Deepen Your Body’s Knowledge
DANCE as ART + BIOMECHANICS
BodyWAGGING is a dance-based training method that blends somatics, movement flow, contemporary dance, and contact improvisation. It highlights functional anatomy as a universal technical language for dancers and other movers.
Your body is not an arbitrary object. Its design implies certain movement pathways that support wellbeing down to the bones. Applying biomechanics principles to how you engage within an infinite movement realm such as dance is a way to practice internal alignment so that your artist self is supported by your technician self.
Internal Alignment includes:
skeletal joint alignment/centration
modulated tension in the myofascial web
efficient balance via body mass stacking
powerful movement via total body coordination
soft tissue hydration
supported, large ranges in muscles and joints
pleasure and ease in your dancing
and more…
As a Dance Teacher & Biomechanics Coach, I help people build new movement habits that support their artistic and soulful endeavors so that internal alignment becomes second-nature. Instead of focusing on aesthetics and appearance, we develop the skills, knowledge and sensitivity that supports health-promoting dance for years to come. From employed dancers to freelance performance artists to body-based professionals such as massage therapists and fitness instructors, people from many walks of life have encountered insights and inspirations within this work that have profoundly benefited their physical creativity and movement practices.
Looking for workshops? Check out the calendar.
Private Dance & Movement Coaching
I offer coaching in related approaches to dancing and dance-making. Reach out to set up an initial call or schedule our first session in:
Biomechanics and Dynamic Movement
Creative Movement & Choreography
Low Flow: Ground-Based, Full-Body Dancing
Contact Improvisation: Techniques, Philosophy, Art
Dance Training that Moves You
Classes, intensives, workshops and private instruction. Sebastian is known for cultivating accessible and informed learning environments so everyone can continue developing their movement capacity and meaningful relationship with body-based art.
Born and raised in California, Sebastian has been a professional dancer, choreographer and instructor since 2007. He has won awards, toured extensively as a performer, taught throughout the U.S. and in Europe, made film appearances and enjoyed numerous collaborations with other dancers and teaching artists. He is now based in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Awards & Residencies
IZZIE Winner: Isadora Duncan Dance Award for "Best Ensemble Performance" with James Graham
CHIME Award: a choreographic mentorship project of the Margaret Jenkins Dance Company
Guest Choreographer & Performer on "So You Think You Can Dance" (FOX TV)
Choreographic work "The Narrowing" selected as a Masterwork for P.S. ARTS organization in Los Angeles.
Selected Choreographer for Round Antennae artistic mentorship
Pilot Project Choreographer at ODC
Artistic Residency at The Garage, SF (multiple)
Teaching
Dance Teacher, 2006-2026: self-produced classes and workshops in the SF Bay Area, throughout California, in Canada and Europe; guest teacher at Whitman College, at Stanford University, at Sacramento State University, in Camp Contact at Burning Man, at the CounterPulse Contact Improvisation series, in the Bay Area Axis Syllabus Exchange, at Ecstatic Dance San Francisco & Oakland, at the West Coast Contact Improvisation Jam, in Berlin at the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Axis Syllabus, in the Nomadic College at Earthdance (Massachusetts), with AXIS Dance Company on tour throughout the U.S. and overseas, with Scott Wells & Dancers locally and on tour, and others
Certified Axis Syllabus Teacher (2011), contributor and editor of The Axis Syllabus book, 4th edition
Teaching Artist of physically integrated dance with AXIS Dance Company (2009-2022)
Co-Founder of Spiral Camp workshops and retreats with Shira Yaziv (2019)
Founder of AGILE BEAST movement education and integrated workout program (2018)
Choreography & Performance
Freelance Performer of Contemporary Dance Theatre 2007-2021
Principal Dancer with Scott Wells & Dancers (2008-2018)
Principal Dancer with AXIS Dance Company (2009-2015)
Performed and/or Collaborated with: Christine Bonansea, Marc Brew, Christine Cali, Sonya Delwaide, David Dorfman, Kim Epifano, Frey Faust, Sonsheree Giles, Joe Goode, James Graham, Keith Hennessey, Shinichi Iova-Koga, Kira Kirsch, Lenora Lee, Amy Lewis, Victoria Marks, ODC, Scott Wells and others
Dance Choreography for AXIS shown through the San Francisco Bay Area, in 8 U.S. States, and in Russia
Film Appearances: "Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World" by 20th Century Fox; "Call of Life" by Species Alliance; "I Was Within" by Jenny Stulberg; "Loop" by Jenny Stulberg & Sebastian Grubb; "Lives Beyond Motion" by Keith Glassman.
