Dance Therapy Research Articles

An autoethnographic study of a dance movement therapy practitioner and its link to analytical psychology

DMT as a therapy is among the new entrants in the field of psychology, which explores the connection between the inner world to that of the outside world through the expression of body movement. This connection between the two worlds has created a lot of curiosity both positive and negative in the field. This curiosity arises from the fact that even before the child is born, he uses his body to interact with the world outside. These movements precede even the first cry of the baby, implying that movement in any form is the most natural expression of emotions. Hence, to understand these natural movements and how it helps individuals to come in term with themselves we have used autoethnography as the primary research data. This has helped us to understand the process or the journey that a practitioner goes through while undergoing the DMT course. Analytical psychology was used as a theoretical anchoring to understand the conscious and the unconscious processes.

Trauma Healing: Anak-anak Korban Banjir dan Longsor di Batu Bala dan Langgai, Kab. Pesisir Selatan, Sumatera Barat

This research started from the flood and landslide disaster in Batu Bala and Langgai Villages, Sutera District, Pesisir Selatan Regency, West Sumatra. The rain that never stopped meant that the water supply could no longer be held by the river. As a result, lives were lost, people disappeared and people's houses were damaged. The serious problem behind this disaster is the emergence of fear and anxiety experienced by the survivors, especially children, this is because this disaster is the worst disaster and they never imagined the impact would be this severe. One of the efforts provided so far is trauma healing, which is coordinated by male students from the Batu Bala and Langgai areas and also participated in by the local community. The research method that the author uses is a qualitative method, supplemented by observations and interviews, solely to improve this article. The results of this research show that; first, students provide play therapy for victims, especially school age children, second, entertain children with dance therapy, third, hold book reading events, especially reading books by Islamic figures who have extraordinary patience, fourth, hold food events together with children who were victims of floods and landslides.

A critical and interpretive synthesis of arts-based methods used by dance therapy researchers: A perspective from the creative arts therapies

The creative arts therapies are a group of modality specific disciplines that include dance, music, drama and art. Creative arts therapists take an arts-based approach to practice which often results in the privileging of alternate ways of knowing, such as non-verbal, artistic, and embodied forms of expression and meaning-making. The rising interest in arts-based research in our field, as well as within psychology, has prompted us – a dance therapist and music therapist - to take a closer look at the research literature to ascertain the function and purpose of existing arts-based research approaches in the creative arts therapies. Using dance therapy as an example, we conducted a rigorous interpretive review of 12 dance therapy arts-based research articles to help answer the question - ‘what is the function and purpose of arts-based research in dance therapy?‘. As part of our review, we used an arts-based process to synthesise data and to strengthen our analytic process in a manner congruent with artistic ‘ways of knowing.’ Our exploration led us to recognise that arts-based processes appear to enable the ‘illustration’ and ‘illumination’ of novel understanding in ways that are often more difficult to arrive at when using other qualitative research methods. Furthermore, arts-based research can be useful for facilitating researcher reflexivity, which may be used in service of deepening the interpretive process in qualitative research. However, our involvement with the dance therapy publications also revealed a clear shortcoming for the field: at present there appears to be a clear lack of focus on direct client engagement in the arts-based research literature. As such, arts-based research in the field of dance therapy seems to be somewhat removed from professional practice and appears to instead fulfil a more scholarly or self-reflective purpose. Based on this discovery, we offer some recommendations for those interested in pursuing arts-based research within both psychology as well as creative arts therapies, and in doing so highlight the importance of client voice and experience in health-focused research.

