Mindful & inclusive

General information

Most of my services are generally suitable for people who are physically challenged (post-Covid/Vac, MS, ME/CFS, etc.), easily overstimulated, but generally mobile. Being able to stand and walk slowly is a basic requirement. Currently, I do not offer any services for people with significant mobility limitations.

The framework is usually open, and I encourage you to try everything. If your body needs something different, then seek it out and do it. This could involve different movements or, for example, creating your own space on the sidelines or away from the main event. My offerings are for you, not against you, and I am happy to support you.

My concept of partner dancing forms the basis and respects individual needs for closeness and distance as well as personal expression: Everything is possible - nothing is mandatory! For workshops where only solo dancing is desired, please contact me in advance, as my focus is on the connection between partners.

Here you can find information about my terms of participation and my code of conduct for gentlemen.

Overview of inclusive offers

In general, everyone is welcome in the programs – whether they have an officially recognized disability or not. I work with a resource-oriented, diversity-sensitive approach. However, due to the program's focus, certain areas are specifically tailored to the resources of people who are often structurally disadvantaged in everyday life.


  • SlowSteps two-gether: Mindful and inclusive for people who benefit from an energy-saving, trauma-sensitive and intuitive approach to dance.


  • Dancing in the Dark: Mindful and inclusive for people who are blind or visually impaired: a dance for two without sight. Sighted people are welcome.


  • SlowDance Retreat: A whole weekend in the style of the SlowSteps two-gether concept! The format is currently on hiatus, but will gladly be revived upon request.


  • Summertime Blues: This low-threshold dance weekend offers mindful blues dancing in a wonderful setting and opportunities to relax in nature.


Videos

SlowSteps Two-gether: 

Participation is possible without a dance partner. Partners will form during the course. Shoes with flat soles that allow for good contact with the floor are recommended. Due to the slow, mindful, and consensual style of dance and the teaching methods, this concept is particularly suitable for people with the following backgrounds:


  • mild walking difficulties
  • neurodivergent perceptions
  • psychosocial or emotional stress
  • motor or physical limitations
  • chronic pain and fatigue (CFS)
  • marginalized groups, such as queer or non-binary people
  • people without known limitations who want to experience partner dancing for the first time. 

Content: 

This special dance offering invites you to connect mindfully and with all your senses – with yourself, the music, and your fellow dancers. Body, resources, needs, and boundaries become the creative source of a joyful, consensual dance. Basic movements include weight shifts and slow walking. Physical closeness and touch are adapted to individual needs. There are seating options for resting (depending on the offering, there may also be opportunities to lie down). Integrated mindfulness and sensory experiences combine with gentle dance elements to create a resource-oriented activation that can regulate and stabilize the nervous system. The music of African-American blues and soul moves both body and soul. Movement is allowed to arise organically, at one's own pace, with pauses and choices. Voluntary partner experiences serve as a space for intense, consensual connection and become a training ground for consciously perceiving one's own and others' needs, closeness, and distance. There is also the option of dancing without sight for a particularly mindful and intense connection. The workshop is designed as a Slowshop in the sense of a relaxed performance: a diversity-sensitive space that offers ample freedom, both physically and conceptually, to adapt to personal abilities, daily states of being, and needs. All impulses—through guidance as well as music—are invitations, not requirements. No prior experience is necessary, and participation is possible without a dance partner. Let's take it slow! 


Costs: 

For workshops with a participation fee, I kindly ask for a solidarity contribution – for a 1.5-hour workshop, I suggest between €10 and €40. Financial reasons shouldn't prevent you from participating – please feel free to contact me. Those who wish to give more will be supporting the participation of others and my work. Thank you!

Term


Cologne

  • New dates from May 2026


Bonn

  • April 21, 2026, 9th International Bonn Solo Dance Festival, 4-5:30 pm, Tanzgenerator Bonn, Studio 5


Contact

Feedback from participants

Dancing in the Dark: 

Participation is possible without a dance partner. Partners will form during the course. No prior experience is necessary for most sessions. Flat shoes that allow for good contact with the floor are recommended. Due to the mindful and consensual style of dance and the teaching methods, this concept is particularly suitable for people with the following backgrounds:

  • Blindness or visual impairment
  • Mild walking difficulties
  • Neurodivergent perceptions
  • Psychosocial or emotional challenges
  • Motor or physical limitations
  • Chronic pain and fatigue (ME/CFS)
  • Marginalized groups, such as queer or non-binary individuals
  • People without known limitations who want to experience partner dancing for the first time. 

Watch the WDR TV report on the project here.


