Who is behind The 5 Elements Practice?
I am Juan Sánchez Plaza, a Spanish-born, London-based Creative Director, Producer, Sound and Gong Bath Facilitator, Movement Director, Dancer, Choreographer, Actor and Yoga Teacher, and the founder of The 5 Elements Practice.
My work has grown from more than a decade of artistic and embodied exploration across contemporary dance, movement, yoga, meditation and sound. I trained professionally at SEAD (Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance), an experience that deeply shaped my understanding of movement, performance and the expressive potential of the body.
Alongside my career as a professional dancer and choreographer, I became a certified yoga teacher in India, expanding my exploration of the relationship between body, mind and consciousness. Over time, this journey has evolved into a deeper exploration of sound, vibration and meditative practice, opening new dimensions within my creative work.
For me, movement and sound are pathways into experiences that cannot always be reached through words. My work is driven by curiosity about the human experience and a desire to create spaces for freedom, creativity, transformation and collective connection.
THE 5 ELEMENTS
Earth
From the earth we came, and to the earth we will return. Earth is the element of nourishment, security, protection, stability, and discipline. Working with the earth requires the patience to calmly await the moment when things naturally emerge. In this element, the focus will be on cultivating patience in movement, mastering floor work, maintaining contact with the ground, and achieving stability in motion.
Air
Air is the element of ideas, eloquence, and purposeful movement. It governs thought and speech, inspiring us, guiding us, and sharpening our minds. In this element, we will focus on embodying floaty, light movements, emphasising the journey through space. Our work will involve traveling from the center outward, cultivating expansive and projected movements that embody the airy qualities of freedom and clarity.
Fire
Working with fire invigorates us, filling us with enthusiasm, optimism, and creativity. The Fire element connects us with the joy of living and our inner strength, often leading to a powerful and exhilarating experience. We will harness this explosive energy while maintaining control, ensuring it enhances rather than overwhelms. The focus will be on channeling and mastering our internal fire, allowing us to access and direct this dynamic energy at will.
Water
Water is the element of feelings, emotions, love, dreams, the unconscious, and intuition. It embodies fluid and seamless movement. In our practice, we will explore liquid qualities and focus on continuity and fluidity in our movement. The water element also connects with spiritual inspiration, meditation, trance states, and creative imagination, offering a deep well of emotional and intuitive exploration.
Ether
The Ether, or Spirit, represents the most subtle form of matter, often imperceptible to the senses. It is the space that encompasses and connects all other elements. The Ether will serve as a culminating element, integrating aspects from all previous elements. We will approach it from a holistic perspective, engaging our entire body and incorporating meditative practices to achieve a sense of unity and wholeness.