Harnessing the healing power of creativity: exploring the role of art in healthcare through art, dance, and music therapy

Harnessing the healing power of creativity: exploring the role of art in healthcare through art, dance, and music therapy

Moving Beyond Medication: Harnessing the Power of Physical Therapy and Dance Therapy in Parkinson's Disease Management

Introduction Parkinson's disease (PD) poses significant challenges due to its complex array of motor and non-motor symptoms, impacting patients' quality of life. While traditional pharmacological treatments focus on motor symptoms, non-pharmacological interventions, including physical and dance therapy, offer alternative approaches. Aim of the Study This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic potential of physical and dance therapy, including tango, in managing motor symptoms and improving overall well-being in individuals with PD. It seeks to compare these interventions with traditional treatments and explore their efficacy. State of Knowledge Parkinson's disease management involves a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches. Traditional treatments target motor symptoms but have limitations. Non-pharmacological interventions, such as deep brain stimulation and physical therapy, complement traditional treatments. Dance therapy, including tango, shows promise in improving motor function and quality of life. Conclusions Physical and dance therapy, including tango, offer promising avenues for managing motor symptoms and enhancing quality of life in PD patients. While traditional treatments remain essential, non-pharmacological interventions provide valuable alternatives. Further research is needed to refine intervention parameters and compare their effectiveness comprehensively. Overall, these therapies present holistic approaches to PD management, addressing both motor and non-motor symptoms for improved patient outcomes.

변증법적행동치료 기술을 적용한 무용동작치료 프로그램이 학교 부적응 청소년의 자아존중감 향상에 미치는 영향

This study was conducted to examine qualitative changes in self-esteem and movement of research participants by providing a dance movement program applying dialectical behavior therapy techniques to school maladjusted adolescents. 12 first-year middle school students from Suwon were divided into an experimental group and a control group, with 6 students in each group. A short-term program was implemented twice a week for a total of 8 sessions. The program of this study applies the common factor of Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), which use a body-based therapeutic approach. The research question analyzed self-esteem and its subfactors, and a movement observation analysis was conducted accordingly to examine qualitative changes in the movements of the experimental group. As a result of the study, first, the dance movement therapy program applying dialectical behavior therapy techniques had a positive effect on improving the self-esteem of School maladjusted adolescents. Second, changes in movement showed improved social skills. This study has confirmed that a positive impact on the self-esteem of School-maladjusted adolescents, and it is hoped that future research will be encouraged using different treatment methods.

무용동작치료가 윌리암스 증후군 아동의 고유수용성 감각과 정서적 상호작용에 미치는 효과

The purpose of this study was to verify the effects of dance movement therapy on proprioception and emotional interaction in children with Williams syndrome. For a thorough diagnosis of the proprioception of Williams syndrome, which shows aspects of a neurodevelopmental multisystem disorder, the seven movement diagnostic tests of dance therapy pioneer Lillan Espenak were used to specify the subject's problematic issues by area. Dance movement therapy tailored to the characteristics of the subject was conducted once a week (50 minutes), for 40 sessions. First, as a result of the LMA analysis by a motion analyst (CMA), compared to the initial stage of treatment, it was effective in improving physical function, including the balance of physical function, stabilization of movement (increased sustainability), and expansion of range of motion and vertical spatial movement. Second, there was a slight but positive improvement in emotional interaction when considering the diversity of language expressions and topics in terms of emotional and cognitive integration ability. In addition, free movement through practice of body dynamics and skills, coordination through interaction, and emotional exchange were confirmed through qualitative changes and progress in movement. In rehabilitation medicine research, many complex methods have been introduced to measure proprioception, but in reality, there is no method that can measure it perfectly. This study is meaningful in that it provides an understanding of the proprioception of children with Williams syndrome and suggests diagnostic and therapeutic effects for the rehabilitation and growth of children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Reducing the burden of care: Effect of art and dance therapy on Parkinson’s disease patients’ caregivers

While dance movement therapy (DMT) and art therapy (AT) have been found to improve Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients’ motor and non-motor symptoms, there is currently no research that addresses the effects of these therapies on PD caregivers. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the effect of art and dance therapy on PD caregivers. Twenty-seven PD patients and ten caregivers underwent either group AT, group DMT or co-group therapy (both group AT and group DMT combined in one session). In addition, all attended 10–12 sessions of group therapy. Nine patients also attended individual AT and DMT for at least 10 sessions. Patients completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-8 (PDQ8) and Parkinson’s Disease Sleep Scale-2 (PDSS-2) pre- and post-therapy sessions. HADS and Zarit Burden Interview scores were recorded for their caregivers. Patients’ anxiety, PDSS and PDQ8 were not significantly different post-intervention, but depression scores significantly improved in caregivers post-intervention. Additionally, depression in patients who attended the sessions with their caregivers improved significantly compared to those who attended alone. Thus, this study shows that art and dance therapy can improve depression scores amongst PD caregivers and PD patients who attend sessions with their caregivers.