Content: 

We dance with all our senses except sight. In doing so, we utilize and train our senses of touch and balance, hearing, as well as empathy and body awareness. Basic movements include weight shifts and slow walking. Physical proximity and touch are adapted to individual needs. All participants learn elements of leading and following, and partners rotate roles. It's possible to choose a role or partner, but changing roles and partners is a valuable learning experience for developing a deeper feel for the dance. In this slower pace, you can cultivate a mindful connection with your body and others, learning to dance through your body awareness. The class covers musicality, establishing a strong connection within the dance partnership, and elements of African-American blues dance. This slow dance offers ample space for individual expression. As an African-American dance, it emphasizes improvisation and provides a creative and profound connection between music, soul, body, and fellow dancers. Information for people with visual impairments: A pick-up service from the nearest bus or train stop is available upon request. Do you have questions or need a pick-up service? Please contact me. 


Cost: 

For workshops with a participation fee, I kindly ask for a solidarity contribution – for a 1.5-hour workshop, I suggest between €10 and €40. Financial reasons shouldn't prevent you from participating – please feel free to contact me. Those who wish to give more will be supporting the participation of others and my work. Thank you!

Term


Cologne

  • New dates 2026
Contact

Feedback from participants

Für mich war wirklich das Highlight, dass es keine falschen Schritte gibt. Das fand ich ganz großartig. Ich kenne das von der Tanzschule ganz anders. Aber man bewegt sich einfach zu der führenden Personen gegenüber gleich und in Harmonie und man kann gar nichts Falsches machen. Das hat mir unglaublich imponiert. Marisa (blind)
Mir geht's sehr gut. Deutlich entspannter als zu Beginn. Ich hatte sehr viel Spaß und würde es auf jeden Fall wiederholen. Mein Highlight war, wie sich meine wesentlich erfahrenere und sehende Tanzpartnerin darauf eingelassen hat, die Augen zuzumachen, mir die Führung zu lassen und wie gut es auch funktioniert hat. Manuel (sehbehindert)

Impressions of Dancing in the Dark

On February 2, 2025, Dancing in the Dark took place on the dance platform of the "Dance Worlds" exhibition at the Bundeskunsthalle. WDR (West German Broadcasting) was there and filmed for the local news programs in Bonn and Cologne. You can find the segment here in the WDR media library.


I also created a video of the first workshops (the video description follows below the link):

Video description:

The video shows footage of various formats of Dancing in the Dark. First, sighted people wearing blindfolds dance in a line, like a conga line, sensing the movements of the person in front of them. Then, two videos show people with and without visual impairments dancing in pairs. The people without visual impairments dance with blindfolds or closed eyes. The video ends with a recording of Marisa Sommer, a blind woman from the Cologne Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, dancing with me. Over the video, you hear a summary of Marisa's experiences in the class.

More background information on Dancing in the Dark

The project is led by Friederike Reif, a sighted person, experienced social worker, and dance instructor. With her "Dancing Together" concept from TanzBildung, she offers innovative approaches to partner dancing. The "Dancing in the Dark" project explicitly supports the diversity-sensitive and resource-oriented development and opening up of partner dance classes for people with various disabilities and limitations.

The pilot project was accompanied as part of her research semester for the Dance Studies Master's program at the University of Music and Dance.


Support

Financial and volunteer support is being sought for the project.

Could you imagine providing support to participants with visual impairments at the event venues? Professional training and information materials will be provided for this support.

Or could you or your institution financially support the project? As a self-employed individual with a severe disability, it is very difficult to obtain funding. I am grateful for any support!

Do you have questions and would like to get involved? Please contact me.

Weekend offers

SlowDance Retreat

Feed your soul!

Please note:

This format is currently in hibernation.

Do you want to be there when it starts again?

Feel free to subscribe to the newsletter.

🌿 Welcome to the SlowDance Retreat 🌿

Mindful dance, embodiment & deep connection

Do you long for a dance that moves not only your feet but also your heart? For touch that nourishes you and a place where you can simply be yourself?

Welcome to the SlowDance Retreat! Spend a relaxing weekend with a small group of like-minded people surrounded by nature (just an hour away from Cologne and Bonn) – with mindful partner dancing, embodiment elements, vegetarian full board and plenty of space for yourself.

What to expect

The SlowDance Retreat invites you into a world of slow dance – sensual, playful, mindful. Through Blues & Fusion Dance, we will explore mindful encounters as a couple and also dedicate ourselves to solo embodiment to connect you with your own body.


Each day gives you:

  • Hours full of dance and movement – alone & as a couple
  • Early bird rituals in nature
  • Shared meals in a loving atmosphere
  • Evening social dances – calm, connected, powerful
  • Gentle evening relaxation – arriving at yourself

Everything is optional – nothing is mandatory: You are free to listen to yourself at any time, take breaks, withdraw, or dance on the sidelines. We create a space where you can feel safe and free.


Who is this retreat for?

