How Dance Can Support Refuge Communities

For people who have been forced to leave their homes, starting over in a new country can feel isolating. Dance programs are stepping in to help.

The Role of Dance in Healing

• Non-verbal expression: When words are difficult, movement communicates emotions.

• Cultural pride: Sharing traditional dances helps refugees hold onto identity while adapting to a new place.

• Integration: Dance brings refugees and locals together, reducing barriers.

Real-Life Programs

Across Europe, nonprofits are using hip hop and folk dance workshops in shelters to create safe spaces for young refugees. Some of these include Battery Dance and Shawn Lent's Dance Peace which use therapuetic and connective power of dance to help foster peace. Other programs like Ballet West and Access Dance offer programs for those with special needs or those in correctional facilities.

When dancers step into the studio, they’re not “refugees” or “strangers” — they’re artists. And that shift in identity is powerful.