Movements provide fascinating tools for building trust. If you meet strangers through shared physical experiences ranging from simple eye contact exercises to more complex dance patterns these nonverbal encounters trigger different routes than long discussions. “In Touch For Democracy” explores concepts if and how how we can use these techniques for supporting democracy on a larger scale.

Democracy is in danger

Our societies are currently challenged on many levels: extremist and often antidemocratic political parties undermine the trust in democratic procedures, populists target both the sciences and independent journalism to create narratives of hate and superiority.
Too often words are used to destroy consensus instead of building it.

But if we stay ‘In Touch’ with our fellow citizens we may rebuild trust.
This interactive workshop merges science, art, and civic engagement to explore the power of non-verbal corporal connections.

What happens in the workshos

Together we will experiment with traditional trust exercises, free dance exercises as well as innovative, language-free tools for group decision-making, inspired by social science research on trust and empathy.
From simple hand-signals to complex movement-based consensus finding, participants will experience and enjoy, how democracy feels when it’s physical, emotional, and inclusive.

Possible further steps

“In Touch for Democracy” is a precursor of “Dance4Democracy”, a complex multiphase 2-year project, which is applying for a European grant within the EU-CERV program (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values).
7 partners from Bulgaria, France, Romania, Slovenia and Ukraine teamed up to further develop the idea of a “Nonverbal Democratic Toolbox”.

(This website is continuously improved. This specific subpage has been updated last in July 2026. In case you are able to spot any typos or a blocked link, please do not hesitate and let us know by sending an email to redaktion@kreissig.net. We wish you a wonderful day and thank you for your kind cooperation.)