Dance Therapy Research Articles

Effectiveness of dance interventions for falls prevention in older adults: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Fall prevention is a global health priority. Strength and balance exercise programmes are effective at reducing falls. Emerging literature suggests dance is an enjoyable and sociable form of exercise. However, there is little evidence that dance reduces fall incidence. Systematic review and meta-analysis examining effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of dance for falls prevention in older adults. Five databases were searched with no restrictions on publication date or intervention settings. Risk of bias was assessed using variants of Cochrane Risk of bias tools, Mixed-Methods Appraisal and Drummond checklist as appropriate. Certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE. Forty-one studies were included (19 RCTs, 13 quasi-experimental, two mixed-method, seven observational studies, 2,451 participants). Five types of dance interventions were identified: ballroom and Latin dance, dance exercise, cultural dance, dance therapy, and low-impact dance. Meta-analysis was only possible for functional outcome measures: Timed-Up-and-Go (dance versus usual care, mean difference (MD) = 1.36; 95% CI -3.57 to 0.85), Sit-to-Stand (dance versus exercise MD = -0.85; 95% CI -2.64 to 0.93: dance versus education MD = -1.64; 95% CI -4.12 to 0.85), Berg Balance Scale (dance versus usual care MD = 0.61; 95% CI -4.26 to 5.47). There was unexplained variance in effects and no significant differences between intervention and control groups. Overall, certainty of evidence was very low; we are uncertain about the effect of dance interventions in reducing falls. There is very low certainty evidence for dance as an alternative to strength and balance training if the aim is to prevent falls. No robust evidence on the cost-effectiveness of dance interventions for the prevention of falls was found. CRD42022382908.

When Conventional Medicine Fails: Bori and Olokun Ritual Dance as Treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for Nigerian Armed Forces

This article attempts a conceptualisation of African ritual dance therapy (ARDT) as a distinct form and practice of dance movement therapy (DMT). We argue that Bori and Olokun dances, two of Nigeria’s most potent ritual dances, possess therapeutic elements that bear on the treatment of combatants of the Nigerian armed forces currently engaged in a theatre of war against terrorism and banditry in Nigeria. Our argument is premised on the discovery that military hospitals in Nigeria is currently over-stretched with about 57% of the military and paramilitary personnel (participants) suffering from post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) resulting from their encounters with terrorists’ cells and bandits. We argue against the institutional frame that sanctions the normalization of conventional medical practice as well as medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of men of the armed forces faced with PTSD. We use ARDT dance ethnography as a theoretical premise to contend that African ritual dance therapy (ARDT) offers an alternative curation for the men of the Nigerian Armed Forces. We use the research instrumentations of focus group discussion and ARDT workshop sessions to get data from 12 para/military participants. We found out that the Bori and Olokun ARDT convey diverse spirit-restorative medicaments that can serve the Nigerian Armed Forces.

METHODOLOGICAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ORGANISING PSYCHOLOGICAL AND CORRECTIONAL CLASSES OF DANCE AND MOVEMENT THERAPY FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS THROUGH THE PRISM OF THE INFLUENCE ON CERTAIN BRAIN REGIONS

This article observes methodological recommendations for conducting dance and movement therapy with children with autism spectrum disorders. The guidelines contain a set of different techniques used by therapists in various practices when working with patients. In this case, the emphasis is on working with people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Each methodology and technique are considered through the neuropsychological prism of impact Теория, стратегии 101 on certain brain regions. The article also provides recommendations for practicing therapists to diagnose patients with ASD in terms of the level of Bernstein’s motor development and the overlay of these levels on pathopsychological syndromes according to O. Nikolskaya’s classification in order to work more effectively with a specific patient and his/her characteristics, taking into account the degree of severity of one or another indicator.

Posbindu Cadres Art Dance Therapy (PodCAsT) Improving the Quality of Life

Background: Stress is something condition disease no contagious as possible give an impact bad for health when keeps going experienced by someone for period long. Dancing could be fun for Posbindu Cadres but also could help promote relaxation to reduce stress. Objective: This study aims to uncover the effectiveness of Posbindu Cadres Art Dance Theraphy (PodCAsT) for Posbindu Cadres in reducing stress. Method: The study was a quasi-experimental research with a one-group pretest-posttest design. Twenty-Eight cadres at Gading Wetan Donokerto, Sleman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia were participated the study. Level of Stress was measured using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS). Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon test. Result: There was a significant difference with (p<0.001) between the stress level on cadres before and after Posbindu Cadres Art Dance Theraphy (PodCAsT) with with the stress level from 30 to 11. Conclusion: The PodCAsT could effectively reduce the level stress of cadres who experience stress with severe anxiety because of the many duties and responsibilities carried out by Posbindu Cadres in serving and monitoring and controlling public health.Implication: Posbindu Cadres Art Dance Therapy (PodCAsT) can be applied in communities, especially communities, to improve the quality of life and at the same time maintain Yogyakarta traditional dancing culture

Art therapies and cognitive function in elderly with subjective cognitive decline: a protocol for a network meta-analysis

IntroductionSubjective cognitive decline means a decline in the subjective perception of self-cognitive function, which is likely to evolve into mild cognitive impairment and dementia. The number of elderly with subjective...

