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Stefan Freedman
is internationally celebrated as a choreographer, delivering themed circle dance and embodied movement workshops worldwide. When in the UK, he works closely with Suffolk charities Inside Out and Karibu, providing inclusive, accessible movement and music programmes for vulnerable adults. A decade of focused study in trauma and embodiment enriches his innovative frontline work.
Stefan is a passionate advocate of dance and music...
as medicine. He uses the term ‘the invisible dance’ to emphasise the many ways that dance enlivens feelings, senses and imagination, accompanying the visible movements. Circle dancing plays a key role as a flexible resource bank. Stefan creates and tailors accessible dances to support regulation, connection, and healing across many settings.
Stefan’s book Dance Wise features new research on the benefits of dancing to a range of groups including young people in conflict with the law, addiction recovery and groups who have lived through traumatising events. The Dancewise project, of which Mood Moves is a part, applies somatic exercises to ease multiple challenges within a joyful dance/movement format.
Stefan holds an honours degree in Social Anthropology, reflecting a lifelong interest in multiple perspectives, culture, and human experience. After postgraduate teacher training and a first career in school teaching, Stefan deepened his psychological and relational training through studies in Psychosynthesis, Voice Dialogue, Nonviolent Communication (NVC), and embodied spiritual practice. These inform his trauma-aware, person-centred approach to movement and facilitation.
Stefan is an avid researcher
and his dance training is wide-ranging, including Greek, Balkan, Israeli, Palestinian and Roma traditional dance, Cuban Salsa, Brazilian Forró, Dominican Bachata, and Biodanza. He continues to study annually on Paros, Greece. His group facilitation spans circle dance for adults receiving mental health support, creative movement for children and families, and expressive, therapeutic movement for diverse community groups.
Stefan is known for internationally acclaimed choreography that explores a wide emotional range, using music and movement to evoke belonging, connection, and shared humanity. His work bridges the joyful and the profound, inviting participants into both vitality and depth.
A multi-instrumentalist, Stefan plays accordion, melodeon, piano, guitar, darabouka, wooden flute, and mandolin. He has written songs for two Edinburgh Fringe shows, a London-touring children’s production The Elephant of My Heart, and original music used in somatic and pro-peace dance contexts.
In partnership with salsa-trained Judith Atkins, Stefan co-created Move To The Rhythm, a series of expressive dance workshops blending Latin influences with personal development. These workshops, held across Suffolk, combine playful energy with depth, supporting embodied presence and emotional expression.
Stefan’s ongoing vision is to contribute to the evolving field of embodied trauma release while also addressing perceived divisions in society.
