Held at the renowned Esalen Institute, Big Sur, California 

Artists & Musicians, Jahan Khalighi and Miles Lassi

Throughout time, movement, dance, and the expressive arts have provided individuals and communities with a means of soulful expression, healing, and connection with the spirit. This workshop will generate opportunities for participants to find such meaning connected with the real issues in their lives. Held at Esalen.

This workshop is designed for everyone. No previous experience in dance/art needed.

Art materials provided.

Daria Halprin, MA, REAT, RSMT: co-founding director of Tamalpa Institute, dancer, poet, teacher, and author, is among the leading pioneers in the field of movement/dance and expressive arts education and therapy. Her work bridges the fields of somatic psychology, movement/dance therapy, expressive arts therapy, community-based arts and health education, organizational consultancy, leadership development, social change and performance. Bringing a life-long practice in the arts to her work, published writings include: Coming Alive; The Expressive Body in Life, Art and Therapy; contributing author Expressive Arts Therapy: Principles and Practices; Poesis: Essays On the Future of the Field; and Body Ensouled, Enacted and Entranced. 

The Dance Heritage Coalition has named Anna Halprin one of “America’s 100 Irreplaceable Dance Treasures.” Her diverse career has spanned the field of dance since the late 1930s, creating revolutionary directions for the art form and inspiring fellow choreographers to take modern dance to new dimensions. A dance innovator, she was an early pioneer in the use of movement/dance as a healing art. She founded the groundbreaking San Francisco Dancer’s Workshop in 1955 and the Tamalpa Institute in 1978 with her daughter Daria Halprin. She is the author of several books, and has numerous dance works documented on film, most notably Breath Made Visible by director Ruedi Gerber.

Jahan Khalighi is a poet, spoken word artist, educator, musician and activist, weaving social justice and art. A teacher for the innovative June Jordan Poetry For The People program at UC Berkeley and Chabot College, a teaching poet artist for California Poets In The Schools and at Tamalpa Institute, his original poetry is published in the anthology “Stay Amazed” and on Whoa Nelly Press. He has performed on national and international stages at national slam festivals, YBCA, The Lyon Museum, Venice Biennale, Watershed Poetry Festival, SF LitCrawl, La 

Miles Lassi has performed in over 150 cities throughout North America, Europe and Asia with many different ensembles ranging from the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall to the national tour of Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage. As a session musician, Miles has recorded for producers Sean C and LV (P. Diddy’s Hitmen) for artists including Talib Kweli, Miguel, Fabulous, Bun B, and Jadakiss. He has also worked with Grammy award winning producers Om’Mas Keith, Corte Ellis, Jack Vad and Tony award winner Peter Schneider. . He composed the percussion score for David Rhymer’s musical Mata Hari in 8 Bullets for the 10th New York Musical Festival and developed parts for Rockstar Games Grand Theft Auto V Live Concert at the 51st New York Film Festival. 

For more information and to register for the workshop please visit

The Esalen Institute Calendar