A dance career shapes deep embodied experience.
Rolfing® Structural Integration offers a way to translate this into a sustainable professional practice – beyond performance.
For many professional dancers, Rolfing® Structural Integration has long been part of their working life – supporting demanding performance phases and opening a different perspective on movement, perception and the body.
I think the body moves well when there is freedom around the joints, space within the body, and movement travelling through the body like a sound wave passing through the air.”
— Russell Maliphant, choreographer and Rolfer
Training to become a Rolfer opens a professional pathway that builds on this embodied knowledge and allows dancers to stay connected to the dance and movement field beyond the stage.
We need more dancing-Rolfers and more Rolfing-dancers to shape the potential in both fields.”
— Jennifer-Lynn Crawford, dancer and Rolfer
Discover the Rolfing® training
Your body has always been your passion
As a dancer, your body has always been the most important part of your profession. Years of training, rehearsal and performance shape how you organise yourself in movement, relate to space and respond to physical demands.
Over time, this develops into a refined, experience-based understanding of the body in motion – not as an abstract concept, but as something lived and continuously adjusted through practice.
This knowledge remains a valuable professional foundation – one that can continue to inform meaningful work within the dance and movement field, in a different role and with a different focus.
I’m not interested in how people move; I’m interested in what moves them.”
— Pina Bausch, choreographer and dancer
What dancers can discover through Rolfing®
Most dancers first encounter Rolfing Structural Integration through their own bodies. As clients, they often describe an experience that feels unusually precise and perceptual – not adding something new, but clarifying what is already present.
Movement may feel more organised, spatial orientation clearer, and effort more differentiated. For many dancers, this leads to a distinct aha moment:
I reached a point in my dance career where I had questions that dance alone could no longer answer. Rolfing Structural Integration opened a door into a kind of movement I had been looking for – rooted in perception, touch and lived experience.”
— Jennifer-Lynn Crawford, Rolfer and dancer
Rolfing allows me to sense more details in spatial orientation and gives me access to a broader spectrum of approaches to movement and intention.”
— Adam Schütt, Rolfer and dancer
For some dancers, this experience quietly opens a new question:
What if this way of working with the body were not only something to receive – but something to learn?
Related Reading:
- Rolfing® helped me inhabit my body - Jennifer-Lynn Crawford
- Viewing the body as a companion – a dancer’s perspective - Judit Ruiz Onandi
- From Ballet to Bodywork: Self-Discovery Through Dance and Rolfing® Integration - Adam Schütt
- Learn more about the principles of Rolfing® Structural Integration
From dancer to Rolfer® – a smooth professional continuation
For many dancers, the step into Rolfing training grows organically out of personal experience.
What begins as work with one’s own body often develops into a professional interest: continuing to engage with movement and the body in a different role.
Becoming a Rolfer does not mean leaving the dance world behind:
- Many former dancers work within dance schools, companies and movement communities they already know.
- Existing professional relationships and a shared understanding of movement often form the basis for an initial client network.
- The professional focus shifts from performing to accompanying, while remaining closely connected to the body in movement.
For many, this transition feels less like a career change and more like a continuation – a way of recontextualising years of professional experience within a sustainable framework.
For me, it was a way to continue working with movement, expression and the body in space.”
— Michael Kellenberger, Rolfer and dancer
I see this not as a complete career change, but as an extension and development of my professional path.”
— Miquel de Jong, Rolfer and dancer
Some dancer's journeys into Rolfing:
- Unexpected Journey: From Dancer to Rolfer® - Miquel De Jong
- Why, as a dancer, I became a Rolfer® - Michael Kellenberger
- Why Certified Rolfer® and Dancer, Evan, decided to study Rolfing® - Evan Harris Foster
Jennifer-Lynn Crawford - Rolfer and dancer
Why dancers choose to become a Rolfer®
- 1. Working with the body in relation to gravity
Gravity is not an abstract force outside of us, but a fundamental guide that we use unconsciously to orient all our movements.”
- Hubert Godard, dancer and Certified Rolf Movement™ Instructor
Rolfing Structural Integration is a method of hands-on bodywork and movement education that explores how the human body organises itself in relation to gravity. Instead of addressing isolated areas or symptoms, it works with posture, movement and spatial orientation as an interconnected whole.
For dancers, this approach is immediately recognisable. Orientation in space, efficiency of effort and the relationship between ground, body and intention are central both to dance practice and to Rolfing work.
Further reading:
- 2. A structured process instead of isolated treatments
Rolfing Structural Integration follows a clear, process-oriented framework. The classical Rolfing Ten-Series addresses the whole body step by step, allowing changes in posture and movement to develop and integrate over time.
Practices such as body reading, precise observation and process-oriented work are integral to the method. For dancers, this structured approach often resonates with professional training that values clarity, progression and embodied learning.
- 3. Using lived experience to support others
Years of professional dance foster an in-depth, experience-based understanding of physical load, adaptation and recovery. As Rolfers, dancers can draw on this lived knowledge to support others, particularly within demanding training and performance contexts.
