Summary: The Dance Healing

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.

Even though I am “acutely disappointed” that Tiler Peck will not be performing in Divertimento, it is simply unreasonable to complain about Ashley Bouder. Making allowances for the general qualification I previously expressed about casting, the second week of the season looks fantastic too. (It is surprising, however, that Sterling Hyltin is not listed for anything.)

For centuries when a person was diagnosed with a disability they were institutionalized per the doctor’s request. There were many advancements in the 20th century in trying to get people who suffer from a disability the proper help they need. During the 1960s, “President Kennedy called for the deinstitutionalization of people with disabilities and increase in community services” (Disability Rights, 2012, p.6). President Kennedy wanted the community to come together to help assist people with a disability specifically mental retardation. Due to numerous laws enacted by the government, in today’s society the community gets involved in assisting people of all different types of disabilities. One of the ways they do this is through a special service dance. On September 27, 2014 in Tenafly at the Jewish Community Center, I attended the special service dance that is available for all different types of disabilities. This dance has a mix of high functioning and low functioning people with disabilities, from the ages of fourteen to twenty five. I choose to do the dance because many of the topics were covered in class were displayed at the 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

Dance is a career that has several different options and paths. Someone could be a professional dancer, a dance teacher, or a choreographer. Whichever path is chosen, the anatomy of the human body is very important. Whether it is placement and strength of certain muscles, knowledge of which muscle to use for which step, or knowing how to properly stretch, warm up, and exercise your body. Anatomy is even used in injury prevention and injury healing. Interestingly, dance in general has been around since the beginning of time. Even the Bible talks about dancing like David danced and worshiping God through dance. However, dance as a classical form did not come around until 18th century France. This was when ballet was established. Even then, dance

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the health benefits of dance interventions on the aging population, particularly those with Parkinson disease (PD). Studies have suggested the various motor benefits of dance interventions in people with PD. This research was conducted primarily to find the results of dance interventions in older adults and in PD. Also, to describe limitations of dance within these populations, and to identify the direction for further future studies. With there being approximately 1.5 million Americans with PD, it is shown exercise improves motor impairments in aging populations, especially vital in people with PD due to the emerging studies supporting potential neurologic/neuroplasticity effects. The goal of this study

As mentioned previously, the problem of depression disorder requires immediate action from different approaches to pharmacological treatment (Mala et al., 2015). According to Karpati, Giacosa, Foster, Penhune, & Hyde (2015), dance movement therapy (DMT) allows for consistent practicing of sensorimotor skills, which are important in the study of the human brain plasticity and the interaction between the brain and behavior. The studies show evidence of the reliability of DMT on health-related areas, particularly on the treatment of depression disorder (Karpati et al.,2015). Dance movement therapy has been practiced in more than 35 countries around the world, treated people who suffered from depression and other correlated problems as anxiety

Having an “outlet” to express emotion can really be the line between depression and understanding. If the stress is not controlled it leads to anxiety and if the anxiety is not controlled it is the cause of depression. Dance therapy is to help these stages reflect off and not be as affecting to society. Sometimes just being able to express the emotions being held without being “wrong” for it can be the line between good and bad decisions. “ Utilizing art for stress relief on a more individual level” (Sherman). Healing on a personal level is what is needed for society by expressing emotion through movement and passion. Through dance there is always a specific role and or character that the choreographer wants to see being incorporated but still needed to see the personal emotion brought through the expression of the moves. To motivate children with disabilities, physical movement, such as dance therapy helps create an open world with both the children and the adults (Dieringer). Dance therapy opens the eyes of both mentally and physically disabled people giving a different way of expressing their emotions. “ Giving outlet to feelings thoughts and imagination often leads to free association” (Krantz). Dance is used to let go and overcome stress. “Most importantly, it promotes all kinds of changes in the brain, including neuronal growth,

Dancing is like all the resilience: emotional resilience, physical resilience, social resilience, and mental resilience. I say it is emotional resilience because while you are dancing you are expressing your feeling to people when they watch you dance. Also if you enjoy dancing then, it will also build your emotional resilience. Dancing gives a return on self-investment because it helps connect to your mind emotions and spirit. I also say that dancing is a physical resilience because they move with confidence because they are experiencing the music that they are dancing to. Also, dancing is a social resilience because you get to connect with people, be with people and just have fun with random people that you probably had never meet before.

I isolated myself to hide my emotions from all of existence in fear of judgment, dance became my escape to release all my worries. Dance has served such a purpose in my life; I am forever blessed to have been given the ability to dance. I’m stronger, more secure, and forever

I earned my Bachelor’s in Neuroscience from Centenary College of Louisiana, where I graduated with departmental honors. While in college, I co-founded a nonprofit that aimed to provide support for the transgender community, especially those who were homeless veterans. I led workshops at medical schools to teach future doctors how to provide comprehensive care to the LGBT community. Through this grassroots community organizing, I realized current approaches to medicine and research focus on gender in binary ways that leave out transgender populations. These experiences sparked my passion in biocultural anthropology and holistic human health.

Dance/movement therapy (DMT) is a creative art therapy that focuses on integrating the mind and body through a holistic approach. According to the American Dance Therapy Association, DMT is “the psychotherapeutic use of movement to further the emotional, cognitive, physical, and social integration of the individual (ADTA, n.d. as cited in Goodill, 2015). DMT combines practices from both psychotherapy and counseling in addition to theories regarding movement observation (Goodill, 2015). The purpose of this literature review is to explore two approaches to DMT through the lens of two pioneers in the field: Marian Chace and Mary Whitehouse.

A common misconception about dance is that you must undergo training in order to be considered proficient. This is not necessarily true though, as not every dancer dances for the sole purpose of performing or competing. In their own way, the general public can be considered dancers. How often in your life have you heard a song that has made you yearn to move? In all likelihood, a great deal of times. That movement that you execute is called dancing. Whether you choose to admit it to yourself or not, you are a dancer in your own right. Would you consider dancing to be sport? A sport by definition is an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment. The same as any sport commonly known today, dance, specifically competitive dance, has all elements required of a sport.

“Dance is an expression of oneself,” says many artists. There is the keyword: “artists”. Many ask, “Is dance a sport or an art?”. Is it? There has been much recent speculation on whether dance is a sport or an art. Dancers are athletes. Dancers endure much of the intense training that people who are considered athletes do. Dance is also a bodily way to express yourself meaning that it is an art. Dance can be seen from two very different spectrums: an art and a sport. Dance does fall into both the definition of a sport and art because of the similar injuries, strenuous training, and positive attitudes that are involved in each.

Dancers are often called the 'athletes of the arts' and like athletes they undergo years of hard physical training in pursuit of excellence. It is exhilarating watching human beings perform extraordinary and courageous physical feats. In dance, this energy is used to tell stories and convey ideas, creating very powerful experiences that can be dramatic, moving and even funny. (The Autralian Ballet, 2010) However, if you are one of those people who have always thought you had two left feet, or are just starting out, don’t allow any negative thoughts deprive you of the happiness that dancing brings.  No matter what style: jazz, ballroom, belly dance or just plain shaking it to your favorite tune, dancing is one of the greatest joys in life. It can transform your attitude in a second and transport you into pure bliss. Dancing is for everyone.