What is Chakra Dance?
Chakra Dance is a contemporary movement meditation practice that combines free-form dancing, chakra-specific music, guided imagery, and mandala art to activate and balance the seven major chakras (energy centers) of the body. Practitioners dance with eyes closed in dimly lit spaces, allowing spontaneous movement to emerge in response to music composed to resonate with each chakra’s unique vibrational frequency. Unlike structured dance classes with choreography, chakra dance meaning centers on inner experience rather than external performance—a somatic journey through the body’s energy system aimed at releasing stored emotions, healing trauma, and reconnecting with one’s authentic self.
The practice draws on the ancient Indian chakra system discovered over 4,000 years ago, combined with principles from Jungian psychology, which views the chakras as a map for the “individuation process”—the journey toward psychological wholeness. Carl Jung was among the first Western thinkers to integrate chakra philosophy into therapeutic work. In chakra dance, each of the seven chakras—from the root (muladhara) at the base of the spine to the crown (sahasrara) at the top of the head—is explored through distinct musical soundscapes and archetypal movement patterns. The root chakra, for example, uses tribal drumming and earthy rhythms to evoke grounding and survival instincts, while the third eye chakra employs hypnotic, high-frequency tones to access intuition and inner vision.
Origins & Lineage
Chakradance was founded in London in 1998 by Sydney-born Natalie Southgate, who combined her training and expertise in dance, in psychology, and in chakra healing, to create this new fusion of ancient wisdoms. By 1998 she was also studying Jungian psychology at London’s Society for Analytical Psychology and Healing. In September 1998 her first Chakradance™ workshop was held in the Amadeus Centre in London.
Southgate developed the practice from her own personal exploration: while working in London’s recruitment industry in the late 1990s, she began dancing alone at home as a form of meditation, intuitively selecting music that resonated with different chakra centers. Dancing by herself at home one night the word Chakradance came into her mind. She began inviting friends to her office after work, and interest grew organically. In November 2004 Natalie was invited by Deepak Chopra to California to lead classes of Chakradance™ during his weeklong seminar called “Seduction of Spirit”.
The method formalized a structure: each class explores one or more chakras through a sequence of guided meditation, spontaneous dance to chakra-specific music, and mandala drawing to integrate the experience. She has trained hundreds of accredited Facilitators who are now running Chakradance classes in over 40 countries. Southgate published Chakradance: Move Your Chakras, Change Your Life through Hay House in 2018, and created audio programs through Sounds True.
The broader category of chakra dance existed before Southgate’s branded method—tribal and shamanic cultures have long used dance to commune with spiritual forces and heal. Cultures from every continent have embraced some form of religious or spiritual dancing. In ancient Shamanic practice, dance was used to commune with the Spirits, whilst in Ancient Egypt there were certain ritual dances that were crucial to the successful outcome of religious rites. The Tantric Buddhists of Nepal have an ancient dance tradition known as Charya Nritya, a Sanskrit term meaning ‘dance as a spiritual discipline’. What Southgate created was a contemporary, accessible framework anchored in the chakra map and Jungian depth psychology.
How It’s Practiced
In a darkened room, lit only by candle-light, we move to music created to resonate with the vibrations of each of our 7 major chakras. We dance with our eyes mainly closed, and our attention turned inwards, for unlike most other dance practices, Chakradance™ is about making a connection with our inner world – the world of our imagination, feelings, intuition and senses.
A typical session includes:
- Opening meditation or centering to transition from outer to inner awareness
- Guided visualization specific to the chakra being explored (e.g., imagining roots growing from the feet for the root chakra, or visualizing an open throat for expression)
- Free-form dancing to chakra-resonant music (15–30 minutes per chakra), with no steps to learn—movement arises spontaneously
- Mandala art creation using pastels on black paper to anchor insights and emotions that emerged during the dance
- Optional sharing circle where participants can speak about their experience
The process of Chakradance involves letting the movements emerge spontaneously as you surrender to the music of each chakra. It feels like entering into a waking dream. Participants report seeing imagery, recalling memories, feeling emotions, or experiencing physical sensations related to each chakra. Music is central: The music has all been composed to resonate with each of the seven chakras. For example, the music for the base chakra vibrates with the frequency of red and is earthy, raw, and primal. Didgeridoos, tribal beats, and chants call you to connect to your instincts and your ancestors.
