Biodanza in Medellín (May 25, 2026)
When I met with Santiago Bravo (see related post) for the first time in real life, it was an emotionally moving experience. Here is a friend I’ve known for more than 6 years telling me about his miraculous recovery from an extremely rare form of Cancer primarily using a form of dance called Biodanza. This allowed him to both survive and thrive after the delivery of a more than 5 pound tumor (about the size of a newborn).
While Santiago Bravo introduced me to Biodanza conceptually, today I had my first official class. It was a new and surreal experience with my bilingual teacher, Leticia Ospina. I really enjoyed this kind of experience and am grateful for the opportunity to share what it was like.
My new friends in Medellín who introduced me to Biodanza in Spanish
My friend and guide, Felipe, drove me there and we arrived about 30 minutes early to make sure I didn’t miss the initial instructions. About the same time, I met my teacher, Leticia Ospina, who was celebrating her 60th birthday today and is the one holding the flowers pictured above. She’s currently retired and formerly was a university teacher focusing on language skills. She taught English and Spanish.
She was willing to provide all the instructions today in English. However, I told her to only focus on any instructions that were particularly important. Otherwise, I would do what Santiago suggested to me over breakfast. Specifically, to allow my non-verbal skills to authentically connect with the community of dancers who would demonstrate by doing rather than talking about it.
Today’s theme was all about embodying tiger characteristics.
After a brief introduction, we took our seats in a circle and reflected on a question. This was one of only two times in the 2-hour class that Leticia Ospina translated the instruction into English for my benefit. “What characteristic comes to mind when you think about the movement of a tiger?”
I asked Leticia (who’s name means “Joy” in Spanish) to translate my answer back into Spanish so that others could understand my answer. Which was:
I believe the core characteristic of the tiger is the Korean word Pyongyang (피안양), or “Peaceful Confidence.” A tiger is full of power and yet it rarely needs to show its power. The power is there when the tiger needs it. The tiger knows it can handle any situation, so it walks with it’s head held high and exemplifies peaceful confidence.
And so it continued as each participant shared their recognition of various characteristics. Some focused on power (or fuerza in Spanish), others focused on the protection (or protección) like a mother protecting her cubs. Each person shared their characteristic and why it was meaningful for them.
Let’s Dance … in Biodanza!
Once all were finished with the cognitive exercise, we stood up and held hands in a circle. This was the only other time Leticia instructed me in English. She shared, “We always begin our circle dance moving to the right … together as a unit.”
And so it was. The rhythmic music was primal. No question when to stomp your bare foot on the ground (thereby literally grounding ourselves to the music). The first song was truly grounding as we looked at each other, held each others gaze and slowly danced in a circle moving to the right.
Next, we were instructed to embody a specific characteristic we just discussed in our sitting circle. What does power feel like in our bodies? How does power show itself in dance movements? Leticia was joined by two other teachers and we first watched them connect with their movements and embody power in dance … and then we all joined in.
This time, no longer holding hands, but dancing individually as we used more of the space. And this time, we paired up. At clear breaks in the music we switched partners … naturally and effectively. First by making eye contact, and then dancing toward our new partner.
And so it went.
Eventually we broke into groups of four and created a smaller, more intimate circle in which we explored our movements to the music and remain connected to the theme of the tiger dance. After several songs and different explorations, we rejoined the large, single circle and individuals stepped in, and selected a partner to dance with as the rest provided a loving energy enveloping those who were dancing (and everyone else in the circle).
Embodying Dance for Health
At the conclusion of each song there was time to experience our experience; to notice how we were feeling in our bodies; to check in with our bodies and our minds as we continued this activity together.
What I noticed most prominently was the interconnected oneness of this group. True, many of these dancers had been practicing Biodanza together for a long time. But even the beginners like me (of which there were at least two others I was aware of) were welcomed into this space and I could feel the loving kindness throughout the group.
This is the healing energy that Santiago was referring to. This regular practice had kept his body strong despite growing a massive tumor inside of him. After the tumor was removed, it was Biodanza that helped him recover and begin to feel some sense of “normal” (for whatever that means). Or perhaps a “new normal” now that the more than 5 pound tumor was removed and his body was in recovery.
I am officially a fan and huge proponent of Biodanza. Sure, this was my first lesson and I joined in a powerful movement of dance as each of us embodied our inner tiger. But I sense that any class would have had similar properties of self-discovery, freedom of expression, and an interconnected oneness of the entire group.
I am confident there will be more Biodanza lessons in my future.
Celebrating Leticia’s 60th birthday together after our Biodanza
And what a wonderful way to end our Biodanza by celebrating Leticia’s birthday with her. Yes, it’s a wonderful gift to honor our teachers, but it was more than that. This final act was a celebration of life. After all, isn’t this why Biodanza exists? Specifically, to recognize the living of our lives and to celebrate our continued healing and growth as we age.
What a special day to be here. I loved talking to the students afterwards. Many of them were kind enough to switch to English to support deeper conversations than I could have in my remedial Spanish. We talked about how we were feeling and what my first class was like … especially with all the instructions in Spanish.
I felt right at home. And that’s the real magic. Here I am, a New Yorker exploring a new experience in Medellín, Colombia with not one person I knew before today. And it’s like I was reunited with old friends I haven’t seen in far too long. That’s how it felt to me. And to do this as part of dance was so incredible. I loved it. So glad I came. So grateful to be welcomed into this class like the returning of the prodigal son.
Artistic street art rendering of the deep healing power of our hearts
As this was my last full day in Medellín, Felipe took me to the center where all the tourists end up. Think of this as Bourbon Street in New Orleans … but straight up the side of a mountain.
Here’s where you buy your T-shirts, hats and other proof of travel
Back in my drinking days, this would have been great. Loud blaring music, competing bars, and all the “I was here” selfie spots you could possibly want. Like this:
Standing on the top of the mountain overlooking Medellín
Instead, I preferred the walking tour taking in all of the street art. The street artists are extremely talented. As you walk or ride the escalators to the top of the mountain overlooking the “bowl” that is Medellín, you see some incredible street art.
The beauty is everywhere you choose to look
And so, tomorrow I return to Bogota for my final days in Colombia. I will have dinner with Santiago, get my first Pilates lesson with a reform machine (courtesy of master teacher, Adriana), and then wrap up my trip with one final dinner with Gina — the one who has helped me have this epic time in Colombia. What a trip!
