1. Power-with
In biodanza, facilitators often encourage a power-with dynamic by creating a safe and supportive space for participants to express themselves freely. They facilitate group cohesion, fostering a sense of shared power and interconnectedness.
2. Power-over
In biodanza, it is essential for facilitators to be mindful of not imposing their own agenda, beliefs, or control on participants. Instead, they should aim to create an empowering environment where participants can explore their own unique expressions and experiences autonomously.
3. Power-to
In biodanza, facilitators strive to empower participants by encouraging self-expression, self-discovery, and personal growth. By nurturing individual strengths and potential, facilitators help participants tap into their own power-to transform and create positive change in their lives.
4. Power within
Biodanza promotes the cultivation of self-awareness and self-empowerment. It encourages individuals to tap into their inner resources to make positive changes in their lives. By engaging in movement, music, and heartfelt connections, participants can tap into their personal power within, promoting emotional well-being and self-confidence.
5. Empowerment
Empowerment in biodanza lies in facilitating the growth, autonomy, and self-determination of participants. Facilitators aim to create an environment where individuals feel supported, valued, and capable of making choices that align with their desires and aspirations. They encourage participants to take ownership of their experience, fostering a sense of empowerment and active engagement.
Empowerment, both at an individual and collective level, promotes self-advocacy, and the ability to effect positive change. It is important to recognize and challenge power-over dynamics, striving for justice, equality, and the empowerment of all individuals.
Understanding and engaging with these different forms of power can help shape relationships, organizations, and communities in more equitable and inclusive ways. By fostering power-to and power-with dynamics, we can work collaboratively, respecting one another's agency and contributing to collective well-being.
power dynamics within the Biodanza community
Regarding power dynamics within the broader biodanza community, it is important to note that cooperation is typically encouraged over competition. Biodanza is built on the principles of unity, empathy, and collaboration. While there may be instances of individual ambition, differences of opinion, or particular cases of facilitators or directors failing to walk their talk, the emphasis is always on fostering mutual respect, shared learning, and the collective growth of the community.
In the relationship between the International Biodanza Federation (IBFed) and didactic facilitators who wish to open a school, it is essential to maintain open channels of communication and collaboration. The IBFed aims to serve as a guiding body that provides support, guidance, and quality standards for biodanza schools worldwide. While there may be some unfortunate cases of existing directors trying to block the opening of new schools in order to minimise competition, for others the emphasis is on promoting access to the benefits of biodanza by collaborating with colleagues to help grow biodanza in their respective countries and worldwide.
Overall, at least in theory, in biodanza the aim would be to create a balance of power that respects individual autonomy, promotes collaboration, and fosters personal and collective growth. By working together and fostering power-with, power-to, power within, and a sense of empowerment, existing IBFed school directors can cultivate relationships with didactic teachers ad facilitators that are truly based on mutual support, respect, and the joy of authentic human connection, thus ensuring the integrity and dissemination of biodanza in a cooperative and harmonious manner.