Our Mission: To make every dance count
Dance for the Planet exists to create meaningful connections between people, music, and the natural world. We believe in the transformative power of dance as a form of celebration, connection, and environmental activism.
Through our Summit Sessions and community initiatives, we aim to foster a growing movement of conscious celebration—proving that we can honor our love for music while also honoring the planet that sustains us.
Our Story
Dance for the Planet began as a simple idea: what if we could experience the joy of dance music in the places we love most?
As lifelong music lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, we've always felt a disconnect between the electronic music scene and our passion for natural spaces. Traditional music events often create significant environmental impacts, from energy consumption to waste generation.
We envisioned something different —intimate, low-impact dance experiences in beautiful natural settings that leave these places better than we found them. Summit Sessions was born from this vision—combining the adventure of hiking with the euphoria of dancing to incredible music in breathtaking locations.
What started as informal gatherings with friends has evolved into a mission to build a community around sustainable celebration and environmental stewardship.
Our Values
-
Every decision we make starts with the question: "How does this impact the planet?" We are committed to:
- Practicing and promoting Leave No Trace principles
- Using renewable energy sources for all our events
- Eliminating single-use items from our operations
- Partnering with environmental organizations for positive impact
- Educating our community about sustainable practices
We believe celebration and conservation can—and must—coexist.
-
Music is the heartbeat of everything we do. We value:
- Authentic expression through thoughtfully curated sound
- Supporting emerging and established artists who share our values
- Creating spaces where music can be experienced in new contexts
- Honoring the traditions of dance music while innovating new approaches
- Using music as a tool for connection and positive change
We believe in the power of music to transform spaces, minds, and communities.
-
Dance for the Planet is more than events — it's a community of like-minded individuals. We're dedicated to:
- Creating inclusive, welcoming experiences for all participants
- Fostering connections between people who might not otherwise meet
- Building relationships with land managers, conservation groups, and local communities
- Supporting other initiatives that align with our values
- Growing a movement of environmentally conscious celebration
We believe that lasting change happens through collective action and shared experience.
The vision behind dance for the planet
My journey to creating Dance for the Planet began at the intersection of sustainability and events — two worlds that often seem at odds but have defined my professional path.
My career started in sustainability at Mananalu, the infinitely recyclable aluminum canned water company committed to reducing plastic pollution. There, I developed a deep understanding of how intentional business practices can create positive environmental impact while building community around shared values.
Drawn by a love of mountains and skiing, I relocated to Vermont and joined the events team at Killington Resort. Working on everything from multi-day festivals to international ski competitions, I gained firsthand experience in creating memorable experiences for diverse audiences while navigating the logistical and environmental challenges of large-scale events.
Throughout these experiences, I've carried a persistent question: How can we celebrate together without compromising the natural world we love?
When I'm not planning the next Summit Session, you'll find me hiking Vermont's trails with my dog, making my yearly pilgrimage to Bonnaroo Music Festival in Tennessee, or simply soaking in the beauty of the Green Mountains. In fact, the concept for Dance for the Planet came to me during one of those outdoor moments, when the connection between music, movement, and nature became undeniably clear.
Dance for the Planet represents my contribution to both the Earth and the live music scene — a vision for celebration that honors rather than exploits the natural world. It's where my professional experience, personal passions, and environmental values converge into something I believe can inspire meaningful connection and change.
I invite you to join me in reimagining what music experiences can be — where the mountains become our venue, the sunset our light show, and sustainability isn't just a buzzword, but the foundation of everything we create together.
-Nate Granetz, Founder
