Essay - Dance & Movement Therapy

Foundation Course: Introduction to dance and movement therapy foundation course. 

Clarify and define the meaning of therapy and the meaning of dance. When does dance become therapy?

The word ‘therapy’ derives from the ancient Greek word meaning service. Therapy is an abstract noun, and a popular concept word for the therapeutic process. The word ‘therapeutic’ as defined by the Oxford dictionary means alleviating and of the healing arts. Many activities of daily life can be considered therapeutic and therefore healing, for example listening to music, walking nature, associating with friends etc., all that rewards by way of release, pleasure, esteem, amusement, connection, relaxation, rest, acceptance, refreshment, and understanding. 

For the purposes of this essay, I have assumed that the word therapy, given in this essay title, refers to psychotherapy, which is the healing of the psyche, an ancient Greek word for the mind. I have outlined leading opinions of several proponents of psychotherapy, and also offered my own understanding and perceptions. In order to heal the mind of another person, the psychotherapist seeks to allow exploration - and expression - of turmoil, distress, and self-defeating patterns. To do this in safety, and with support, the psychotherapist must have a mind that has healed sufficiently to be able to accompany another on this journey to the self without pressure, judgement or avoidance. So a psychotherapist is one who has received psychotherapy themselves, so they know fully what is involved for their client.

Dance is physical expression of our inner being. I will not detail the reader concerning the meaning of this as it is a subjective experience. Therefore only the subject may have an understanding of the meaning of their dance and then perhaps only vaguely. Perhaps dance therapy may help towards the subjects greater knowledge. I believe, onlookers including psychotherapists, can only some surmise as to the dancers possible meaning for the dance. Dance is a communication expressed to the self or two others and is influence by our cultural background, a life experience, physical illnesses et cetera one needs to bear in mind the moment it takes place, Where it takes place, and the purpose for which it is carried out. Some dances carried out for performance purposes and the applause it solicits for money onlookers. The meaning of the dancing of the past has been lost in antiquity and we can only imagine how it may have been portrayed. Evidence of the earliest possible dances present on cave paintings, pottery and frescoes. Within the body of this work I have outlined the passage of dance throughout time in order to attempt to discover its meaning through the ages. Dancer repeat is not just dancing for pleasure but dancing in the presence of a psychotherapist to increases therapeutic input by way of support. 

I have not discussed in this essay, dance separated from movement as I don’t think logically they can be separated from each other. In my estimation I have not discussed in this essay, dance separated from movement as I don’t think logically they can be separated from each other so I must relate it to movement, so I have included dance as movement as opposed to dance therapy exclusive movement. First I will outline psychotherapy practice in general.

Psychotherapy originated in psychoanalytical theory which was developed in Moravia at the end of the last century by Freud. It is fake basically verbal and was time for talking cure and the therapist acted as a blank screen for the client to project fantasies onto.

Psychotherapy originated in psychoanalytical theory which was developed in Moravia at the end of the last century by Freud. It is felt basically verbal and was termed a talking cure and the therapist acted as a blank screen for the client to project fantasies on to. Freud himself resisted any deep personal analysis and was not in eventual agreement with Young and Adler who were originally his followers. Freud considered all our problems relate to conflicts of sexual and aggressive needs. Such as murderous incestuous or sadistic desires and his instincts are interpreted by the psychotherapist along with what he termed the transference phenomena in which the therapist is seen to be acting in the same way as a parent figure, teacher or significant other in the subjects life. Fridge also thought that stages of development in an infant can, if the precious received at this time are too great a small, result in the client called the patient getting stuck office is excited excited at the stage for life. His view of humanity was pessimistic, he suggested that misery can only be replaced by coming on happiness and his treatment of women, such as an oh was it nice to me in my estimation abusive.