REVIEWS
"amazingly graceful”
-Paul Parish, Bay Area Reporter
"rocket-powered"
-Jordan Levin, Miami Herald
"sensational authority, speed and endurance"
-Allan Ulrich, SF Gate
"I love working with this man; it's like warp-speed, frictionless thinking"
-Frey Faust, Author & Founder of The Axis Syllabus
"amazing"
-Nigel Lythgoe, So You Think You Can Dance
RECENT DANCE TEACHING & MOVEMENT WORKSHOPS
Contact Improvisation Fundamentals
frequent classes, 2026 @ Forsøgsstationen in Copenhagen, Denmark
KINESPHERE: Axis Syllabus Deep Dive
with Sebastian Grubb & Miranda Janeschild & Marcus Van Duren
Jan 2-4, 2026 @ Santa Cruz, CA
Gentle Beasts & Dynamic Contact
December 20, 2025 @ Pacific Grove, CA
Spiral Weekend Berkeley
with Sebastian Grubb & Shira Yaziv
December 13-14, 2025 @ Berkeley, CA
Contact Impro Fundamentals
December 8, 2025 @ San Luis Obispo, CA
Contact Impro: No/Vision
December 1, 2025 @ San Francisco, CA
AGILE BEAST & Flying Contact
December 6-7, 2025 @ Santa Monica, CA
Contact Impro Fundamentals
November 11, 2025 @ Rört in Copenhagen, Denmark
Dynamic Range in Contact Improvisation
October 6-7, 2025 @ Gothenburg, Sweden
Dancing Anatomies: Axis Syllabus & Contact Impro
September 20, 2025 @ Forsøgsstationen in Copenhagen, Denmark
AGILE BEAST: Animals Within
September 6, 2025 @ Langeland, Denmark
part of Mand21 Mens Retreat
AGILE BEAST Groundwork: Integrated Strength at Every Age
Flight School: Dynamic Contact Improvisation
October 26, 2025 @ Petersborg in Hjortshøj, Denmark
AGILE BEAST: Poetics of Athletics
September 28, 2025 @ Rört in Copenhagen, Denmark
Spiral Camp Sweden
with Sebastian Grubb & Shira Yaziv
July 29 - August 3, 2025 @ Möllan Retreat in Åseda, Sweden
UNFOLDING FREEDOMS: Axis Syllabus & Contact Improvisation
with Dagmar Bock & Sebastian Grubb
March 28-30, 2025 @ TRIADE Tansforum in Hamburg, Germany
AGILE BEAST: Social Animals
March 23, 2025 @ Rört in Copenhagen, Denmark
AGILE BEAST & Flying Contact Intensive
February 24 - March 2, 2025 @ Lake Studios in Berlin, Germany
KINESPHERE: Axis Syllabus Deep Dive
with Sebastian Grubb & Miranda Janeschild
Feb 8-9, 2025 @ Santa Cruz, CA
Urban Spiral Weekend
with Sebastian Grubb & Shira Yaziv
Jan 24-26, 2025 @ Berkeley, CA
Contact Improvisation Fundamentals
frequent classes, 2025 @ Forsøgsstationen in Copenhagen, Denmark
AGILE BEAST: Social Animals
Healthy Relating through Contact Improvisation
with Maja Ejrnaes & Sebastian Grubb
December 30-31, 2024 @ Molkom, Sweden
part of the Ängsbacka New Years Retreat & Celebration
Vavoom! Dancing and Flying into Contact
with Sebastian Grubb & Scott Wells
November 8-10, 2024 @ Malmo, Sweden
BodyWAGGING / Integrated Movement & Dance
Guest teacher of Bodies of Empowerment
July 31, 2024 @ Joe Goode Annex, San Francisco, CA
BodyWAGGING / Axis Syllabus Dance Classes
April 3 - June 26, 2024 @ The Finnish Hall in Berkeley, CA
Spiral Camp Canada
with Sebastian Grubb & Shira Yaziv & Selena Labrooy
June 30 - July 6, 2024 @ Rhizome Springs, Salt Spring Island, Canada
Spiral Day Berkeley
Sunday, April 21st, 2024 @ Finnish Hall in Berkeley, CA
AGILE BEAST: Social Animals
March 10, 2024 @ Rort in Copenhagen, Denmark
BodyWAGGING / Axis Syllabus Dance Classes
January and February, 2024 @ The Finnish Hall in Berkeley, CA
Contact Improvisation for Ecstatic Dance
January 14 @ Sweets Ballroom in Oakland, CA
January 21 @ The Church of 8 Wheels in San Francisco, CA
Spiral Day Santa Cruz
