her compassion toward me as a student allows me to feel empowered about the journey that I’m on.”
The Spirit Dance Project
The Spirit Dance Project created by Jennifer Tehani Sarreal is an evidence-based somatic social emotional performance arts and wellness program inspired by research in over a dozen countries on world dance, biocultural anthropology and movement meditation with master practitioners at their sources of origin. This accessible method, though rooted in world performance arts traditions, is a secular, accessible and holistic approach to wellness as it emphasizes the physical body as a vehicle to balanced embodied wholeness.
The method is dedicated to maintaining the integrity of culturally-specific traditions around the world by honoring their sources of origin and providing alternative user-friendly derivative practices with permission and guidance from the elders, guides and teachers Sarreal has worked with. Honor and guidance from both her teachers and her own somatic practice comprise the cornerstone of the development and dissemination of these techniques and practices. People, honor and respect are always first.
“The difference between appropriating a culture... a people... a tradition and actively honoring them is always, ALWAYS the education. The Spirit Dance Project has always honored - with guidance and permission - the source origins of each of these techniques and has meticulously conscientiously worked to keep it that way. If we cannot fully embrace each other at the transcendental level of art and love, we will never cross-culturally fully embrace each other and the beauties we hold in our worlds (and shared world) together.”
The Spirit Dance Project: Restoration Drum & Movement Program for the Veteran Community at the Michelle Obama Library in Long Beach, CA - designed & facilitated by Jennifer Tehani Sarreal
The Spirit Dance Project* SEPA (Social Emotional Performance Arts) Toolbox
The Spirit Dance Project SEPA Toolbox is a multicultural evidence-based and trauma-informed social emotional performance arts tools workshop designed and facilitated by Jennifer Tehani Sarreal for stress reduction, trauma management, multicultural arts sharing, community building and wellness promotion.
The difference between regular Spirit Dance workshops and the Spirit Dance Project SEPA Toolbox is that the Toolbox is facilitated outside of a series of workshops and the dissemination of methods is carefully curated in partnership with organizations and institutions to directly address specific community needs and concerns.
The Spirit Dance Project SEPA Toolbox is generally 2.5 hours with a 15min break at the midpoint. 10% of all proceeds from this programming are donated to the Bella Promise (details at the bottom of this page).
Spirit Dance Workshops for Everyone
The Spirit Dance Workshop FOR EVERYONE is an evidence-based layered multicultural exploration of global ethics, movement and sound practices for wellness available and accessible to all (no dance or drum experience is required). With additional special programming available (including programming for veterans, survivors and at-risk youth) these workshops are designed to serve a large range of ages and demographics.
10% of all proceeds from this programming are donated to the Bella Promise (details at the bottom of this page).
To collaborate on programming specifically designed for your organization, please see the Spirit Dance Project above.
*Special trauma-informed, evidence-based programming designed and facilitated by Jennifer Tehani Sarreal are available for the veteran community (Restoration Drum & Movement), seniors (Sound & Movement Meditations from Around the World) and trauma-specific programs that are designed to address unique challenges/needs of organizations, community-based projects and institutions.
Spirit Dance Workshop Facilitation Training & Certification
Perfect for community leaders, nonprofits and wellness practitioners interested in expanding their somatic restorative arts and facilitation skillset. Connect with us directly for more information or sign up for the Wellness newsletter (separate from our main newsletter) to receive event updates.
10% of all proceeds from this programming are donated to the Bella Promise (details at the bottom of this page).
*For more social emotional arts programming for organizations and groups, please visit the Wellness page (click) for information on the World Dance & Drum SEPA program and more.
The Bella Promise
In honor of Miss Bella Rene, as of 2022, Spirit Dancer Productions is donating 10% of every Spirit Dance Project evidence-based social emotional performance arts (SEPA) program to sponsor senior animals at local shelters! Any leftover funds from the 10% of SEPA bookings beyond individual senior animal sponsorship are donated for general support at the same shelter under the name “Bella Rene” in honor of Miss Bella (my wonder pup!). Organizations who book these programs receive a personalized thank you email from us with information about the shelter and the senior animals their particular SEPA program supported.
Thank you for supporting SEPA programming and senior shelter animals who deserve to live the rest of their lives in safety, comfort and love.
