A brief review of education and training in dance/movement therapy in the United Kingdom (UK)

Abstract

Dance/Movement therapy is the youngest of the arts therapies in the United Kingdom (UK). The Association for Dance/Movement Therapy (ADMT) has approximately 100 members, not all of whom are practitioners. However, with the establishment of three formal postgraduate training courses at educational institutions since 1985. this situation is changing rapidly. Kedzie Penfield is probably the pioneer of dance/ movement therapy education in the UK. Trained under Irmgard Bartenieff in Laban Movement Analysis, she applied this to her work with psychiatric patients at Dingleton Hospital in Scotland. As early as 1976 she provided input to the Dance in Special Education courses at the Laban Centre in London where she had an important influence on several students who later became founder members of ADMT. Kedzie Penfield continues to provide teaching input to the current dance/movement therapy diploma course at Hertfordshire College of Art and Design and has made significant contributions to developments in the profession in the Netherlands and Germany. ADMT and its members have been influential in promoting awareness of the profession and the establishment of training courses in the UK. The Association grew out of a series of support group meetings organized by a small group of professionals from dance backgrounds with an interest in dance/ movement therapy. These meetings, inaugurated in September 1978, addressed practical and theoretical issues arising from work with clients in special education, psychiatry, health and social services. A paper by Helen Payne-West (1983) describes those early years and also presents the rationale for the title “dance/movement” rather than either dance or movement therapy. ADMT was formally registered as a company in April 1982 and immediately set up working parties to examine (a) criteria for professional membership, (b) training and education, and (c) research. Events moved more quickly than many expected. Largely due to the initiative of Dr. Marion North, Director of the Laban Centre for Movement and Dance in London, a collaborative program was set up in 1985 with Hahnemann University in Philadelphia. USA. Hahnemann was running an established masters degree in dance therapy, approved by the American Dance Therapy Association as meeting their requirements for registration. Under the joint program arrangement, students were able to enroll for the Hahnemann degree and attend lectures in either London or Philadelphia. Dianne Dulicai, the course Director spent two academic terms each year in London while continuing with teaching responsibilities in Philadelphia. Since 1985 there has been a steadily increasing contribution from UK professionals to this course. It has been developed to meet the requirements for a British Masters Degree, and was validated in 1989 by the Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA). The modular format allows students a choice of either postgraduate diploma or masters degree courses in DMT. These are of I and 2 years duration full-time