Freud also thought that stages of development in an infant can, if the pressure is received at this time are too great a small, result in the client called the patient getting stuck office is excited excited at the stage for life. His view of humanity was pessimistic, he suggested that misery can only be replaced by coming on happiness and his treatment of women, such as Anna O was in my estimate in my estimation abusive. His therapeutic philosophy was rigid and purist. Carl Jung placed greater emphasis on the will to live, creativity, spirituality and symbology. He drew much of his philosophy from occult philosophy including mythology and alchemy. His style is related to balance, harmony and achievement of potential through individuation. Both Freud and Jung considered that therapeutic philosophy to have little in common and not conducive to use together. Alfred Adler theories are in the main related to the individual scene in social context, occupation, friendships and intimacy being important to the healthy functioning of the personality. Behavioural therapy was developed by puddle of sweat with dogs and is often still using psychiatric work. It is related to behaviour modification which is thought to replace non-desirable with desirable behaviour through a system of reward and punishment.

The important aspects of any psychotherapeutic process according to Carl Rogers, or three core principles, Firstly the therapist ability to be non-judgemental and accepting of the client, secondly an ability to be empathic and remain on the clients wavelength and thirdly the ability of the therapist to be congruent i.e. authentic at all times. These core conditions required great skill, personal awareness and development from the therapist. Carl Rogers believed we are born to be healthy and happy and when the surgeon sorted we become disempowered undamaged. The thrust of his therapy is for the therapist to understand and feedback accurately the clients experience. It is based on the clients personal development by way of the clients understanding and accepting themselves rather than compliancy and giving power away to the therapist to tell the client how they feel and think and think. this makes the therapy sessions client centred rather than therapist centred, the client being the expert on their own experience.

I think this gives an overall view of the main therapeutic strategies used in psychotherapy. I’ve had the humanistic therapist, just out looks at opening our experience, what we were press and project onto others, what we Introject and take in from others and unconsciously make our own, and what we retro decked by doing to ourselves something that we wish to do to another and consequent behaviour which is an inability to differentiate what is that I’m feeling from that of others. Transactional Analysis Looks at child behaviour, parental behaviour, and adult behaviour, and how the spoken word can reveal how we relate to others, our life patterns and intimacy levels can be improved through increased levels of awareness. Psychosynthesis explores the the transpersonal , Works with subpersonalities by way of creative visualisation, et cetera or cannot be mentioned in detail due to lack of space. I have not included information and body oriented therapies such as Feldenkrais Method, Alexander technique, bioenergetics, yoga, tai chi, postural integration et cetera as I don’t know very much about the psychological rationale behind them.

The Encyclopaedia Britannica states that dance is the art of moving the body in a rhythmical way, usually to music, in order to express an emotion or idea, to narrate a story or simply for the delight in the movement itself. It may have taken place from the earliest time of our existence on Earth and may have been the first means of automatic communication and conducted to stamping feet and clapping hands. Dance has been portrayed on pottery, painting and sculpture of ancient times. Cave painting could represent a magical dance to aid the hunt. And Egyptian fresco from 1400 BC now in the British museum shows women without clothes and adorned with jewellery and hairdressers dancing to the accompany a compliment or female musicians using float and handclapping. There was a ball dance in ancient creature dating from 1400 BC were dancers in an arena summer sorted over the bus buddy while slaughtering the animal in a spectacular right. Even birds animals and spiders dance to attract and impress a mate. Originally dance was spontaneous, innovative and related to individual experience. Primitive cultures dance in Thanksgiving for harvest, to promote good weather or in worship of the gods. Ancient Jewish biblical text describes stance as a celebration of military victories. “And Miriam the prophetess the sister of Aaron took a tumble in her hand and all the women went out after her with symbols and with dancers.”Exodus 15:20 and King David said to have dance before the holy tabernacle writes in Psalm 149:3 “let them prices name in advance. “Let them sing praises to him with simple and harp.”

National characteristics and identity are retained in folk dancers wear a dress, climate, history and personality of the people all influence the traditional dances of their culture. Dance developed into a social activity at weddings, at Royal Courts and to raise energy for war.

From this, dance developed into performance. National characteristics and identity are retained in folk dancers wear a dress, climate, history and personality of the people all influence the traditional dances of their culture. Dance developed into a social activity at weddings, at Royal Courts and to raise energy for war.

