The Experience
The “Shut Up & Dance With Me!” project is an endeavor to [re]introduce the concept of “speaking” dance fluently in its native tongue: connecting deeply without any need for words before, during, or right after dancing, and helping develop fusion dance as a meditative practice.
The room will be divided into intensity zones for different levels of weight sharing. We'll also have a side room if any talking becomes absolutely necessary.
Presence over words
This is an invitation to listen with your whole body, explore different forms of connection, and allow movement and music to lead the conversation.
Event Timeline
Please Register!
The event is capped at 30 tickets, and our intention is to sell out in advance so nobody is turned away at the door.
Please arrive clean and relatively odorless, wearing comfortable clothes without hard heels or hardware that could catch on a partner, such as belt buckles, protruding zippers, or excessive buttons.
Setup
We get the room and start setting up.
Doors open
Participants arrive, self-guided warmup time.
Group orientation
Doors close. We'll cover consent signals, injury awareness, and other protocols.
No More Words
A short group warmup followed by floating mosaic, transitioning to open fusion exploration.
Word-free (and hopefully eventually verbal thought-free!) fusion dance exploration and development! Duos and multi-partnering encouraged but consent always matters.
I’ll be playing a very diverse mix of music and some ambient sound, and there will be varying amounts of silence after tracks (expect longer than at socials, 10 seconds or more), I’ll feel it out. The idea is to allow ourselves time to settle before moving on to the next moment or partner. Different music may require more or less time to process or to be expressive with each other (nonverbally, of course).
Break and guided prompts
At some point I will gather us for a short break, and afterwards initiate some prompts that will likely be executed by various smaller groups while the others observe. This might be rolling a die to decide the number of dancers, and either self-selection or somebody choosing who to put together for that song. There may be other visual or physical prompts for inspiration, as well as musical ones.
Return to Open Exploration
Return to open exploration without prompts, but allow what you’ve observed to influence choices and develop your processes.
Cool down and reconnect
No more music, possibly nature sounds; cool down and gel together nonverbally however that feels right to each of you. Solo movement, group hug, breathe together, cuddle puddle, etc. until the gong rings end.
Quiet departure
Please let’s leave quietly and wordlessly, make our farewells visually and/or physically so as to maintain the deep meditative zone.
I intend to just go home and go to sleep, ideally with no words until the following day! Happy to debrief Thursday or later. FYI I won’t turn my phone back on that night. If you need to leave before 11:30 pm, that’s fine, please give me (Arielle) a clear goodbye signal. No re-entry.
If you want to coordinate commuting together, fabulous, please arrange that ahead of time, and make a plan you can execute without verbal discussion.
Background & Philosophy
I personally have enjoyed incredible dancing with perfect strangers, without even exchanging names, let alone any other verbal details! So I’m inclined not to introduce you all until after. That may seem strange, but I want to give you this rare experience that I enjoyed for years because it’s incredibly freeing and creatively stimulating to approach a new partner unfettered with details outside the dance universe.
Dance is a native language unto itself. Words are only ever a translation, and something is lost when we reduce goals, experiences, exploration, and connection to a verbal account of it!
In order to [re]introduce the concept of ‘speaking’ dance fluently in its native tongue, so to speak, I decided to rehearse this concept with a small focused group of dancers who trust and value the art form, each other, and our work together. Our first radical attempt, in NYC, was well executed and well received, so we're bringing it to Boston.
An invitation to listen differently
Leave room for curiosity. Let the music, your partner, and your own physical awareness communicate what words cannot.
Ground Rules
Our shared agreements help make this an immersive, respectful, and physically safer space for everyone.
- No talking inside the dance room after orientation, continuing until fully exited. Ideally no more words until the next day, at least between us.
- If words are absolutely necessary, use the side room. We'll have a space away from the dance floor if needed. Please nonverbally get the attention of a facilitator and the person you might need to talk with and we'll get you settled.
- Please be open to lead/follow/switch/flow with all genders and comfortable asking everyone else to dance at some point. However, no one should assume prior consent to anything at any particular time. I would love it if you all explored your full range with everyone by the end, but take care of yourselves and only give full firm consent, no reluctant consent.
- For anyone who has injuries/limitations that need to be acknowledged, please let the organizers know ahead of time. We may have a chat for the event you could post in as well. We’ll have some kinesio tape and other tape for on shoes/clothes if you’d like to make a visual reminder of the sensitive area. We’ll also go over these nonverbally in the warmup.
- Consent matters, and even more so when we are not talking with words.
- No food or open drinks in the dance room. You can snack and hydrate in the foyer, but please don't talk while doing that.
What to Wear
Choose stretchy, comfortable clothes that move with you without restriction. Wear socks, indoor dance slippers, or suitable dance shoes.
- No heels or hard soles. Dance sneakers are fine if they're indoor-only or freshly cleaned.
- Avoid catching hazards. Please skip belts, exposed zippers, and jewelry so everyone can move freely.
- Arrive clean and free of strong smells, both natural and artificial.
- Bring an extra shirt or two. A change of clothes can be useful during an active evening.
- Dress for your own experience. This isn't a performance or public social, so you don't need to prioritize looks. Wear whatever inspires you and helps you get into the zone.
Let the Dance Speak
Come curious. Move mindfully. Connect without words.
We look forward to sharing this experience with you at Little Dipper 2026.