Use of Dance/Movement Therapy Strategies in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders as Facilitators of Creative Movement and Nonverbal Communication

Ana Paula Alves ,Ana Paula

doi:10.17951/pe.2019.3.41-48

Abstract

<p>W artykule przedstawiono wyniki badań przeprowadzonych wśród dzieci z zaburzeniami ze spektrum autyzmu (ASD) w wieku 4–7 lat, w których zastosowano metody terapii tańcem/ruchem w celu promowania kreatywnego ruchu i komunikacji niewerbalnej. Badanie oparto na pracach różnych autorów, w tym odwołujących się do dynamiki rozwoju w dzieciństwie i terapii tańcem/ruchem w artykulacji metodami pedagogicznymi wprowadzonymi u uczniów z ASD. Obserwując i rejestrując sesje, można było zidentyfikować jakościową ewolucję niewerbalnej komunikacji i kreatywnego ruchu u uczestników. Na podstawie przeprowadzonych badań stwierdzono, że należy przeprowadzić dalsze badania z wykorzystaniem terapii tańcem/ruchem w celu zidentyfikowania i potwierdzenia ekspansji i spójności ewolucji ruchu twórczego.</p>

Highlights

Since the beginning of time, dance has been linked to human daily life as a cultural and creative manifestation
Based on research conducted in institutions related to mental illness and the results obtained, the pioneers of the use of dance as a form of therapy confirm in their works (Chace, after Chaiklin, Wengrower 2009; Meekums 2002) that this form of therapy is efficient and provide specialized training in Europe and the United States
Working with children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is time consuming, difficult to interpret and concerns the characteristics of ASD that are differently revealed in each participant

Summary

Introduction

Since the beginning of time, dance has been linked to human daily life as a cultural and creative manifestation. Dance has been used since the beginning of time and its functions may be considered therapeutic by the different peoples of the world – group dances that exorcise fears from one’s mind (Gharasian 1999); dance of healers who ward off disease (Fleming 2003); tribal dances that reinforce group power (Shapiro, Shapiro 2002); ritual dances that foster group cohesion (Ghasarian 1999) – it was not until the 20th century that it began to be linked to therapeutic practices that use movement as a facilitator of interactions between the participant, the other and the group. Dance/ movement therapy (DMT) is defined by the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) as “the psychotherapeutic use of movement to promote emotional, social, cognitive, and physical integration of the individual, for the purpose of improving health and well-being” (ADTA 2019)

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