Dance became performance for onlookers and became part of the theatrical productions, eventually the introduction of set steps and movements which brought about the necessity of long hours of formal training as in some traditional, ballroom and ballet dancers. I consider this a loss of individual creativity and spontaneity. I believe everyone can dance, regardless of rhythm or body limitation as dance conducted for the self, I think dance should be conducted for the self as this is therapeutic activity that has become degraded through its dependency upon the giving a way of power from the self to another for approval and judgement. It sadly has become A spectator or competitive sport rather than an experiential and healing experience. This mentality has brought control to movement and dance, its desirability is no longer the communication of the spirit within which is seeking relief by expression but what needs to be taught by experts and achieved through practice, control and critique, the self being lost in the process. Spontaneous stance is a deeply personal expression of the true self. It allows us to be transparent to others and is an honourable offering of the true self. Are used to enjoy Africa news bulletins, such as in Mozambique, where an important person has aided the nation and brought the people together, I have seen them dressed and spontaneity clap, stamp feet, triple enchant and dance together in union of bodies, mine is an emotion as in the days of old. Unfortunately in recent years he’s very primitive an extrovert movements, vocal harmonies an expression of communion and individuality have died and become nothing more than handwaving of the more westernised and introverted kind, with less natural unselfconsciousness can’t come, colour and exuberance. I personally consider this a great loss to our world. A personal experience took place where I was present when a woman literally danced for joy. The effect on me was one of awe. That the emotion was transmitted to me in such a powerful way that words and actions could never have come close to Portrane. What happened next was that she was probably would’ve killed for making a spectacle of herself in public. Another experience occurred at a circle dance when a man named Ananda whose name means eternal bliss was dancing in a way that was congruent, spiritual and wholehearted. Another man in the group made a condescending comment what’s the young cocaine and another disparaging remark related to homosexuality. As a teenager at dances I was aware of dance being used as a means to assassin judge a person. Do you have a dance often criticised it’s a painful and debilitating experience. I do not wish to have dance praised either as this also implies controlling judgement for good or bad, I just wish dance to be accepted and understood by others in the true spirit in which it is intended.

This leads me to dance as a therapy. As I believe dance is not just a body based activity, but a response Of the whole person, two memories that may come to mind, thoughts and feelings released as a result of contact with music, allowing the music to live through us and lead us by command a movement imagination may be enhanced and worked with. Certainly dance is Therapeutic when appreciated and responded to, which is probably worth performance dance is so popular. It is rewarding to have a movement offering applauded and complimented, therapeutic when appreciated and responded to, which is probably why performance stance is so popular. It is rewarding to have a movement offering applauded and complimented. Dancing can be a releasing soul activity and dancing for the self puts us in touch with our feelings and allows expression of our inner nature. Often dance takes place in pairs which allows connection, expression of identity, sexuality and enjoyment of the moment shared with another. In a group that allows us to feel part of the whole, both losing ourselves and finding ourselves amongst others. The learning of step routines can develop concentration and rhythm. Dance is also good exercise, stimulating the heart and circulation, increasing movement of muscles and joints.

On the dance the movement therapy course we have been introduced to methods used to demonstrate dance as a form of psychotherapy. The group leader, Helen lick introduced us to an exercise wearing we drew around the outline of a body shape on a large piece of paper and filled it in as we wish. Then we dance the drawing. First without music, and then with music.

On the dance the movement therapy course we have been introduced to methods used to demonstrate dance as a form of psychotherapy. The group leader, Helen lick introduced us to an exercise wearing we drew around the outline of a body shape on a large piece of paper and filled it in as we wish. Then we dance the drawing. First without music, and then with music.

Most dance on the course has not been conducted to music and I find this interesting. Presumably, if music is used, dance takes place and without music, movement takes place. I prefer to move to music, I found this gave me insight that I expressed through dance. It also lead to healing, as the leaves representing my autumn years turn to choose which I placed in my empty body parts. The current feelings I am familiar with and have worked on significantly in the past. When Andrew was spoken of a and we worked on this, expressing dynamic power and movement by knowing one another in the group.

