Justin Riley: dancer, adventurer, event organizer

Justin Riley is a 40-year-old dance teacher, wilderness junkie, and organizer of alternative-culture partner dance events. (justindance.com)

Justin has spent nearly two decades designing events that blur the line between art, dance, and wilderness immersion. His festivals are more than just places to dance—they’re cultural experiments that challenge people to step outside their comfort zones and co-create something meaningful. Whether it’s a week-long floating dance party on Utah’s Green River or a countryside retreat in Spain, Justin’s spaces are deliberately messy and wildly participatory. (He’s also responsible for helping me fall in love with fusion dance in 2016.)

We discuss Justin’s early years as a dirtbag wanderer l ...