Dance as a Bridge for Personal and Intercultural Development
From May 25 to 30, the international training “Expanding the Perception Box: The Power of Dance” took place in Iași, Romania.
Amid movement, emotion, and deep connection, youth workers from seven European countries took part in a transformative experience that explored dance as a tool for personal development, intercultural connection, and expanded individual and collective perception.
Inspired by the theory of the “Perception Box”, developed by Elizabeth Koch, the training invited participants on a sensory and imaginative journey into the perception of the body and reality.
The “box” is understood as a metaphor for each person’s subjective experience — shaped by thoughts, beliefs, memories, and dreams — which influences how we see the world.
Expanding that box means opening up to greater empathy, awareness, and understanding.
Throughout the week, the body became the translator of inner landscapes, in constant dialogue with space, materials, imagination, and fellow participants.
Movement, dance, and collective creation exercises created fertile ground for listening, connection, and cultural exchange.
Key objectives of the training:
Greater awareness of perception filters
Understanding how cultural references, beliefs, and personal experiences influence our perception of reality.
Increased bodily and mental flexibility
Fostering empathy, adaptability, and creative thinking through movement exploration.
Authentic cross-border connections
Promoting intercultural encounters and meaningful sharing among people from diverse backgrounds.
Through the universal language of dance, participants overcame linguistic and cultural barriers, deepening their connection with themselves and others — expanding not only their limits but their own Perception Box.
More than just a personal experience, this training aims to create a ripple effect: the tools and methodologies explored will now be adapted and applied with young people in the participants’ home countries.