Problem Solving in Dance/Movement Therapy Research: Developing an Intervention Protocol for Adults Living with Treatment Resistant Depression

Dance/movement therapy (DMT) research requires creative and innovative thinking; this paper includes two parts demonstrating this. Part one describes and delves into the creative problem solving process undertaken over 2.5 years. Four main steps were followed towards developing an intervention session plan for a first-of-its-kind DMT study in treatment resistant depression: (i) Examining pre-existing knowledge: Reviewing insights gained from clinical practice and formal literature. (ii) Assessing the need for preliminary studies: This step demonstrates how to determine and navigate the potential need for preliminary studies in novel research. (iii) Integrating existing and new research: I discuss Watson’s (Watson, Sociological Research Online 25:66–83, 2020) braiding technique and how it may help integrate insights from steps one and two. (iv) Reviewing outputs: This includes examining the developed session plan by conducting a fidelity and biases check. Each step presents reflective questions that ultimately contributed towards protocol development. The questions listed may also be a beneficial guide to novice DMT researchers embarking on novel research.

Dynamics of Psychomotor Characteristics and the Ability to Recognize Emotions in Adult Schizophrenic Patients, as a Result of Dance-Movement Therapy

Dynamics of Psychomotor Characteristics and the Ability to Recognize Emotions in Adult Schizophrenic Patients, as a Result of Dance-Movement Therapy

The Use of Dance as a Therapeutic Intervention for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Purpose: This study sought to investigate the use of dance as a therapeutic intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the use of dance as a therapeutic intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Preliminary empirical review revealed that dance therapy holds promise in addressing the diverse needs of individuals with ASD, including social communication deficits, sensory sensitivities, and emotional regulation difficulties. By tailoring dance activities to accommodate individual preferences and needs, dance therapy provided a supportive and empowering environment for engagement, self-expression, and personal growth. While preliminary evidence suggested the efficacy of dance therapy, further research was deemed necessary to understand its therapeutic mechanisms fully. The study emphasized interdisciplinary collaboration to optimize the delivery of dance therapy interventions and enhance their effectiveness in supporting individuals with ASD in reaching their full potential and leading fulfilling lives. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Attachment theory, Socioecological theory and Embodied Cognition theory may be used to anchor future studies on therapeutic interventions for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. The study offered several recommendations that contributed to theory, practice, and policy. It suggested further research to advance theoretical frameworks and understand the mechanisms underlying dance therapy's effectiveness. In practice, the study recommended developing evidence-based guidelines, providing training for practitioners, and adopting person-centered approaches. Policy recommendations included advocating for policy changes, funding research, and integrating dance therapy into mainstream ASD interventions. Training initiatives, research collaboration, community engagement, and advocacy efforts were also emphasized to promote the integration and effectiveness of dance therapy for individuals with ASD in the past.

The psychotherapeutic use of dance as an educational tool to improve social skills in children with autism

ABSTRACT Educational tools based on the use of dance for professionals working with children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are scarce. The aim of this article is to highlight the benefits of dance therapy by presenting new research in the literature, and to describe the results of an intervention proposal that includes dance therapy in this field of education. The relevance of arts education as a strategy of attention to diversity in schools for the integrated development of academic and social skills is highlighted. The intervention proposal was designed with a programme of activities that included dance therapy and was implemented in children with autism. The aim was to determine whether it contributed to the development of their social skills. A descriptive qualitative methodology was used, with a purposive sampling of subjects affected by autism spectrum disorder attending the same educational centre. The results were collected in a field diary detailing the evolution of each subject in each module. Stufflebeam’s CIPP model was used to evaluate the results in terms of improvements in social skills. The results confirmed that dance therapy is an appropriate tool for the development of social skills in students with ASD.