with Sebastian Grubb & Shira Yaziv
January 28th, 2024 @ Santa Cruz, CA
Urban Spiral Weekend: Movement Intensive
with Sebastian Grubb & Shira Yaziv
December 8-10, 2023 @ Berkeley, CA
KINESPHERE: Axis Syllabus Dance Intensive & Teacher Co-Lab
with Sebastian Grubb & Others
October 27-29, 2023 @ The Finnish Hall, Berkeley, CA
Spiral Day: Movement Intensive
with Sebastian Grubb & Shira Yaziv
September 17th, 2023@ Berkeley, CA
BodyWAGGING / Axis Syllabus Dance Classes
September, 2023 @ Berkeley, CA
AGILE BEAST Workshop - Outdoor Series
August 19 & 26, 2023 @ Ohlone Park in Berkeley, CA
AGILE BEAST Flow - Online Series
July, 2023
Contact Improvisation
April 20, 2023 @ The Church of 8 Wheels in San Francisco, CA
April 30, 2023 @ The Church of 8 Wheels in San Francisco, CA
Urban Spiral Weekend
with Sebastian Grubb & Shira Yaziv
June 2-4, 2023 @ The Finnish Hall in Berkeley, CA
Contact Improvisation
Frequent Guest Teacher at Ecstatic Dance SF
2023 @ The Church of 8 Wheels in San Francisco, CA
Axis Syllabus: Movement & Dance In the Park
with Sebastian Grubb & Miranda Janeschild
September 3-5, 2022 @ Santa Cruz, CA
Spiral Day: Outdoor Movement Workshop
with Sebastian Grubb & Shira Yaziv
Sunday, July 31, 2022 @ Oakland, CA
Outdoor Axis Syllabus: Kinetic Architecture & Gravity Games
Sundays, July, 2021 @ San Francisco, CA
Spiral Day: Outdoor Movement Workshop
with Sebastian Grubb & Shira Yaziv
July 10, 2021 @ Oakland, CA
AGILE BEAST: Finesse Your Beast Mode
Online Live Video Course
May & June, 2020
How You Move: Understanding Biomechanics
Online Live Video Course
Wednesdays in April, 2020
"Shifting Tones": Axis Syllabus & Dance
February 19, 2020 @ Finnish Hall, Berkeley, CA
Contact Improvisation as Respect + Physics
February 2, 2020 @ Church of Eight Wheels, San Francisco, CA
Spiral Camp
with Sebastian Grubb & Shira Yaziv
January 17-20, 2020 @ Redwood Glen in Loma Mar, CA
ARCHITECTING: Building Physical Resilience in Contact Dancing
Saturday, September 21, 2019 @ 330 Melville Ave, Palo Alto, CA
Axis Syllabus + Dance: Build Ramps, Not Walls
Wednesdays in July, 2019 @ Finnish Hall, Berkeley, CA
BodyWAGGING: Shoulders and Spine
Movement Exploration Retreat
May 11-18, 2019 @ Costa Rica
Axis Syllabus + Dance
Wednesdays in February, 2019 @ Finnish Hall, Berkeley, CA
Spiral Camp
January 18-21, 2019 @ Redwood Glen, CA
Axis Syllabus + Dance
October and November, 2018 @ Finnish Hall, Berkeley, CA
Co-Kinesis: Dynamic Partnering and the Docking Zones
with Daniel Bear Davis and Sebastian Grubb
November 28 and 30, 2018 @ Finnish Hall, Berkeley, CA
AGILE BEAST: Meta Fitness Training
October 19 & 20, 2018 @ Finnish Hall, Berkeley, CA
Axis Syllabus + Contact Improv
Tuesdays in April and May, 6:30-8pm @ Counter Pulse in San Francisco, CA
AGILE BEAST: Whole Body Fitness
June 16-21, 2018 @ Earthdance in Massachusetts
A weeklong workshop on whole body fitness, equal parts Anatomy Nerd and Beast Mode.
part of the Nomadic College / Axis Syllabus Intensive
in.tension.ality : shifting tone
July 9-13, 2018 @ Finnish Hall, Berkeley, CA
part of BAASE: The Bay Area Axis Syllabus Exchange
BodyWAGGING : Harmonious Movement
Dec 16-17, 2017 @ Finnish Hall in Berkeley, CA
Low Flow & the Serpentine Spine
with Nuria Bowart & Sebastian Grubb
March 18-19, 2017 @ Finnish Hall in Berkeley, CA
2007-2017
extensive performance, choreography, teaching and touring throughout the U.S.
ARCHIVED…