In August 2023, youth workers from across Europe joined an Erasmus+ training course called “Dance for Inclusion – Empowering Youth through Movement”, held in Golden Sands, Bulgaria. This international project brought together people who work with young people in different countries to explore how dance can be used to support inclusion, intercultural understanding, and personal growth. The training mixed creativity with social topics, and gave youth workers new tools to bring back to their local communities. One of the participants was a youth worker from Germany, representing the NGO Copernicus Berlin, who joined the project to better understand how to support diverse youth through art and movement.
In Germany, especially in May 2023, many youth workers were concerned about growing social problems in their communities. Young people from different cultural backgrounds were feeling excluded from activities, schools, and public life. There were more and more discussions about integration, but many young people still felt left out. Youth with migration backgrounds often faced stereotypes, and some had low self-confidence because of language barriers or experiences of discrimination. Mental health was also becoming a big problem. Many young people reported feelings of loneliness, stress, and anxiety. For youth workers in Berlin, it was becoming clear that traditional programs were not enough. They needed creative and emotional methods to truly connect with young people and help them feel seen, heard, and included.
When the youth worker from Copernicus Berlin arrived in Bulgaria for the training, it was immediately clear that this would be a different kind of learning experience. The course was not held in a classroom but in dance spaces and open environments. Every day started with movement. Participants danced together, not just to learn steps, but to feel safe, express themselves, and share emotions. The trainers encouraged everyone to reflect on their own stories, cultures, and identities—and to express them through dance.
One of the most powerful moments came during a workshop on gender equality. Participants created short dance performances that showed their feelings about how gender roles affect young people in their countries. Through these artistic expressions, they learned how dance could become a language for difficult topics. For the youth worker from Germany, this was a completely new way of approaching social issues. Dance was not just art—it was dialogue. Another eye-opening experience was the exchange between participants. People from different backgrounds—Roma communities, migrants, LGBTQ+ youth, and others—shared how they use dance in their own countries to break barriers and build trust.
The training also included local actions. In one session, participants visited a community center where Bulgarian youth were learning traditional dances. This inspired many to think about the importance of preserving culture while promoting inclusion. The training encouraged participants to think not only about performances, but about participation—how everyone can join, move, and feel part of something. These moments made a strong impact. For the youth worker from Berlin, it became clear that back home, many young people needed exactly this kind of space: a safe place to move, express, and belong.
After the training in Bulgaria, the youth worker returned to Berlin with a new idea. Inspired by the Erasmus+ project, they decided to launch a small dance-based inclusion program for local youth in the Neukölln district, an area with many diverse communities and challenges. The project was called “Move&Connect”. It was a weekly dance workshop open to all youth, especially those from migrant backgrounds or facing social exclusion. But this was not a typical dance class. Each session started with a group circle, where young people could talk about how they felt. Then, they used movement exercises to express those feelings. At the end of each month, the group created a short dance story based on a topic important to them—bullying, identity, or dreams for the future.
The youth worker also used some methods from the Erasmus+ training, like using traditional dances from different cultures to build respect and curiosity. Young people were invited to share dances from their countries, and everyone learned together. This promoted intercultural understanding in a way that felt fun and natural. Another key part of the program was reflection. After each dance activity, participants talked about what they had learned—not only about dance but about each other.
The impact of the “Move&Connect” project was very positive. Many of the participants said they felt more confident after the sessions. They made new friends, learned to express themselves, and said they felt less alone. One girl from Syria said it was the first time in years that she felt truly part of a group. Teachers from local schools also noticed a change. Some youth who were shy or had behavior problems in class became more open and focused after joining the program. The project was even noticed by a local youth center, which offered to help make it bigger. Thanks to this support, the workshops continued during the autumn and reached even more young people.
The dance program also inspired other youth workers in Berlin. The organizer shared the methods from the Erasmus+ training with colleagues and presented the experience at a local conference on inclusion. Some schools and NGOs started to ask how they could use similar activities in their own programs. Slowly, the idea of using movement for inclusion started to spread. The project even contributed to a small local policy change. The district’s youth office agreed to support more non-formal education projects that use arts and creativity to fight exclusion. This showed that even a small idea can create real change.
Looking ahead, the experience of this Erasmus+ training and the local project in Berlin proved something important: young people have the power to change the world around them. But they need safe spaces, support, and creative ways to express themselves. Dance may seem simple, but it can be a powerful tool for connection, healing, and learning. When youth workers are given the chance to grow, exchange, and explore new tools—like in the "Dance for Inclusion" project—they can bring back ideas that truly matter.
The youth worker from Copernicus Berlin now believes more strongly than ever in the power of youth work and international exchange. The vision is not only about dancing together. It is about moving toward a world where all young people feel valued, included, and empowered to take part in society. The long-term dream is to create more programs like “Move&Connect” across Germany and beyond, so that every young person, no matter their background, has a chance to move freely—not just on the dance floor, but through life, with strength and confidence.