Training Course
Healing Dance® 2
Healing Dance is a rhythmic journey where movement restores balance, awakens the soul, and sets the body free.
Healing Dance is a rhythmic aquatic journey where movement restores balance, awakens the soul, and liberates the body.
Immerse yourself in the healing embrace of water and discover movement in an entirely new dimension. Developed by Alexander George in 1993, Healing Dance is far more than a technique — it is an invitation to let go, to trust, and to be carried by the natural intelligence of water.
Through flowing waves, spirals, and expansive stretches, the body experiences profound lightness and release, while the mind softens into deep relaxation and presence.
Healing Dance 2 deepens and refines the foundations introduced in Healing Dance 1. This advanced training enhances sensitivity, fluidity, and embodied awareness in the water, supporting more seamless transitions and multidimensional movement. Practitioners cultivate greater precision, creativity, and confidence, transforming technical skill into intuitive aquatic artistry.
Healing Dance® 2
Healing Dance® II explores a fundamental question: How do we cultivate trust and gain access to the body at the very beginning of a session?
The answer unfolds through the trance-inducing Back Waves and through the refinement of our quality of touch. This training deepens the exploration of spatial mandalas introduced in Healing Dance® I, expanding beyond the waves to include the Spiral, the Figure Eight, and the Spiral Eight — enriching the practitioner’s three-dimensional vocabulary in water.
A strong emphasis is placed on bodywork integration. Participants receive a rich toolbox of massage techniques and stretches seamlessly woven into the fluid continuity of movement. The course presents the complete surface repertoire of Healing Dance®, alongside an entirely new collection of mini-sequences such as UpperBodyWork, The Starfish, Pegasus and Adonis, Easy Eights, and Klimt.
Healing Dance® II further develops the essential art of relating and mirroring, refining the practitioner’s ability to respond with sensitivity to the kinetic rhythms and emotional states of the receiver.
Participants receive a comprehensive written and photographic manual of the full sequence for continued study and integration.
This is the final core course within the Practitioner Certification pathway.
Duration: 50 hours over 6 days.
Prerequisite: Healing Dance® I
21- 26 SEPTEMBER
Intensive full-day training
POLYNESIA WATSU CENTER
Moorea – French Polynesia
Course Fee: 93,000 XPF
(including pool entry)
6-Day Course
50-Hour International WABA Certification
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Retreat Package: 65,000 XPF
This package includes :
● Lodging
● Lunch
● Snacks and water
Note: The retreat package is optional and not included in the course fee.
Inika Spence-Whaley
Senior instructor, teaching all the classes of Healing Dance
I am a senior instructor of Healing Dance® and teach all its core classes, as well as Watsu® I & II and Aquatic Contact Dance. I’ve been practicing aquatic bodywork since 1996, primarily at Harbin Hot Springs, where I worked as a Watsu, WaterDance, and Healing Dance practitioner. Since 1999, I’ve taught both Watsu and Healing Dance, accumulating over 2,800 hours of training and more than 4,500 hours of teaching.
In 2007, I studied Somatic Experiencing, a body-based trauma therapy that now informs my approach to aquatic work, creating a safe space for trauma to surface and gently release. Alongside Diane Tegtmeier, I co-teach Aqua Presence for Trauma, where Healing Dance plays a central role.
During my 20 years at Harbin, I served as Director of the Harbin School of Healing Arts, a massage school specializing in aquatic bodywork. After Harbin’s destruction in 2015, I relocated with my husband to the Big Island of Hawaii, where I continue to teach and offer sessions locally and internationally.
Water has been my element since childhood in Florida, building sandcastles, playing in waves, and later studying Marine Biology. I became a scuba diver in 1971 and worked as a dolphin communication researcher. My journey into aquatic bodywork began after a life-changing Watsu session at Harbin, and I’ve been immersed in it ever since.
Healing Dance became my modality after my first class with Alexander George in 1996. Its fluidity, grace, and therapeutic presence resonated deeply. Over the years, I’ve helped evolve the work, emphasizing relational presence and the healing power of movement and stillness.
