Week 1 — In Person
June 28 - Friday, July 3, 2026
Wilton, NH
Movement Education and Renewal Through the Grades
In-Person with Jan Lyndes, Kim John Payne, Will Crane, Marie Douce Dorion & Jane Swain
This Renewal Course offers an embodied, pedagogically grounded exploration of how movement supports learning, self-regulation, social health, and healthy development from early childhood through adolescence. Designed for movement teachers, class teachers, and pedagogical leaders, the course integrates Waldorf developmental understanding with practical movement education across the grades.
Participants will experience age-appropriate movement practices that support balance, coordination, spatial orientation, emotional regulation, and social connection. Through study, observation, and practice, teachers will deepen their understanding of movement as a foundational support for academic learning, wellbeing, and inclusion in today’s classrooms.
What this Course Offers:
- Foundations of Waldorf Movement Pedagogy
- Movement Education in the School Community
- Applied Movement Modalities
- Therapeutic and Supportive Movement Perspectives
- Learning Focus & Outcomes
Throughout the course, participants will:
- Deepen their understanding of child development through movement from early childhood through adolescence
- Strengthen pedagogical clarity around why and how movement supports learning, regulation, and social health
- Gain practical tools and adaptable movement practices for classroom, gym, playground, and therapeutic contexts
- Explore inclusive, relationship-centered approaches that support belonging and differentiated learning needs
- Renew their own connection to movement as a source of vitality, insight, and professional growth
- This course offers both renewal and rigor-supporting teachers in bringing movement education forward with greater confidence, coherence, and purpose.
Participants will leave with a renewed sense of their role, expanded pedagogical understanding, and a rich repertoire of practices to support healthy development throughout the grades.
Jan Lyndes is an experienced Waldorf educator and mentor with over thirty years in both Waldorf and diverse educational settings. She holds degrees in Fine Arts and Education, as well as Waldorf Teacher Certification from Antioch University New England, and has spent the past fifteen years studying Spacial Dynamics®. Jan has taught Movement at the Monadnock Waldorf School and Gathering Waters Charter School and has mentored teachers through Antioch and the Center for Anthroposophy. Her work is deeply informed by studies in anthroposophy, curative education, Extra Lesson, and her early background in Deaf Education and ASL interpretation. Her years living off the land in Alaska continue to inspire her commitment to human development and the spiritual foundations of Waldorf education.
Will Crane brings more than three decades of experience as both a class teacher and director of physical education at Green Meadow Waldorf School. Today, he expands his work in movement education through teaching Spacial Dynamics® in adult education and professional programs including Sunbridge Institute, the Fiber Craft Studio, and the Christian Community Seminary. Will also serves as a movement therapist at the Otto Specht School and supports Waldorf teachers internationally as a mentor and consultant. He completed his Foundation Year and teacher training at Rudolf Steiner College and is a long-standing faculty member of the Spacial Dynamics Institute.
Kim John Payne is a renowned educator, researcher, and best-selling author of Simplicity Parenting, The Soul of Discipline, and several other influential works on child development and social health. A Waldorf movement educator and school counselor for nearly three decades, he also served as Co-Director of the British School of Bothmer Movement and founded the Antioch Collaborative Waldorf School and Family Counseling Program. Kim is the founding director of both the Simplicity Parenting Institute and the Center for Social Sustainability. He has trained over 1,500 Simplicity Parenting coaches worldwide and worked with hundreds of schools on integrative student support. His work has been featured in major media outlets internationally, and his books have been translated into more than thirty languages.
Marie Douce is a movement educator and therapist whose path began as a circus performer and teacher in Mexico, where she experienced the transformative power of circus arts for children’s confidence, collaboration, and joy. After moving to New Hampshire, she completed ten years of Spatial Dynamics training and is certified at Level III. She teaches movement at Pine Hill Waldorf School, maintains a private therapeutic practice, and collaborates internationally—traveling to Asia with Jaimen McMillan to train educators in circus arts and embodied, connective learning.
Jane Swain is Associate Director and core faculty at Sophia’s Hearth and is a pediatric physical therapist, movement therapist, and Level III Spatial Dynamics trainer. She is also certified in Bothmer Gymnastics, Sensory Integration Praxis, and Neuro-developmental Treatment in pediatrics, and has studied at the Pikler Institute in Budapest. Jane formerly taught movement in the early grades at the Monadnock Waldorf School and has long supported children through private practice and classroom consultation. She teaches nationally and internationally and is the author of Free Movement from the Very Start, Volume 1, with Volume 2 forthcoming.
Community Gatherings In-Person, June 28 – July 3, 2026
Community Gatherings bring together participants attending Renewal Courses and the Mentor Training Program, twice daily, at 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Daily Keynote
with Carol Ann Bärtges
Spiritual Cognition: How Wonder, Imagination, Inspiration and Intuition Inform our Work
Eurythmy
with Alexandra Spadea
Midday Community Singing
with Meg O’Dell
Evening Events — In Person
Monday, June 29, 2026
Evening Lecture : The Five Circles of Love and Friendship
with Kim John Payne
“Helping students navigate their class social dynamics and adults to calibrate the complexities of collegial relationships”
Join us for an illuminating evening lecture with Kim John Payne exploring the Five Circles of Love and Friendship. This thoughtful presentation offers practical insights for helping students navigate the social dynamics of their classes, while also supporting adults in skillfully calibrating the complexities of collegial relationships. Grounded in warmth, clarity, and real-world experience, this evening invites reflection, understanding, and renewed capacity for fostering healthy relationships in both educational and professional communities.
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Affinity Group Connections
with Renewal Faculty
Join us for an engaging session of mutual support and shared wisdom. Affinity group connections are dynamic roundtable forums designed to foster collaboration, exchange, and community among Waldorf educators. These interactive sessions offer teachers preparing to enter their next grade an opportunity to gain insights, ideas, and best practices directly from colleagues who have recently completed teaching that grade.
Teachers who have just completed a grade can share their experiences, challenges, and successes, providing invaluable guidance to those stepping into new roles. These conversations are also inclusive and supportive for special subject teachers, pedagogical leaders, and anyone wishing to deepen their engagement with movement practices, arts integration, curriculum development, or broader Waldorf pedagogy. Participants leave inspired, connected, and equipped with practical strategies to enhance their classroom work and professional growth.
Thursday, July 2, 2026
Live Music and Contra Dancing
with Carey Bluhm, Gordon Peery, and Diane Goodman
Join us for a joyful evening of live music and contra dancing with Carey Bluhm, Gordon Peery, and Diane Goodman. Come move, laugh, and connect through spirited music and shared rhythm in a welcoming, celebratory atmosphere. This lively gathering offers a perfect opportunity to unwind, enjoy community, and end the day energized and uplifted for a memorable summer start.
Care for the Body, Soul, and Spirit
Choose from a variety of wellness offerings designed to nourish your soul and body. Whether you seek quiet reflection, hands-on healing, or artistic renewal, these options are crafted to support your journey of self-care and rejuvenation. Wellness sign-up options will be available in the spring—stay tuned to secure your moments of personal renewal!