About the 5Rhythms®
The 5Rhythms is a spiritual practice developed by New Yorker Gabrielle Roth, encompassing five fundamental movement rhythms: Flowing, Staccato, Chaos, Lyrical, and Stillness.
​A "wave" is a sequential sequence of these rhythms, allowing for a journey through various physical and emotional states. During a 5Rhythms wave, you can dance freely without prescribed steps. It's not about learning a specific form or technique but exploring your own movement patterns. A wave offers you the opportunity to express your unique dance without right or wrong.
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Being embodied means feeling at home in your body. Feeling connected to your body in a safe manner. It's about the increased ability to be in your body in the present moment and to feel all of its sensations, giving space to your feelings or the state you're in.
Automatically, this helps to reduce stress, recharge energy and ideally brings about a state of ease and joy. Sometimes, it's challenging and you may feel uncertain or uneasy. That's entirely normal, even for experienced dancers. It is what it is, and we move through it!
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Through regular practice, repeatedly surrendering to dance, we not only attain expanded body awareness but also free ourselves more and more from the identification with our emotions. Both combined inevitably lead to spiritual growth. And it's really that simple: Anyone willing to engage in guided movement with music can join in immediately.
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Each wave is unique. Overall, all inputs are aimed at supporting you in exploring your body and your being, while also allowing you the freedom to do as you please, as long as you don't cross someone else's boundaries.
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At Euphorica we gather as one community of 5Rhythms dancers — welcoming both long-time movers and those stepping onto the dance floor for the very first time. Together we follow the red thread of Flowing, Staccato, Chaos, Lyrical and Stillness, opening space for connection, presence and joy.
Euphorica is Austria’s international 5Rhythms® festival — four days of movement, discovery and celebration. Come dance with us, meet kindred spirits from near and far, and feel the beauty of being part of this living community.
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Heartbeat Sessions
In the 5Rhythms practice, Heartbeat explores how our emotions move through the body. These sessions invite us to dance with feelings like fear, anger, sadness, joy and compassion — allowing them to be expressed and transformed through movement. At the festival, sessions marked as Heartbeat will offer this deeper level of emotional exploration within the dance.
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"If you want to give birth to your true self, you are going to have to dig deep down into that body of yours and let your soul howl. Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith and trust that if you turn off your head, your feet will take you where you need to go."
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Gabrielle Roth
Gabrielle Roth (1941–2012) was a dancer, musician, author, and spiritual teacher best known as the founder of the 5Rhythms movement practice. Born in San Francisco, Roth began her career as a dancer at a young age, studying various forms of dance, including traditional and modern techniques.
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In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Roth delved into the counterculture movement, exploring alternative lifestyles and spiritual practices. She traveled extensively, studying with shamans, healers, and spiritual teachers around the world, which profoundly influenced her approach to dance and movement.
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Inspired by her diverse experiences and seeking a more holistic and liberating form of dance, Roth developed the 5Rhythms in the late 1970s. Drawing from her background in dance, psychology, and spiritual exploration, the 5Rhythms practice emerged as a dynamic movement meditation practice aimed at integrating body, mind, and spirit.
The 5Rhythms – Flowing, Staccato, Chaos, Lyrical, and Stillness – form the core elements of Roth's movement philosophy. Each rhythm represents a different energetic quality and invites participants to explore a range of physical and emotional states through spontaneous and intuitive movement.
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Throughout her life, Roth dedicated herself to sharing the transformative power of the 5Rhythms with people from all walks of life. She founded the Moving Center School in New York City and trained numerous teachers worldwide to carry on her legacy. Her teachings have touched countless individuals, inspiring them to connect with their bodies, unleash their creativity, and awaken their potential for healing and self-discovery.
Gabrielle Roth's impact extends far beyond the realm of dance, influencing diverse fields such as therapy, personal growth, and spiritual practice. Her innovative approach continues to resonate with people seeking authenticity, expression, and connection in their lives.
Watch Gabrielle on youtube!