The History of Soul Motion

Soul Motion was developed in the 1990s by dancer and choreographer Vincent Martinez Grieco. After many years as a teacher and trainer for the 5-rhythms, modern dance and other dance forms, he designed a method that utilized dance as a vehicle to presence, embodiment and freedom.

Movement and stillness became equal components of the method. The aim was to become more aware, alive and connected to oneself and the world.

Soul Motion became more and more popular and thousands of dancers worldwide discovered this unique movement method for themselves.

Over the years, dancers have increasingly wished to deepen this meditation practice and pass it on themselves. In 2007 Zuza Engler and Vincent founded the Soul Motion School. Vincent began to invite some of the most experienced Soul Motion teachers to join the training faculty. Michael Molin Skelton (USA) joined, followed by Aletia Alvarez (USA), Edgar Spieker (Germany) and Winky Wheeler (USA). In 2020, Doreen Tönjes (Germany) joined the team. Several more teachers lent their expertise in advancing the existing program. Since 2007 more than 300 dancers were trained by the Soul Motion School.

In 2020, the Soul Motion School closed. Vincent decided to give up teaching Soul Motion and his involvement in the trainings. He released Soul Motion to the community, combined with the wish that Soul Motion would continue to develop as an organic and no longer centrally organized method.

The faculty teachers Michael Molin Skelton, Edgar Spieker, Winky Wheeler and Doreen Tönjes decided to further develop the Soul Motion trainings and create offerings for people who want to deepen their experience with Soul Motion or pass it on to others. In 2021 the Soul Motion Institute was founded by Edgar and Doreen with the intention of creating a stable foundation for future training courses.

Other Soul Motion teachers have also followed their impulse to develop their own trainings.

In order to maintain Soul Motion as a method in the long term from a legal perspective, Vincent Martinez Grieco transferred the trademark rights to Soul Motion to the Soul Motion Institute in 2024.