Dance Therapy Research Papers

Dance began as a form of communication and storytelling. Thousands of years ago dancing served as a way for people to tell a story and helped distract themselves of the hardships they faced. Furthermore, dance was a form of storytelling through communication, which then turned into using storytelling through dance as entertainment. According to the History World, many dancers during the BC time danced in front of only a few people to get a story across. That later turned into hundreds of thousands of people as dance was used by many. Today, dance is also a form of entertainment and storytelling, but in a modern sense. However, today perfection and technique are stressed more than they were in the past. Yet, the passion for dance has not changed. Many dancers who share this passion also have many of the same qualities. Among a discourse community of trained dancers, one expects to find individuals who are healthy and active athletes, expect perfection from themselves through competition, and religiously attend dance performances.

Dance has been around for a long time, it is older than many other popular sports we have. It takes on the physical capacity to be labeled as a sport, and yet in most cases, it is not. It is one of the few activities that is both a sport and an art, but it is given very little respect as a sport. Dance has evolved in a number of ways throughout time, but it has always been through a meaning. Whether that be dancing for love or faith, or dancing for first place.

I really love dancing, and I wouldn’t know what I would do without it. I feel like dance has changed me a lot, because I used to be a huge couch potato, and I was super lazy. Don’t get me wrong, I still get really lazy from time to time, but not as much as I used to. I have bad anxiety, and when I’m with my dance group I feel like it helps me lose it a little, piece by piece because they don’t judge me for who I am. I also feel like dance has made me watch my weight more and exercise so I don’t have any problems in the

Some may argue that dance is an art and not a sport. Yet, it has the same characteristics as a sport does.

important foundation in understanding the broader scope of how dance can be seen as a

As I have participated in dance class, I have been able to express my feelings. Additionally, after dance class I find that I am able to see the bright side of situations. With these great benefits of dance, I was not surprised to find that there is an occupation known as a Dance Therapist or Dance/ Movement Therapist (DMT) that helps people improve their overall well being through Dance/ Movement Therapy. To be more specific, Dance/ Movement Therapy is “an exciting field of health that provides emotional and physical support for clients and individuals,” according to the article “Career Profile Dance Movement Therapist” by About.com Careers. Dance therapists bring therapy and dance together and create a space where people can express themselves.

In an article by Maria Barrios, she expresses the importance and benefits of dancing. She points out that certain types of dance can be a fun total body workout. I definitely agree because of my personal experience with dancing. After an hour long dance class I feel sweaty and tired then a few minutes later I feel energized like I could do it again. Barrios also points out that dance not only benefits your body but also your mentality.

Dance is one of the most beautiful, expressive forms of art known to mankind. It expresses joy, love, sorrow, anger, and the list truly goes on for all the possible emotions that it can convey. Dance not only can express how one feels, but it can tell a story or even be used to praise a higher power. Dance has intricately played an important role to every culture over the course of time. Two forms of dance that have not only stood against the test of time but have influenced the development of other various styles of dance is none other than Classical Ballet and Modern Dance.

This paper explores my main question, “how does movement through dance affect the mental and emotional dimensions of wellness?” I will explore the many unknown benefits that come from dance as well as share expressions of my personal thoughts on the subject. I will also share my personal experiences as well as others’ experiences with dance. In the research portion of my paper, I will cite studies supporting both the mental and emotional benefits of dance. This paper will also explore the perspective of a professor of dance, as well as the lived experiences of actual dance students. My interview will support my paper as it reinforces the findings in literature. I will discuss my future plans on the subject of mental and emotional dance; stressing the need for individuals to dance as the benefits can be

Ever wondered what it would be like to leap through life, twirl right through, as if the world has completely stopped around you? To be able to pause everything in a silence that allows you to hear your own heartbeat? The silence on stage as you perform is a sense of peace within your inner body that is being channeled through a movement of effortless motion. In European history, dance was considered to be a way of celebration for many cultures. Although it was said that dance did require physical agility, dancers were never considered athletes because the movement was not taken seriously. Dance did not become popular in a more skillful way until later on. The debate of dance as a sport is very

What is dance? Dance is defined as lively movement using one’s body with or without music. Dancing means to feel someone existence to feel vitality, joy, and most importantly to feel alive. Anyone can define dancing as whatever they would like, but how is dance useful to our lives? Whether you are a ballerina from birth or if you are newly introduced to the art of dance, everyone can dance some way, shape, or form. Dance therapy provides psychological and physical benefits. It helps connect body and mind as one giving support to become rooted and balanced. In order to be centered and grounded while moving your body, a dancer must be in tuned with the center of gravity in relation to the earth. Dance therapy is also a great way for people

Dance therapists also work with people who have chronic illnesses and life-threatening diseases to help them deal with pain, fear of death, and changes in their body image. Many people with such illnesses find dance therapy

It makes you work harder and go above and beyond giving one-hundred and ten percent every single class, so when you dance in front of the judges they will only have positive feedback to give. At the age of seven, I was just a little girl when I was asked to join my studios dance competition team. Not knowing what this team was all about at such a young age, I accepted the challenge to join such a strong team, who ended up becoming family, made of all ages that the only thing that connected us together is our love for dance. With all of the nights where I just wanted to break down and quit the team, I realized that I would not be letting myself down, but the others around me. The reasons I kept on dancing through all those rough patches in my life is because I was taught from my teachers that if you give up on yourself and just not give the amount of energy you once did before you are damaging your teammates. Realizing that throughout life you will always have to work with someone or for someone you might disagree with. But when you feel like giving up, you give up on that person as well, leaving them abandoned. Leaving someone high and dry is not what a person should do in life because you would never want to

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

“ Dance is the hidden language of the soul” ( Martha Graham). Dance is nonverbal and is often used by many people as a language. All people can tell emotions by dancing even beginner and amateur classes. In the world, there are many kinds of dancing, for instance, jazz, ballet, and samba. Each dance has completely distinct parts because all region`s cultures gave influences to each dance style in the past time such as classical Japanese dance and salsa. Furthermore, many people dance as entertainments and exercises and can trace many cultures by practicing dancing. Dancing is a necessary for people`s lives. The reasons why people dance are working as professional dancers, learning cultures and histories, and dancing with friends.