Impact of Dance and Movement on Stress and Mental Health

Abstract

Today, dance and movement have also become fundamental elements of artistic performances - be it solo presentations, duet performances or even group performances; thus leading to the formation of different dance forms and styles with certain rules and regulations. Several research papers, over a span of many years, suggest that dance and movement have potential healing effects. Therapeutic movement has recently been known to manage stress, anxiety, symptoms of depression, and other mental health disorders. However, an interest in the systematic evaluation of the psychotherapeutic impact of dance and movement based modalities in different population settings in the context of psychotherapy is relatively recent. (C. Quiroga Murcia et al., 2010).Dancing and movement have become an integral part of our lives. For many, it is a medium to express their emotions; for some people, it is now a source of income and livelihood. Over time, dance and movement have evolved from tools and driving force that built societal relationships, to performance art-forms with choreographic roles on-stage and off-stage, to a formally recognised mode of therapy practice - known as Dance / Movement Therapy - an arts-based psychotherapeutic intervention that aims to facilitate the integration of the physical and psychological aspects of human beings.