A shared professional background creates trust. Speaking a common language and understanding the realities of dance from the inside can make Rolfing work especially accessible for dancers and other movement professionals as clients.
I prefer to hire Rolfers® because of their deep understanding of the fascial system and movement.”
— Sheyi Ojofeitimi, Senior Physical Therapist, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
- 4. Continuity within the dance & movement field
Many Rolfers with a dance background continue to work within the broader dance and movement field – for example for dance companies, schools, or in interdisciplinary movement contexts. Their work often complements existing structures rather than replacing them.
The profession also offers flexibility in how practice is organised. Independent Rolfing practice can be combined with Rolf Movement™, teaching, coaching or other movement-based formats. This allows for adaptable working models that can evolve over time and align with different phases of life.
- 5. A rigorous education, a protected title and an international professional field
Training to become a Certified Rolfer is a thorough, professionally grounded education with clear international standards. The training is experiential and in-depth, combining hands-on work, movement education, theoretical understanding and a lived approach to anatomy, and is taught by an experienced international faculty.
Graduates earn the legally protected professional title Certified Rolfer and become part of an international professional field and members of Dr. Ida Rolf Institute and the European Rolfing Association. Continuing education, professional exchange and long-term support within the global Rolfing community provide a stable framework for sustained professional practice.
Explore the Educational Pathway for Rolfing® Structural Integration
Voices from dancers and Rolfers
Short reflections on continuity, movement and professional transition.
“As a dancer, Rolfing gave me the feeling that my body is more than an instrument – it is my companion.”
— Judit Ruiz Onandi, Rolfer and dancer
“My dance practice and Rolfing training feed each other in a very productive way.”
— Adam Schütt, Rolfer and dancer
“Today, because I feel underpinned by the ground, I function better – my body image is simply me.”
— Nicola Carofiglio, Rolfer and dancer
Jennifer-Lynn Crawford - Rolfer and dancer
“Being a dancer enriches my work as a Rolfer, because reading
a body becomes natural.”— Lea Kabirschke, Rolfer and dancer
“Rolfing focuses on adaptability and resilience – qualities that are essential in dance and beyond.”
— Valerie Berg, Rolfer and dancer
“After I took up Rolfing, I sensed my body as more adaptable and able to deal with extreme physical demands.”
— Judit Ruiz Onandi, Rolfer and dancer
If you are curious how to explore this further, there are several ways to engage with Rolfing Structural Integration and the training pathway – at your own pace.
Practical pathways to explore Rolfing
There are several ways to explore whether Rolfing Structural Integration and the training to become a Rolfer are a good fit for you. You can choose an entry point that aligns with your professional background and current situation.
Webinar
An introduction to Rolfing Structural Integration and the training pathway
This webinar offers an overview of Rolfing Structural Integration and the training process. It provides space to ask questions and explore how the training can connect with a dance background.
Meet ROLFING® Workshop
Experience the work in practice
This workshop offers a hands-on introduction to key aspects of Rolfing Structural Integration and Rolf Movement™. You will experience the work directly, explore perception and movement, and gain a first impression of the method.
The Rolfing® training pathway
Structure, content and formats
Learn more about the structure and content of the Rolfing training. Modular and intensive formats allow for gradual entry alongside ongoing professional commitments.
Talk to us
Personal guidance for your next step
A personal conversation can help clarify individual questions, entry options and possible next steps.
We are happy to support you in finding the pathway that best fits your situation.
Funding and transition support
Information for dancers considering a career change
In many countries, dancers have access to career transition counselling or funding schemes that may support professional training.
While options vary by country, we are happy to point you towards general information.
→ More about Rolf Movement™ training
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Rolfing® suitable as a second career for dancers?
Yes. Rolfing Structural Integration offers a professional pathway that builds on dancers’ embodied knowledge, movement experience and perceptual skills. Many dancers experience it as a way to continue working professionally with the body and movement in a new role.
- Do I need to stop dancing before starting the Rolfing® training?
No. Many dancers begin the Rolfing training while still active or during a gradual transition. The modular or intensive structure of the training allows for flexible entry alongside ongoing professional commitments.
- Will I still work with dancers as a Rolfer®?
Many former dancers work as Rolfers within dance schools, companies and movement communities they already know. Existing dance networks often form the basis for working with dancers and other movement professionals as clients.
- What qualification do I receive after completing the training?
Graduates earn the legally protected professional title Certified Rolfer®, an internationally recognised qualification within the field of Structural Integration. At the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute® Europe, you are in the hands of a highly trusted training institution. With your certification, you will become a member of the European Rolfing® Association and the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute® in Colorado, USA.
- Is the Rolfing® training internationally recognised?
Yes. The training follows clear international standards and is taught by an experienced international faculty. Certification allows graduates to join a global professional community of Rolfers® by becoming a member of the European Rolfing® Association and the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute® in Colorado, USA.
- Are there funding or transition support options available for dancers?
In many countries, dancers have access to career transition counselling or funding schemes that may support professional training. Options vary by country; general information is provided by the International Organization for the Transition of Professional Dancers.
