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Dance therapy


Dance therapy

Dance therapy or Dance Movement Therapy is the psychotherapeutic process of using dance and movement to explore images, memories, and the personal meaning of life's incidents through symbolic physical action, all of this improve the mental and physical well being of a person. It founded on the relation between the mind and body, which the state of the body may involve mental and emotional well being in diverse ways. In contrast to artistic dance, which is generally involved with the aesthetic form of movement, dance therapy investigates the nature of all movement to promote health and healing.

Around 1942 the labors with a group as a dance performer of Marian Chace give fruitful results with a group of patients who reported feelings of well being after attending her dance classes, then she was took into account to work as support in group regular activities with disturbed patients of the St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington D.C. This is the main reason why she is considered the pioneering of the dance as therapy.

In 1966, the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) was created to establish and preserve high standards in the field of dance therapy, by 73 charter members in 15 states. Currently, the Association has grown to nearly 1200 members in 46 states and 20 foreign countries. ADTA conserves a registry of dance/movement therapists who gather specific educational and clinical apply standards.

The ADTA define the dance/ movement therapy as "the psychotherapeutic use of movement as a process which furthers the emotional, cognitive and physical integration of the individual." The changes after a movement therapy are in feelings, cognition, physical functioning and conduct.

Benefits and effects of dance therapy

  • Benefit on health, prevention and recuperation from illness.
  • Improve body image.
  • Enhance the self-esteem.
  • Reduce the stress, fear, anxiety and depression.
  • Diminish the isolation, chronic pain and body tension.
  • Increment the communication abilities.
Dance therapy is used in a diversity of settings with people who have social, emotional, cognitive, or physical concerns. Some examples are individuals with eating disorders, adult survivors of violence, sexually and physically mistreated children, dysfunctional families, the homeless, autistic children, the fragile elderly, and substance abusers. Dance therapists work with both individuals and groups, including whole families.

There are many several clinic reports that suggest to the dance therapy as a part of the recuperation process for people with chronic illness as breast cancer, cardiovascular illness, chronic pain, hypertension. The therapist examines a person's movements to make an evaluation and then designs a program to help the exact condition. The frequency and level of complexity of the therapy is generally personalized to meet the requirements of the participants.

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