The Active Rainbow stories continue with reflections from participants of our latest project, sharing moments, emotions, and learning from their journey together. Scroll down to reconnect with the heart of the programme and discover what this experience meant for them.
To Move is a 10-day youth experiential learning programme that brought together young queer people from Greece, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Spain, and Italy in a safer and braver space to explore dance, movement, and embodiment as tools for self-expression, healing, and community-building. Rooted in Active Rainbow’s approaches to embodied learning and inspired by personal journeys of dance and connection, the project aimed to nurture empowerment through movement rather than technique.
The programme welcomed participants with diverse backgrounds and experiences in dance, focusing not on performance or skill-building, but on self-exploration, presence, and authentic connection with ourselves and others. Each day was filled with movement-based activities, reflection, and shared experiences — always guided by care, consent, and respect for personal boundaries.
Living together as a community was an essential part of the journey. Participants supported one another through daily tasks, collective care, and smaller group processes, creating a space where self-organization, compassion, and mutual responsibility could flourish alongside structured learning moments.
At its core, To Move sought to foster a supportive queer community grounded in acceptance and authenticity, strengthen self-awareness and confidence, and inspire collective action — including local initiatives in Riga and in each partner country. Through interactive and experiential learning, participants learned by doing, by sharing, and by moving together.
Enjoy the reflections and insights from this powerful journey of embodiment, connection, and collective growth!
In my experience, the care with which the space was held made a big difference in the way I allowed myself to move, following the invitation to explore, to listen to my own boundaries and to enjoy the process from a place of safety and presence. Thanks to that, the movement appeared in a freer way.
In addition, the connection with the people I shared this experience with was a very
important part of my journey. There was a magic always present in moving and creating together, in feeling accompanied and supported by a connection that happened naturally.
The shared trust allowed me to move without overthinking, and made me want to continue working and creating with them. All the laughter we shared reminded me how much I enjoy creating when it’s done with people who make you feel safe. I’m deeply grateful to have been part of the project and of the Golden Mess that made every moment something truly magical.
“To Move” was an experience about connecting with myself, with others, and with the beautiful Latvian nature. Thanks to this Erasmus+ programme, I have learned several creative and useful skills that go beyond movement.
Firstly, I learned how to connect with myself, which helped me relax and focus on the present moment. Secondly, another important lesson I learned was to communicate assertively and respectfully. This was especially important when my team and I organized the street action performance, when trust and determination was key to success collectively. Finally, everyday tasks such as cooking and cleaning were very enjoyable thanks to the lively company. Together, we enjoyed music while being productive, feeling safe and supported at the same time.
What made this experience truly meaningful were the connections that I made along the way. I made friends and formed more special connections from different countries, and I feel grateful for having bonded with such amazing people. Another special thing that was meaningful to me was connecting with myself and winding down. I was grieving the loss of a loved one right before this project, and so connecting with nature and with this amazing team made me process these emotional struggles way easier.
Overall, “To Move” was an amazing project, and I feel very grateful for this experience we created together. It was not only about moving physically, but emotionally and personally as well.