Dance therapy is a type of psychotherapy that uses movement to further the social, cognitive, emotional, and physical development of the individual. Dance therapists work with people who have many kinds of emotional problems, intellectual deficits, and life-threatening illnesses. They are employed in psychiatric hospitals, day care centers, mental health centers, prisons, special schools, and private practice. They work with people of all ages in both group and individual therapy. Some also engage in research.
Dance therapists try to help people develop communication skills, a positive self-image, and emotional stability.
Origins
Dance therapy began as a profession in the 1940s with the work of Marian Chace. A modern dancer, she
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Dance therapy is suitable even for people who are not accomplished dancers, and may even be good for those who are clumsy on the dance floor. The emphasis in dance therapy is on free movement, not restrictive steps, and expressing one's true emotions. Children who cannot master difficult dances or can't sit still for traditional psychotherapy often benefit from free-flowing dance therapy. Even older people who cannot move well or are confined to wheelchairs can participate in dance therapy. All they need to do is move in some way to the rhythm of the music.
Dance therapy can be useful in a one-on-one situation, where the therapist works with only one patient to provide a safe place to express emotions. Group classes can help provide emotional support, enhanced communication skills, and appropriate physical boundaries (a skill that is vital for sexual abuse victims).
Description
There are currently more than 1,200 dance therapists in 46 states in the United Sates and in 29 foreign countries. Like other mental health professionals, they use a wide range of techniques to help their patients. Some of the major "schools of thought" in dance therapy include the Freudian approach, Jungian technique, and object relations orientation. Many therapists, however, do not ascribe to just one school, but use techniques from various types of dance therapy.
The authentic movement technique is derived from the Jungian method of analysis in which people
To begin with, dance does not just help people relieve their stress, but dance as well can be used to connect with current issues that our society encounters and send messages to the world to do something about it to fix the issue. For example, a particular project our class was assigned to do was to choose from a variety of options ranging from teaching a roomful of kids, to inventing a new dance game, to choreographing a dance and perform it, etc. Well, my classmate Cassandra and her partner decided on choreographing a piece to present to our class. On November twelve Cassandra and her partner presented a piece
Dance demands the same physical skills that are required in other sports. Flexibility, strength, and endurance are key characteristics that most dancers need to posses. As with other “athletes,” most dancers are not born with these abilities but must establish them through practice and repetitive training. Similar to traditional sports practices, dance rehearsals are extensive and require diligence, dedication, and patience from the dancers as they will have to repeat exercises and stretches to perfect their technique and stay on
Goulimaris and his ream found how dance can be beneficial for the dancers and the public when they investigate alternative forms of psychotherapy. This is applicable to my research because it reinforces my claims that dance or movement therapy can be used as an apropos method of alternative therapy for everyone, not just dancers.
Over the last five years, the dance industry has grown annually by 2.9%. (IBIS World) With an increase in studios, classes and performances, one must question why dance is becoming popular once again despite the statistics of eating disorders and injuries. Regardless of possible injuries and eating disorders, studies have been taken proving the tremendous benefits associated with dancing. According to Ladock, the greatest benefits of dance are weight loss, muscle tone, posture, flexibility, balance, kinesthetic awareness and mood improving. While injuries are often
This week I attended a week-long Ballet intensive at Hasley Hall in the University of Iowa's Dance department under the directorship of Kathryn Smith. Other faculty members include Eleanor Goudie-Averill, the ballet and conditioning teacher, Alexandra Bush, the ballet and Variations teacher, and Melanie Swihart, the modern, jazz, and yoga teacher. They also all taught dance appreciation during lunch.
Dance is my therapy. Ever since I was a little girl, I have known that I was going to live the rest of my life dancing. Anytime I find myself in a bad mood, I dance, and all of a sudden I feel happy again. My body is completely aware of when I stop dancing for a period of time. Usually, Christmas break is the worst because of the cold and lack of outdoor activities. If I spend the majority of my time relaxing and doing nothing, my body does not like it. I go from constant movement, all day and every day, the demanding, physical toll of dancing my body endures, to complete relaxation is like running a marathon and then going to sleep immediately after crossing the finish line. After I spend the two weeks of Christmas break doing nothing, not only have I lost a lot of strength and flexibility, but I have lost an even larger amount of motivation and passion. Once I start back to dance, I reconnect with the passion and love I have for it.
“Dance helps children mature physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively” (Standards for Dance in Early Childhood). Dancers have also been proven to be less likely to get a chronic dizziness and other illnesses, along with helping with all sorts of other things. Dance can help to maintain physical health, flexibility along with helping prevent getting certain diseases and helping diseases that someone does have. All in all, dance in general is beneficial to anyone who does
Dance gives people an outlet to express themselves and is frequently known as a healing outlet for those dealing with personal struggles throughout their life. Whether happy or sad, people incorporate these emotions into the way that they dance. Despite, the form of expression it may be, a person is showing it through their performance. For instance, the Hindu dance which originates from India can be defined as the body, mind and soul connection. And it focuses completely on what each move expresses from each individual. In general, Dance can primarily be therapeutic and can purify the mind and body.
Dance is a form of movement that can help us heal. I have always felt that a person can dance off any type of bad energy in their life. Through expression and release we can mend our wounds spiritually. It is the intention and focus behind the movement that is important for healing. This is a painting of dancer, actress, Maya Louisa. Maya is from Brooklyn that dedicates her life to the performance arts fiercely. The Dance Healing is s 30x40 acrylic painting done on 1 inch Canvas in the Xmas of 2012 into
Pediatricians, child development specialists and early educators all agree that dancing can be beneficial. Not only can it keep even the youngest children active, but dancing also benefits kid’s creativity as well as the development of their social and cognitive skills.
Albert Einstein once said “Dancers are the athletes of God.” Not only are they the athletes of God, but dancing ballet can also prepare people for college, the workplace and parenting. Ballet has been studied and performed since the 15th century. While entranced by the graceful dancers and beautiful music, though, onlookers may not notice the multiple benefits of dancing ballet. While learning ballet, dancers develop strong, well controlled bodies. Dancers also must multitask by memorizing new choreography and developing technique, while at the same time keeping up with the class. Dancers also learn to mentally handle harder situations and never give up. Learning how to dance ballet helps prepare dancers for life as it requires memory skills,
Dance movement therapy (DMT) is one of the fastest growing forms of interactive therapy offered today, and understandably so. According to the American Dance Therapy Association, DMT is the “psychotherapeutic use of movement and dance to support intellectual, emotional, and motor functions in the body. As a form of expressive therapy, DMT looks at the correlation between movement and emotion.” DMT has been proven beneficial to various individuals, whether they are suffering from cancer, post traumatic stress disorder, or childhood obesity.
Couples dance/movement therapy separates attuned relating where there is a power differential like child/caregiver from relating where there is an even playing field as is ideal in romantic relationships. The palm-to-palm exercises help each individual strengthen self-regulation sufficiently to tolerate the limited ways that couples can healthily support one another. This in no way minimalizes the rich connection that is possible in romantic relating but helps couples open to what is healthily available by accepting and grieving what is
Dance therapy is a type of psychotherapy that uses movement to further the social, cognitive, emotional, and physical development of the individual. Dance therapists work with people who have many kinds of emotional problems, intellectual deficits, and life-threatening illnesses. They are employed in psychiatric hospitals, day care centers, mental health centers, prisons, special schools, and private practice. They work with people of all ages in both group and individual therapy. Some also engage in research.
First, dancing is one of my favorites hobbies. For centuries, dance manuals and other writings have lauded the health benefits of dancing, usually as physical exercise. We've