Who is behind The 5 Elements Practice?
I am Juan Sánchez Plaza, a Spanish-born, London-based artist, dancer, choreographer, and yoga teacher. I am also the founder of The 5 Elements Practice, a holistic approach to movement and sound exploration that integrates my background in contemporary dance, somatic practices, sound healing, and yoga, developed over more than a decade of artistic and embodied research.
The 5 Elements Practice draws inspiration from Dream and Memory-Based Movement, Body Contact Work, Improvisation, Ritualistic Dance, and other meditative and movement-based disciplines, as well as sound bath and vibration work. Through this practice, I aim to create shared spaces where participants can reconnect with their inner selves through liberating movement, guided imagery, and deep listening. By embodying the five natural elements—Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space—participants explore a journey of creativity, introspection, and self-discovery that nurtures both personal balance and collective awareness.
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My journey in movement began with formal training at SEAD (Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance), a transformative period that shaped my understanding of contemporary dance and the expressive potential of the body. Alongside my professional dance career, I became a certified yoga teacher in India, an experience that broadened my perspective on the body–mind connection and the relationship between movement and wellbeing. I am currently deepening my study of sound and vibration through certification with the British Academy of Sound Therapy, under the guidance of Vikrampal Singh Khalsa, Aidan McIntyre, and Tim Byford.
For me, movement is more than a physical act—it is a way of cultivating awareness and connecting to something larger than ourselves. Through embodied exploration, sound, and intuition, I seek to uncover deeper truths about the human experience. My mission is to inspire others to embrace freedom, creativity, and transformation through movement, supporting individual and collective wellbeing while fostering a sense of belonging and inner harmony.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