This weekend is for you if you:

  •  You have at least 1 year of experience in partner dancing or mindful body practices.
  • If you are looking for mindful, creative dance – beyond performance pressure and perfectionism
  • If you want to experience deep connection in dance (and beyond)
  • You long for a slower pace of life, nature, and a comforting community.
  • You long for relaxation without having to forgo music, movement & social interaction
  • You don't need a dance partner – openness is enough. We dance with rotating partners – respectfully and consensually. See the information about my partner dance concept for more details.

A safe space for you

We dance in a beautiful seminar house with light wooden floors, plants, and pleasant lighting – nestled amidst fields and forest. Autumn, with its slightly cooler air and colorful leaves, invites us to breathe deeply.

The dance studio is equipped for deep processes and relaxation: with mattresses, blankets, pillows, and everything you need to feel safe. You will be supported by an experienced and caring team (even during emotional processes).

Our daily structure invites you to follow your own needs: You can choose activities focused on more energy or more relaxation & self-discovery, as well as solo or couples. Depending on the weather, we offer various outdoor sessions.


Culinary & Logistics

  • 15 to max. 20 participants – for personal support and genuine connection
  • Vegetarian full board and tea and fruit bar - lovingly prepared
  • Overnight stay in the seminar house included - for optimal relaxation.
  • All content is taught in English, with German translation.
  • Friday to Sunday – including social dances, workshops, sharing and closing ritual


A weekend like coming home.

The SlowDance Retreat is not a dance festival or workshop: it is a safe, loving space where you can return to yourself – through music, touch, and movement. From emotional pain and longing to sensuality and joy – through dance you can connect with what nourishes your body and soul: Feed your Soul!


Subscribe to the newsletter if you would like to be informed about news.


You have no experience with blues, fusion, or slow dance?

There are some videos on my website, Facebook page, and Instagram. You can get in the mood musically with the following playlists:

Schedule (PDF)

  • Program

    A full-day retreat program awaits you: outdoors and indoors; with yourself, the music, as a couple, and in a group. High-quality dance classes and relaxation techniques will alternate. You can find introductory information about all the activities here. The specific details of each activity will be published in the schedule throughout the summer.


    Feeling good is allowed!

    All the activities this weekend are primarily one thing: activities. We invite you to try everything. If your body needs something different, then seek it out and do it. This could be different movements or, for example, creating the space you need – perhaps on the sidelines, in nature, or in your room. This weekend is for you, not against you.

    _____________________


    Early/Later Bird

    Here you can start your day with mindful physical exercises even before breakfast. Weather permitting, the Early Bird and Later Bird classes take place outdoors.


    Together

    Here you'll find content on technique, connection, and breathwork for couples dancing together. There are also sessions that include the use of eye masks.

    We explore the different facets of blues and fusion dance using African American and cross-genre partner dance principles.

    Don't worry if this is all new to you: You will receive invitations and appropriate guidance to help you settle in.

    A special focus is placed on the mindful connection within the dance partnership: Enjoyable dancing together is like a good, nonverbal conversation. Through a variety of exercises, we experience this intense connection, physical communication, and the necessary skills.


    Community Space

    This is a format that is tailored to your needs by, for, and with you. Together, we'll clarify what you're looking for: you can share your wishes, and we'll see what fits. You can also offer something yourself. This space allows for anything that can bring you relaxation and well-being—from dancing and massage to conversation, stretching, and embodiment techniques.


    Social Dance

    Every evening there's a relaxed social dance. Here you can immerse yourself in blues and fusion dancing and unwind together. The social dance has a set end time each day, determined by the group's needs. This way, we all get enough restful sleep, and you don't have to worry about missing out.


    Fancy Social Dance

    On the last evening, you're warmly invited to dress up – whatever that means to you. We're all meant to feel beautiful here and express that through a fitting outfit. Let's make the last evening truly special!


    Solo relax

    Dancing together can sometimes be quite exhilarating, leaving you feeling sluggish and unwinding immediately afterward. At the end of each day, we offer you the opportunity to connect with yourself and find inner peace.

  • Accommodation

    Double room with private bathroom

    Bring your own bathroom, towels and bedding: €115

    Single room with shared bathroom

    Bring your own sink, towels and bedding: €120

    Double room with shared bathroom

    Bring your own sink, towels and bedding: €100

    Triple room with shared bathroom

    Private sink, bookable only for groups of three, bring your own towels and bedding: €90


    Important:

    • If you want to be sure who you'll be sharing a double room with, book a single room or register with friends. The triple room can only be booked for a group of three.
    • There is no Wi-Fi.
      •

  • Catering

    High-quality vegan and vegetarian full board is included. Our chef Matti primarily uses seasonal organic ingredients.


    • Friday: Welcome snack & dinner
    • Saturday: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
    • Sunday: Brunch
    • During the day you can get drinks and help yourself to the tea and snack bar (fruit and pastries).

