What is Mettler-based Dance?

It is dance work which is strongly influenced by the principles developed by Barbara Mettler and which draws heavily upon her methods and materials. The designation "Mettler-based" distinguishes the work of Mettler’s students and their students from the work of Barbara Mettler herself.

Mettler understood the limitations of a body of work being taught in imitative fashion by people with little understanding of its meaning. She taught that dance teaching is a creative endeavor, an expression of one’s inner life. Each person’s approach is unique, although principles of dance can be generalized. Therefore, Mettler’s life was dedicated to investigating and teaching principles, methodology, and materials of dance in a way that could be separated from her own personal style. Her desire was that her students would absorb the meaning of the work, make it their own, and share it with others in their own way. The term "Mettler-based’ acknowledges the influence of Barbara Mettler without claiming to own or reproduce her work.

In this spirit, there is no certification in Mettler-based dance work. Each resource person listed here is a member of IACD whose work has been influenced by Mettler’s principles and teaching methods. We have provided information on each person’s background in this approach to creative dance.

If you have difficulty reaching a resource person or need further information click here resources@dancecreative.org