Classes are offered in various formats: single workshops focused on one chakra, 7-week or 9-week cycles moving through all seven chakras sequentially, weekend intensives, online courses, and at-home audio programs.
Chakra Dance Today
As of 2026, chakra dance has expanded beyond Southgate’s trademarked Chakradance™ method. Certified Chakradance facilitators lead classes worldwide—from urban studios in London, New York, and Sydney to retreat centers in Bali and Costa Rica. Sounds True, DailyOM, and The Shift Network host online courses. Independent teachers blend chakra dance principles with other modalities like somatic therapy, ecstatic dance, and yoga.
The practice appears in wellness retreats, women’s circles, trauma recovery programs, cancer survivor support groups, and corporate wellness offerings. Some practitioners incorporate belly dance, Afro-Indigenous movement, or freestyle elements into chakra-focused sessions. The term “chakra dance” now describes both Southgate’s specific method and a broader genre of movement meditation aimed at balancing the chakras.
Seekers typically encounter chakra dance through:
- Weekly drop-in classes at yoga studios or holistic centers
- Multi-week immersions or facilitator trainings
- Home practice via audio/video programs (e.g., Southgate’s 7 Keys to Freedom DVD and CD)
- Festival and retreat workshops
- Online platforms like Zoom-based global circles
Common Misconceptions
It is not choreographed dance. There are no steps to memorize, no “correct” movements. Skill level or prior dance training is irrelevant. CHAKRADANCE is not about steps or performance. It’s more like a dynamic, moving meditation. It’s about freedom of expression; there is no right way to CHAKRADANCE as everyone has his or her own rhythm and movement. There is no specific choreography to learn, and it doesn’t matter if you’re not a trained dancer.
It is not exercise for fitness. While physical movement occurs, the goal is energetic and emotional release, not calorie burn or muscle toning.
It is not a quick fix. Though participants report immediate shifts, deeper healing often unfolds over repeated sessions. Trauma is something that often people think, ‘I’m going to have to be in therapy for decades, and this is very complicated to work through, and here on Insights at the Edge, Natalie Southgate, who’s created Chakradance, is saying that it’s possible actually that I might be able to dance out some of my traumas.’ Southgate and facilitators emphasize this as one tool among many, not a replacement for medical or psychological care.
It is not religious. The chakra system originates in Hindu and yogic traditions, but contemporary chakra dance is practiced by people of all backgrounds as a somatic, psychological, and energetic practice—not as worship.
It is not ecstatic dance. While both involve free movement, ecstatic dance is typically louder, more social, and rhythmically varied. Chakra dance is quieter, eyes-closed, internally focused, and structured around the seven-chakra framework.
How to Begin
For those exploring what is chakra dance or seeking chakra dance for beginners:
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Find a local class or facilitator. Visit chakradance.com to locate certified facilitators. Many yoga studios, wellness centers, and holistic practitioners offer introductory workshops.
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Try an at-home audio program. Southgate’s Chakradance: Move Your Chakras, Change Your Life book (Hay House, 2018) includes guidance for home practice. Her 7 Keys to Freedom audio series provides music and visualization for each chakra.
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Explore general chakra dance online. Platforms like Udemy, DailyOM, and YouTube host chakra dance meditations and tutorials from various teachers. Look for sessions that emphasize spontaneous movement, chakra-resonant music, and inner focus.
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Create your own practice. Dim the lights, play music associated with a specific chakra (search “root chakra music” or “heart chakra meditation music”), close your eyes, and allow movement to arise without judgment. Conclude by drawing or journaling.
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Attend a retreat or intensive. Immersive experiences deepen the practice and provide community support.
No prior dance experience, flexibility, or “spiritual” background is required. The invitation is simply to move, feel, and listen inward.