Promoting social inclusion and quality of life in older adults through aerobic exercise programs

Background: Aging is an individual and collective process that alters health and quality of life of older adults. It deteriorates the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular and cardiovascular systems and causes damage to functionality. In the same way, the main risk factors for chronic diseases are overweight and sedentary lifestyle. The key to improve the quality of life is to be physically and mentally active. Objective: to apply an intervention to improve the life quality of older adults through an aerobic exercise program. Methods: a quantitative, observational and longitudinal approach was applied. The program lasted 12 weeks with an initial and final evaluation. The population consisted of 30 older adults, who underwent a warm-up, aerobic exercise (dance therapy) and flexibility and stretching exercises. The SF-36 quality of life questionnaire and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) were used. Results: it was established with a value p<0.001 that the dimensions evaluated by the SF-36 questionnaire improved. There was a change in physical function, physical role, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social function, emotional role and mental health, as well as in the level of physical activity. Conclusions: a positive change was observed. The aerobic exercise program reduces the musculoskeletal pain associated with aging and produces an increase in physical functionality. As a consequence, it favors an improvement in self-efficacy and self-esteem.

Exploring the Concept of Social Reconciliation Through the Experience of a Dance/Movement Therapy Group of Migrant Women in Spain

This paper explores the potential of Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) as a means of contributing to social reconciliation processes. The study, conducted through a group process with migrant women living in Spain, suggests that the relationships developed between participants in the DMT group reflect some of the key elements underpinning theories of social reconciliation. The elements of trust, empathy, and a willingness to coexist with others can be understood as the return to a sense of community and belonging. Furthermore, working with migrant women appeared as an opportunity to explore the concept of social reconciliation beyond national borders as an initial step to understanding this phenomenon through DMT. In summary, it is proposed that Dance Movement Therapy, oriented towards the configuration of new forms of relationship, has the potential to contribute to the modification of polarization frameworks in group and community relationships, particularly in areas affected by conflict or social marginalization experienced by migrants and refugees.

Experiences and perceived benefits of remotely delivered dance/movement therapy for adult cancer patients: a multi-method program evaluation.

Dance/movement therapy (DMT) is increasingly used as a complementary treatment to address psychological and physical wellbeing. However, it is unknown how it can be leveraged in adult cancer care. This mixed methods program evaluation aimed to assess patient-reported benefits and satisfaction with the virtual DMT in an academic oncology setting. We developed, implemented, and evaluated a 6-week virtual, synchronous DMT program aiming to improve physical health, address mental distress, and foster social connection for cancer patients. We used deidentified program evaluation data to assess impact of DMT on patient-reported outcomes and patients' satisfaction with the DMT program. Pre- and post-session data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a paired t-test. Qualitative data were captured through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results from 39 participants (mean age 64.7 ± 9.8), majority female (89.7%) with a history of breast cancer (43.6%), showed high satisfaction (100%) and unanimous program recommendation (100%). Significant improvements were noted in anxiety (- 0.42 ± 0.76, p = .009), distress (- 0.35 ± 0.80, p = .036), and sense of joy (0.73 ± 1.18, p = .004), with a non-significant trend in increased physical activity (0.38 ± 0.98, p = .057). Thematic findings indicated that DMT participation (1) facilitated engagement in physical activity for improved physical health, (2) fostered creative expression, (3) improved mental state, and (4) helped build social connections and support. Our DMT program shows promise as a component of integrative cancer care. The mixed-method evaluation provides insightful information to generate hypotheses for future RCT studies aiming to evaluate the specific effects of DMT on patient experience and outcomes.