My teaching blends experience as a therapist with practices in yoga, dance, tai chi, and meditation, offering students both grounded technique and fluid grace. I currently teach on the Big Island, throughout the Western U.S., and internationally in places like New Zealand, Australia, and Europe. When not in the pool, I love freediving, hiking, birdwatching, and exploring my creativity through abstract art.
POLYNESIA WATSU CENTER
Moorea Island (French Polynesia)
Located on the mystical island of Moorea, the Polynesian Watsu Center is nestled by the serene natural lake of Temae, within a nationally protected area rich in unique flora and fauna.
In 2022, we completed the construction of a 10-meter by 3.5-meter infinity pool, seamlessly integrated into the natural environment. This saltwater therapeutic pool serves as a dedicated space for various aquatic therapy practices, including educational programs and private sessions. The water temperature is maintained at approximately 33°C, creating the perfect setting for water-based therapies.
Our center is situated in the Temae area of Moorea, just five minutes from the iconic Temae Beach, near the golf club and the airport.
We also offer a spacious terrace of over 100 square meters, designed for land-based therapeutic activities and courses. Surrounding our center, you will find more than 100 different plant species, which we nurture with love and passion, ensuring harmony with the natural environment.
Healing Dance® 2:
Program course
Healing Dance® II – 50-Hour International Certification Course
Final Core Course on the WABA Practitioner Path
6-Day Immersive Training in Healing Dance®
Join us for a transformative 6-day program that brings you into the deeper refinement of Healing Dance®. This advanced course integrates precision, presence, and expanded movement vocabulary, guiding you into greater subtlety in aquatic bodywork. In this immersive setting, you’ll cultivate confidence, responsiveness, and mastery in the language of waves, spirals, touch, and relational flow.
Healing Dance® II provides 50 hours of credit toward the international WABA practitioner path and represents the final core course in the Practitioner Certification process.
Program Highlights
Each day is a journey into deeper sensitivity, strengthening your ability to establish trust at the beginning of a session, attune to your partner’s kinetic and emotional states, and create sessions that are fluid, grounded, and trance-inducing. You’ll practice in a focused learning environment where refinement, embodiment, and creative integration are emphasized.
The course builds upon foundational aquatic bodywork training, introducing:
- Trance-inducing Back Waves that cultivate trust and access to the body
- Expanded spatial mandalas including the Spiral, Figure Eight, and Spiral Eight
- A rich toolbox of integrated massage techniques and stretches woven into movement
- The complete surface repertoire with new mini-sequences such as UpperBodyWork, The Starfish, Pegasus and Adonis, Easy Eights, and Klimt
- Refined transitions that unify bodywork and flowing choreography
- Advanced relating and mirroring skills to sensitively respond to the receiver’s movement impulses and feeling states
- Participants receive a comprehensive written and photographic manual of the full sequence to support continued practice and integration.
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Course Objectives
During this training, participants will learn to:
Master the trance-inducing Back Waves and refine the quality of touch that establishes trust at the beginning of a session..
Expand the spatial mandala vocabulary with Spirals, Figure Eights, and Spiral Eights.
Integrate massage techniques and stretches seamlessly into fluid aquatic movement.
Refine body mechanics, transitions, and pool walking patterns for greater precision and ease.
Deepen the art of Relating and Mirroring to sensitively respond to the receiver’s kinetic and emotional states
Deliver the complete Healing Dance® surface repertoire, including new mini-sequences.
Cultivate grounded, responsive touch supported by breath awareness, weight transfer, and rhythmic flow.
Integrate skills through guided practice, repetition, video support, and constructive feedback.
SCHEDULE
● Day 1: 14:00 – 18:00
● Days 2 to 6: 09:00 – 18:00
(including a 1.5-hour break)
● Day 7: 07:30 – 12:00
(external activity-optional)
● Recreational Activities: Lagoon Tour & More
Benefits and
How a session works
A Healing Dance session offers deep relaxation, emotional release, and a profound connection with the body. The warm water supports fluid movement, relieving physical tension while calming the mind. Through gentle spirals, stretches, and still moments, the practitioner guides the body into a state of weightlessness and ease. The experience fosters a deep sense of release, allowing both physical and emotional renewal as movement and water blend harmoniously.