I’m not content with methods of assessment of a movements which implied certain movements declare certain personality traits. I doubt the validity of this method. I consider that without asking the dancer how they feel, but is an imposition and a dangerous assumption to label or diagnose. Mine except another’s opinion and introject this without question. Many common reasons for restriction of movement are overlooked in these assessments, in a patriarchal society, labelling is used to aid understanding, but in my estimation, it is an avoidance of the complexities and I denial but experts who achieve power, prestige and financial reward reward Through this means to lead others to believe they have all the answers to the problems of life. Another method introduced to us on the course has been that of authentic movement. Authentic movement is non-verbal communication through movement without the use of site. Personally, when I have my eyes closed, it raises the possibility that I may be hit in the face or body bun others movements and this leaves me feeling vulnerable and I’m comfortable. with my eyes closed I lose my sense of direction and balance and become disorientated and this causes considerable anxiety. We coordinate movement by such and uncoordinated movement creates, in me, psychological havoc, when I am being watched and assessed for judgement purposes and which may also affect whether I pass the course. With our eyes closed our imagination can release in a way I believe to be dreamlike, communicating symbolic messages through the movement, rather than what has been suggested as a re-enactment of a past life, or forgotten memory. I think these fashionable sensational interpretations can be dangerous and are generally unprovable. And I have a little interest to me personally I think what it’s called authentic movement it’s just an authentic and sensible reaction to a given frightening situation. Experts consider this beneficial. I would certainly not use this method on my clients and I do not believe in the need to distress a person first in order to convince them that they have something radically wrong with them.

Ken Wilber is an American existentialist. He specialises in a philosophy of no boundaries and has written a book of this title though his work is very interesting from an academic standpoint, the academic aspect of his work has not been thoroughly investigated and the resultant Sim biotic and confluent effects on his adherents have been startlingly effective unfortunately for them. A leading proponent of dancing as a form of therapy was GI gorgeous. He called himself a humble teacher of dancing. He was within the czarist caught in St Petersburg at the turn of the century and due to the Russian revolution he fled and found at the Institute for them out harmonious development of man at the Priory in Fountainbleu. He was also a writer and wrote such books as life is real only when I am and all and everything and meetings with remarkable man. He commanded a great following an exercise considerable power over those who came to him for self development. Many famous and wealthy people from all over the world associated with him before the second world war. It’s philosophy was that the body, mind and emotions should be worked on constantly through difficult and stressful exercises. They hear sure the girl Jeff work as it was called was centring and convergent annoying station, in reality the exercise as well intentionally unrelated and I’ve urgent and goes confusing scatterbrained activity within the individuals concerned. It is well known that during rehearsal and performance performances at the Priory that the dancers on stage four performance would be told to rush around the stage with her eyes shut waiting for the master to tell them to stop. When he failed to do this, dancers with frequently run off the stage and end up in the orchestra pit only to be told to resume dancing. Many were known to become psychotic and there were more than one suicide. Personally I think he was a dangerous charlatan. Many within the society are known to unconsciously go from one month up to the next, never learning when they are being led a dance. His organisation is not a worldwide community. The fee to join ago just to search in London is dependent on percentage of income with a minimum fee of £1500 per year, so the organisation is obviously very exclusive. Many splinter groups are set up by his disciples like as Ouspensky and JG Bennett. These groups have and regularly in London and advertised in time out.

When does dance become therapy? Therapy facilitate the process towards feeling comfortable in her own skin. As we become less compliant, we free ourselves and what others think and have a need for experts. We exercise freedom to be ourselves and police ourselves, knowing ourselves interesting ourselves, do you know instinctively what time is it and what heels us, and live our lives in a way where a good relationship and understanding towards ourselves AIDS a good relationships with others. It allows us to have an unbiased awareness of our past as it has provided for us all that we need to learn from, rather than considering judgements and recriminations about it. Compassionate inside lead to resolution and allows healing to take place, we can then move away from The pain and into a place of peace for understanding.  Wendy Stokes https://wendystokes.co.uk