Exploring Quality Participation through Dance Movement Therapy for Parkinson's Disease

Exploring Quality Participation through Dance Movement Therapy for Parkinson's Disease

A Holistic Approach to Parkinson's Disease: Integrating Advances in Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Therapy

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder affecting millions worldwide, with an increasing burden projected in the coming years. It involves complex neurological decline primarily affecting the Substantia nigra and Locus coeruleus, leading to motor and non-motor symptoms. Objective: This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Parkinson's disease, including its epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and available therapies, encompassing both traditional pharmaceutical treatments and emerging technological advancements. Methods: A thorough review of literature was conducted, synthesizing information from various studies and clinical trials to elucidate the current understanding of Parkinson's disease and its management strategies. Results: Parkinson's disease is characterized by the gradual loss of dopamine-producing cells and the presence of Lewy bodies in the brain. Diagnosis relies on clinical evaluation, and treatment typically involves pharmaceutical interventions such as levodopa, COMT inhibitors, dopamine agonists, and deep brain stimulation. Additionally, advancements in technology offer promising avenues for objective symptom assessment and personalized treatment approaches. Conclusion: The management of Parkinson's disease requires a multidisciplinary approach, integrating traditional pharmacological treatments with emerging technologies and complementary therapies like dance therapy, tai chi, and speech therapy. By combining these diverse modalities, healthcare professionals can provide more effective and personalized care, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for individuals living with Parkinson's disease. Keywords: Parkinson's disease, medical therapy, device-aided therapy, alternative interventions, personalized treatment, neurodegenerative disorder

Dance movement psychotherapy’s impact on emotional well-being in severe mental disorders: a quantitative study

Dance movement psychotherapy (DMP) is a technique rooted in the mind-body connection, utilising bodily movement to facilitate relational integration, personal and interpersonal functioning, and effective emotional regulation. A dance therapy program of six sessions was investigated to measure changes in the mood, health, and general well-being in 20 adults with Severe Mental Disorders (SMD), including mostly schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Divided into a control group focusing on positive emotions, and an experimental group exploring negative emotions, a quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental and correlational design with a test-retest procedure was employed. Findings revealed significant differences for both groups in all factors of the EVEA Scale and PERMA-Profiler Questionnaire, except for the ‘Meaning’ variable. Additionally, intra-group correlations indicated unfavourable concordance scores during the test-retest phase and an increase in health construct scores was evident.

Coping Mechanisms and Self-Care in the Art of Mentality: Movement Therapy as Emotional Mediation

This research applies the Practice as Research (PaR) method in the exploration of the author's coping strategies, as well as the impact on parents who experience child loss, especially as stillbirth survivors. Using the Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) approach as a theoretical foundation, this research conducted an in-depth investigation into the author's coping mechanisms and self-care awareness. Through practice experiments in PaR, the author explores and records her creative process in interpreting and reflecting personal experiences in her artistic works. The results of this research not only enrich the understanding of mental health, but also have the potential to reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues through the exposure of powerful personal narratives in artworks. Furthermore, this research resulted in the choreographic work "Dive to Blue," which not only depicts a survivor's journey in dealing with grief, but also serves as a visual documentation of the author's personal healing and growth process.

Self-Guided DMT: Exploring a Novel Paradigm of Dance Movement Therapy in Mixed Reality for Children with ASD.

Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often exhibit motor disorders. Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) has shown great potential for improving the motor control ability of children with ASD. However, traditional DMT methods often lack vividness and are difficult to implement effectively. To address this issue, we propose a Mixed Reality DMT approach, utilizing interactive virtual agents. This approach offers immersive training content and multi-sensory feedback. To improve the training performance of children with ASD, we introduce a novel training paradigm featuring a self-guided mode. This paradigm enables the rapid creation of a virtual twin agent of the child with ASD using a single photo to embody oneself, which can then guide oneself during training. We conducted an experiment with the participation of 24 children diagnosed with ASD (or ASD propensity), recording their training performance under various experimental conditions. Through expert rating, behavior coding of training sessions, and statistical analysis, our findings revealed that the use of the twin agent for self-guidance resulted in noticeable improvements in the training performance of children with ASD. These improvements were particularly evident in terms of enhancing movement quality and refining overall target-related responses. Our study holds clinical potential in the field of medical treatment and rehabilitation for children with ASD.