On the Waves of Rhythm - A Step-by-Step Guidebook for Exploring Cultural Heritage through Storytelling, Dance and Non-Formal Education

Aims of the tool

This tool aims to empower youth workers, educators, and young people to engage with cultural heritage and identity through creative, movement-based, and non-formal educational methods. Born from a lived experience during an Erasmus+ youth exchange, the guidebook offers a curated set of activities — from energizers and traditional dance sessions to storytelling challenges, roleplay scenarios, and reflection tools — designed to foster belonging, connection, and intercultural dialogue.
The goal is not only to share traditions but to invite participants to reinterpret and reimagine them, giving space for young voices to breathe new life into customs, rituals, symbols, and narratives. It encourages young people to see themselves as active keepers and storytellers of culture, capable of transforming inherited values into vibrant, meaningful expressions of today.
By dancing together, sharing stories, and reflecting deeply, participants don’t just learn about one another — they build bridges between generations, across borders, and within themselves. This guidebook captures that journey and offers it as a replicable learning path for others.

Description of the tool

“On the Waves of Rhythm” is a practical and creative guidebook that brings together a wide range of non-formal educational methods used during an Erasmus+ youth exchange focused on dance, storytelling, cultural identity, and heritage preservation.
The tool was developed through lived experiences, reflections, and shared learning moments of young people from four different countries. It offers tested activities and sessions — including energizers, team-building games, traditional dance practices, roleplay challenges, storytelling techniques, and deep reflection tools — all designed to spark intercultural connection, creative expression, and personal growth.
What sets this tool apart is its integration of movement and meaning: participants don’t just learn about cultural heritage; they embody it, reinterpret it, and give it new voice through collective creation. Sessions range from building a common dance from steps of all countries represented, to rewriting legends using symbols from different traditions, to interactive museum roleplays, to recording TikTok-style culture mashups. Each activity encourages active participation, improvisation, and emotional connection.
The guidebook also emphasizes inclusion, with many of the methods tailored for mixed-level groups, including participants with fewer opportunities. Tools such as reflection with dance or sounds, the “Whispering Walls” postcard challenge, or the “Digital Time Capsule” allow for different forms of expression — visual, verbal, physical, and digital — making the tool adaptable to various learning style.

Learning Outcomes:
By using this tool, participants will be able to:
• Develop a deeper understanding of their own and others’ cultural heritage and identity;
• Practice intercultural learning and empathy through embodied and creative methods;
• Strengthen skills in communication, teamwork, and peer learning;
• Gain experience in storytelling, co-creation, and non-verbal expression;
• Reflect on personal feelings, group dynamics, and social values through innovative reflection tools;
• Increase awareness of the value of intangible cultural heritage and its relevance for today’s youth;
• Foster a sense of belonging, mutual respect, and shared European identity.