    Important:

    Please note that this event is drug-free. This also applies to alcohol.

  • Prices

    All inclusive!

    There are fixed prices for the program and meals, and various accommodation options. The total cost – depending on the room category – ranges from €355 to €380, or €285 to €330 with the early bird ticket/bring a friend discount.


    save money

    You can save money with Bring a friend, and for financial emergencies, TanzBildung offers prices based on a solidarity principle.

    Furthermore, payment in installments is possible with a down payment of €150. Feel free to contact me.


    • Bring a friend
      •

    Book together with friends and save money. If you register as a pair, you save €20 per person.


    • Early Bird
      •

    Register by August 1st and save €50!


    • Price based on the principle of solidarity
      •

    There are situations in life where financial resources are severely limited. Participating in a retreat can be a valuable form of respite during such times, but it can also exceed one's budget.

    Are you in a comfortable financial situation and would like to support others?

    Then pay a small or large sponsorship fee (€20 or €40) in addition to your chosen package.

    If you are on a tight budget, you can apply for a small or large discount (20 or 40 € less than your chosen package).


    Important:

    For every discounted solo ticket, a supporter ticket is required. Only then is your ticket guaranteed at a reduced price.

  • Teacher

    Friederike Reif (Frida)

    Since 1998, Friederike Reif has explored around 20 partner dances – from the World Dance Program to other Latin and African American dances, as well as contemporary partner dances. Her great passion lies with African American blues dance and fusion dance.

    As the founder of TanzBildung, she offers mindful and joyful approaches to partner dancing with 18 years of experience as a partner dance trainer in modern dance didactics.

    As a trained dance and movement educator and intercultural trainer, she integrates cultural and physical learning, as well as methods from dance and movement therapies into her teaching.

    She will soon complete her Master's degree in Dance Studies at the Cologne University of Music and Dance. Her research encompasses the history of partner dancing from 1900 to 1940, as well as the further development of partner dancing as an inclusive, intercultural, and social practice.

    Detailed information about her career and teaching concept can be found here.

    Here you can find Friederike on Instagram and Facebook:

    IG: dance.education

    FB: Dance Education


    Sarah 

    Sarah has been a passionate dancer since childhood. She has learned a wide range of dances, from belly dancing and ballroom dancing to Lindy Hop. Ultimately, it was the African-American blues dances that completely captured her heart and her dancing feet. It felt like coming home, as she grew up with blues and soul music.

    Sarah has danced her way through countless international festivals and workshop formats and has been teaching in Cologne since 2018. In 2019, she further professionalized her skills by completing the Blues Teacher Training with international blues greats Adamo and Vicci.

    Sarah meticulously prepares her teaching content and places particular emphasis on the connection to the African American roots of the blues.

    In her classes, she invites students to discover and explore their own body and expression of dance with curiosity.

  • Directions

    Address:

    Op de Hardt Conference Center

    Hardter Str. 9, 57632 Kescheid

     

    By car:

    From the direction of Cologne / Düsseldorf:

    A3 exit Bad Honnef / Linz

    Towards Asbach > Flammersfeld > Kescheid/Püscheid > Hardt

     

    From the direction of Frankfurt:

    A3 exit Neuwied / Altenkirchen

    Towards Flammersfeld > Kescheid/Püscheid > Hardt


    We will do our best to arrange carpooling opportunities for you.


    By public transport:

    By train: Altenkirchen train station (bus station and taxi service in front of the station)

    By bus: Flammersfeld bus station


    We can pick up up to three people from Eitorf train station (40 minutes from Cologne) or Altenkirchen.

  • Inclusion & Accessibility

    This weekend is also suitable for people who are visually impaired or physically challenged, but generally mobile (Post Covid/Vac, MS, ME/CFS, etc.).

    The scope of the offer is very open (see note under "Program") and includes many rest periods.

    The units primarily focus on body awareness, for which no visual skills are required.


    The single rooms are located on the ground floor, the double and triple rooms are on the 1st floor and the double rooms are on the 2nd floor (no elevator).

    There are 4 steps leading to the dance room.

    I have questions

  • Event regulations

    By registering, you agree to these event terms and conditions:

    • House rules of the seminar house: Street shoes are not allowed inside. Please bring slippers. You must bring your own bed linen (sheets and covers) and towels; these are not included in the daily rate. The house is non-smoking. Pets are not allowed. Drumming and loud music are only permitted in the group room and only with the windows and doors closed. It is not permitted outdoors under any circumstances. Fires are not allowed on the premises.
    • Tickets are non-refundable. With confirmation from TanzBildung, tickets are transferable to another person. Instructions and confirmations for ticket transfers will be provided by TanzBildung (kontakt@tanzbildung.info).
    • General regulations to be observed: Code of conduct, data protection regulations, and general terms and conditions.
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