Dance with Me
Dance with Me is a creative research project that explores what happens when two people share movement, swap styles, and talk openly about the psychology behind how and why we dance. Part choreography lab, part embodied conversation, part psychological exploration, the project brings dancers from different backgrounds together to discover what movement reveals about who we are.
At its heart, Dance with Me asks a simple question:
What do we learn about ourselves, and each other, when we dance together?
Dance Psychology
What Happens in a Dance with Me Session?
Each session has two intertwined elements:
The Dancing
I (Peter) meet a Collaborator and teach them a movement phrase that reflects my movement personality, the rhythms, shapes, habits and histories that live in my body.
Then the collaborator does the same.
Together, we move to blend both phrases into a shared movement motif: a physical meeting point between two lives, two styles, and two psychological worlds.
The Conversation
Immediately afterwards, we sit down to talk.
We discuss what it feels like to dance (in general terms), and what it felt like to teach, to learn, to adapt, to follow, to lead.
Our conversation is framed around the STEP Framework, which looks at the social, cognitive, emotional and physical aspects of dance and life.
This is where the psychology shines through, the why inside the how.
Dance with Me
The STEP Framework
The STEP Framework is a psychology-driven way of understanding dance through four interconnected lenses: Social, Thinking, Emotion and Physical. Developed by Lindsey Lovatt (Occupational Therapist) and me; it helps us explore what’s happening inside the dancing experience, how movement shapes our relationships, influences our cognitive processes, expresses and regulates our emotions, and interacts with the physical body across skill, effort and energy. The STEP Framework helps us reveal not just how we move, but why we move the way we do, and what that movement might tell us about the human experience.
Dance with Me
The Output
The output of the Dance with Me project will be both the movement we create and the media we capture it on. Each piece will be filmed, providing a record of our collaborative process and the work that emerges from it.
Every collaborator will receive a copy of the finished video and a written reflection or “write-up” documenting the creative process, the ideas we explored, and the insights that arose through dancing together.
In addition, we will both have rights to use the output of our co-creation in any way we choose.
Psychology
Doctor Dance Academy
Online courses and resources designed to move bodies and minds. Grounded in science. Powered by movement. Delivered with joy.
Dance
Dance with Me
Dance with Me is a research project looking at dance from a psychological perspective.
Engagement
Speaker
Peter speaks on the power of dance to transform lives. He moves audiences so they feel energised and inspired.
Research
The Dance and Flourishing Quiz
To Flourish is to grow, prosper and develop, and flourishing is thought to play a role in social-psychological wellbeing. I’m interested in the relationship between how often people dance and flourishing. Whether or not you dance, please take this short, anonymous, 9 question, quiz to help me understand the relationship. At the end you will see your flourishing score.
Dr Peter Lovatt
Benefits of Movement
Science and research show us that movement can enhance human experiences in business, education, health and everyday life. Movement can stimulate:
- Social Connection
- Thinking and Problem-solving
- Emotions and Feelings
- Physical
Time to get moving
The Doctor Dance process is easy!
1
Sound
Find a piece of music that you love. Perhaps something with a good strong beat.
2
Stand
Move away from your sofa or desk and find enough space to swing your arms.
3
Shake
Give your body a good shake and wiggle everything you’ve got.
4
Synch
Move with your environment. Synch your wiggle to the music, or to other people.
5
Smile
Relax, feel the groove and wave goodbye to the blues
Our happy customers
Peter Lovatt has helped thousands of people move
Here’s a flavour of some of Peter’s feedback
Ryan Smith
Co-founder of Qualtrics, Booked Peter for main stage keynote at Qualtrics X4 in Salt Lake City.
★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5
“Peter was amazing at Qualtrics – he broughht an awesome energy to the room that got people fired up, dancing and learning at the same time. It was a great experience from start to finish and I can’t wait to hear him speak again.”
Charlotte M.
★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5
“Your session today with Google was brilliant. I absolutely loved it.”
Frances
Attended Boogie on the Brain
★★★★★ Rated 5 out of 5
“It was tremendous – I listened, I cried, I laughed, I danced. It was really quite something”
How it all begins
and 0
Frequently Asked Questions
Please get in touch if you have any questions. Here are a few questions that people have aked in the past.
Yes. Dr Lovatt currently teaches through the Doctor Dance Academy. He offers a range of pre-recorded courses on Mental Skills for Dancers, which he first wrote and taught live at the Royal Ballet School in London.
The Move-Assure Dance for Mental Wellbeing programme is avaialble online and can be completed by anyone at their own pace. The Move-Assure Dance for Mental Wellbeing programme was created by Dame Darcey Bussell, Occupational Therapist Lindsey Lovatt and Dr Peter Lovatt and it consists of 60 online dance sessions and weekly wellbeing tips to help people manage their mental wellbeing.
Yes. Dr Peter Lovatt loves speaking at events. You can book Dr Peter Lovatt to speak at your event by sending an email to Lindsey@peterlovatt.com
It depends. Please make your initial interview request by email to Lindsey@peterlovatt.com
TEDx Observer 2012
The Doctor Dance Happy Dance
Move-Assure Dance for Mental Wellbeing - Taster Session
Contact Dr Peter Lovatt
For all enquiries, please contact Lindsey by email at Lindsey@peterlovatt.com
or complete the form below
© 2026 Dr Peter Lovatt. All Rights Reserved.