Body Memory and its Recuperation through Movement

Abstract

Departing from the Cartesian theory of body–mind duality, this chapter concerns the concept of body memory as it emerges from embodiment approaches. Building on concepts such as ‘kinetic melodies’ and the embodied mind, it advocates ‘thinking in movement’. Uniting minds and bodies has far-reaching implications for research and practice in dance and dance movement psychotherapy, hence a simple methodology of how to access the knowledge of the body is described. A process of writing–moving–writing invites the mover to focus on a significant moment to explore, and then bring it to movement. The mover is invited to work with ‘somatic modes of attention’, focusing on any extero- and interoceptive sensations. Clinical applications of the technique are discussed. The chapter aims to encourage educators, therapists, and researchers in dance and movement to make use of their knowing and remembering bodies, thus contributing to a global kind of knowledge in their field.