Before the session, the participant consults with the practitioner and takes a cleansing shower. In the pool, leg floats are fitted for support, and a short meditation helps transition into relaxation. As the session begins, the practitioner lifts the participant into the water, cradling their head and sacrum while guiding rhythmic movements in sync with their breath. The water acts as a partner, creating a sense of expansion and freedom. If an underwater session is chosen, a nose clip is provided, and careful breath signaling ensures a smooth and safe experience.
The session concludes with a gradual return to an upright position, allowing time to integrate the experience. The participant may share reflections or simply absorb the stillness. Each session is a unique and deeply personal journey, offering healing, release, and a moment of profound peace.
Psychological, Emotional, and Mental Effects
- Induces profound relaxation
- Cultivates joy, restoring your inner source of health, energy, and vitality
- Promotes deep states of gratitude and an ecstatic connection with life
- Strengthens relationships with yourself, your partner, family, and community
- Helps resolve past traumas related to water, birth, and near-drowning experiences
- Enhances mental clarity and focus, improving overall efficiency and inner calm
Physical Effects on the whole body
- Instills deep relaxation and stress relief
- Supports post-traumatic rehabilitation, aiding recovery from fractures and injuries
- Releases physical tension, promoting overall well-being
- Enhances body awareness, fostering a deeper connection with oneself
- Improves flexibility and range of motion
- Stimulates circulation and boosts the lymphatic system
- Relieves chronic pain and muscular stiffnes
Testimonials
What people say about our courses
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Who is this course for?
This course is for those who have successfully completed Healing Dance® I and wish to continue their professional and personal development within the Healing Dance® pathway. It is designed for practitioners ready to deepen their skills, refine their quality of touch, and expand their capacity to create fluid, responsive, and fully integrated sessions.
Do I need any previous experience to participate?
Yes. Completion of Healing Dance® I is required to enroll in Healing Dance® II.
How are the activities structured during the course?
Attending a Healing Dance class may be unlike anything you have ever experienced. It combines experiential learning in the water with cognitive learning on land. In the water you will learn by giving and receiving movements that form a sequence. On land you will review the material you practiced in the water, going over the details and asking any questions you have. Time is also devoted to sharing and exchanging grounding bodywork to balance the hours spent in the water. So, water time alternates with land time throughout the course.
What can I take home after the seminar?
After completing Healing Dance® II, you will be able to deliver the complete Healing Dance® surface repertoire with greater precision, fluidity, and confidence. You will have refined your ability to establish trust from the very beginning of a session through Back Waves and quality of touch, and expanded your movement vocabulary to include Spirals, Figure Eights, Spiral Eights, and integrated bodywork sequences.
You will gain deeper sensitivity in Relating and Mirroring, enhancing your capacity to respond to the receiver’s kinetic and emotional states with presence and clarity. Your transitions will feel more seamless, your body mechanics more efficient, and your sessions more cohesive and intuitive.
You will receive a detailed written and photographic manual of the full sequence to support your continued practice. The course provides 50 hours of credit toward WABA certification and completes the final core requirement on the path to becoming a certified Healing Dance® Practitioner.
Can I work professionally after this course?
Healing Dance® II is the final core course in the Practitioner Certification pathway and represents a major milestone in your professional development. However, completion of Healing Dance® II alone does not automatically grant full professional certification.
This training provides advanced mastery of the complete surface repertoire, integrated bodywork, refined transitions, and the relational skills essential for professional-level sessions. It completes the core curriculum (Healing Dance® I & II), which is required before applying for certification.
To become a certified professional practitioner, you must fulfill all additional requirements of the certification program, including practice hours and formal assessment. Healing Dance offers two professional certification tracks:
Surface Practitioner Certification
Underwater Practitioner Certification
These certifications are awarded by the Healing Dance Institute and are recognized by the Worldwide Aquatic Bodywork Association (WABA).
Healing Dance® II is therefore a decisive step toward professional recognition, equipping you with advanced tools, embodied confidence, and refined presence in the water — while full professional status requires completion of the entire certification process and official validation.