Differences Between Dance And Movement Based Treatment

By Joshua Reed


When it comes to music, a number of people love to dance. Whether dancing at a club to a live band, at a disco, or community event, dancing can be fun. Whereas, when it comes to movement based treatment, the ultimate goal is a sense of healing emotional or physical issues or wounds.

These therapists use a form of expression which draws a correlation between preparation, illumination, evaluation and incubation. Each of these aspects represent one of four stages of treatment. To prepare a client for this type treatment, therapists generally create a treatment plan, evaluate the mover then provide illumination when discovering the right treatment and incubation period for putting the plan into action.

Unlike free-form, non-alcohol, barefoot dance works to awake body, mind and soul in a community setting. Whereas, dance oriented therapies are provided in a clinical setting. Still, free-form dance is great exercise which can also help to alleviate stress among those in attendance. Depending on the spiritual beliefs of each mover, some may find a closer connection to self, others, spirit.

Originally developed thousands of years ago, dance and movement therapies have had a major impact on issues related to birth, death, happiness, sickness and health. In 1930, a new philosophy was born which helped establish these therapies in the United States, Europe and around the world. Then, once it became clear the effects had been proven, several colleges and universities began offering a focus on this area of psychotherapy.

Before being established as a valid form of psychotherapy, dance had always been seen primarily as an expressive form of art. Then, after more of these therapies were established in the 1950s, a number of professionals begin working in the field now known as dance therapy. While there are now programs focused on this type therapy, originally these therapies were provided by general psychologists and psychotherapists around the world.

These dance oriented therapies can be divided into two distinct waves. The first involves the use of dance as related to the medical community. Once a well known therapist noticed the effects movement had on clients, a larger field of movement therapy was formed. Once several clients had reported success in overcoming emotional and physical issues, more therapists started providing these type services.

Once students began reporting that movement aided in overall happiness, health and well being, several doctors began sending clients to these new therapists. A local therapist then began offering a program at a hospital in Washington, D. C. It was at this location that several trials related to this therapeutic form took place. During these trials, it became clear that healing could take place as a result of these type therapies.

The next or second wave brought a new ideology to dance therapy in the 1970s and 1980s. The new ideology sparked a great deal of attention from therapists at the time. A time when therapists began to explore and experiment with different applications associated with dance and movement. It was these applications that evolved into forms and modalities which therapists still use after having seen great success.




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