Anti-oppressive pedagogy in dance/movement therapy education: Embodied experiences of black, indigenous, and students of color

This study explored the embodied graduate educational experiences of dance/movement therapy students who were Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Eight research participants who were between the ages of 22 to 45 years old were recruited from American Dance Therapy Association approved programs. Participants self-identified as Black/African American and Jamaican, Black/African American, Latinx/Brazilian, Asian/Chinese, Asian/Filipino, Asian/Chinese and Taiwanese American, and Asian/Chinese and White American. A qualitative research design based in phenomenology and arts-based methods grounded in anti-oppressive research were used. Two semistructured interviews and 1 week of embodied observation and journaling were part of data collection. Themes included four embodied states and eight embodied substates. The embodied state, wounded body, spoke to harm that occurred with peers, instructors, and course materials. The embodied state, critical body, included contemplation or action about injustices or inequities for marginalized groups. The embodied state, intersectional body, encompassed participants’ awareness, understanding, and choices around conformity to social norms of their own intersectional identities. The embodied state, flourishing body, were the conscious and unconscious efforts of resourcing through various interpersonal and intrapersonal supports. The findings, in combination with research in the literature, were used to suggest seven recommendations for an embodied anti-oppressive pedagogy in dance/movement therapy.

Cultivating Practical Skills in Dance Therapy Professionals within Vocational Education

The concept of "Dance Therapy" originated in the field of dance therapy in the United States, integrating elements of dance and psychology, emphasizing the philosophy of unity of body and mind. Dance therapy is not only an art form but also a therapeutic method. Through dance movements, rhythm, and expression, it helps individuals explore themselves, release emotions, and enhance social and cognitive abilities. In vocational education, the training of dance therapy professionals is of great significance. They can apply the concepts and methods of dance therapy to provide effective guidance and support for patient groups, promoting their rehabilitation and healing. To cultivate professionals with practical skills in dance therapy, it is necessary to study the value of dance therapy deeply. By analyzing its functions, we can understand how dance therapy helps individuals progress in social, cognitive, and personal qualities. Therefore, training dance therapy professionals in vocational education is a task of great importance. Through research and practice, the theory and methods of dance therapy can be continuously refined, offering effective help and support to more people.

The PD-Ballet Study: A World First Randomised Controlled, Single-blinded, Diversity-enabled Trial of Dance Therapy for Parkinson’s (P9-3.002)

The PD-Ballet Study: A World First Randomised Controlled, Single-blinded, Diversity-enabled Trial of Dance Therapy for Parkinson’s (P9-3.002)

Using implementation methods to study a combined dance/movement therapy (DMT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) protocol at an inpatient substance use setting

There is evidence that dance/movement therapy (DMT) has positive outcomes for patients with various conditions when used either as a standalone therapy or when coupled with a gold standard modality such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This combined DMT/CBT has yet to be studied for patients struggling with alcohol and substance use disorders from a structured, manualized, implementation perspective. The current study outlines patient engagement and satisfaction with a 4-session DMT/CBT program at an inpatient addiction treatment facility. The 4-session manualized DMT/CBT protocol comprised “impulse inventory,” “studying impulses,” “subconscious movement,” and “body language.” Participants reported the most engagement in “studying impulses” and attended an average of 2.38 sessions during their time in treatment. Most patients reported receiving some (55%) or substantial (23%) benefit from the protocol. These findings lay the foundation to better optimize a DMT/CBT protocol for patients struggling with alcohol and substance use disorders. However, about a quarter of patients received no benefit from the group (23%), highlighting known barriers to DMT in general. Findings can help small inpatient facilities utilize information toward next steps of optimizing a DMT/CBT protocol.

Assessing dance movement therapy in Chinese undergraduates with depression and anxiety: An initial randomized controlled trial

Mental health problems, especially depression and anxiety, are becoming increasingly prominent among college students, which negatively affects academic achievement and physical and mental health. To address this issue, this study introduced dance movement therapy (DMT) to a group of Chinese university students - a group never addressed in DMT research. Addressing the gap, this randomized controlled trial evaluates DMT's effectiveness in reducing depressive and anxious symptoms in thirty-six students. Over a concise three-day program, participants engaged in 18 h of structured DMT, exploring twelve themes, while counterparts in the control group awaited treatment. Outcomes were promising:students undergoing DMT showed marked improvements in mental health measures immediately following therapy, and these benefits for intervention group were maintained after three months. Significantly, the treatment's positive effects were consistent across genders, showcasing DMT's broad potential. This initial investigation suggests DMT is a promising avenue for mental health management in Chinese undergraduates, calling for further trials with larger cohorts and longer observation to confirm and extend these findings.

Emotional labor, job stress, and burnout of private primary and secondary schools towards a healthy life balance

This study delved into the intricate connection between emotional labor, job stress, and burnout among 193 nurturing educators from private primary and secondary schools at Shaoguan Experimental School in Guangdong, China. Using a descriptive-correlation approach, it leaned on the wisdom encapsulated in tried-and-true text like the MBI-GS questionnaire revised by Li Chaoping (2002), the self-assessment tool for burnout by Christina Maslach, and the insights of Cem Şafak Cukur.In the labyrinth of high-pressure teaching, the educators at Shaoguan Experimental School face towering stress levels and tread the middling grounds of burnout. The profound findings unravel a consistent, positive connective thread between Job Stress, Emotional Labor, and Job Burnout — a connection that swings from moderate to strong ties. The varying strains of emotional labor strike noteworthy chords. Surface Acting shows a potential yet slightly significant regulating influence. Active Deep Acting wields a substantial mediating effect, while Passive Deep Acting merely whispers with an almost imperceptible impact.The researcher recommends programs such as Job Stress Education, Meditation Exercises, Dance Movement Therapy, Flexible Scheduling, and Contextualized Seminars and pieces of training in attaining a healthy life balance based on the study's findings. Schools should develop strategies to mitigate job stressors, cultivate supportive and collaborative work, establish initiatives to support teachers' emotional well-being, offer further training programs on emotional labor management, and advocate for a balanced approach to emotional labor. Conversely, teachers should commit to the programs and play proactive roles in improving them.

Strategi Intervensi Non-Farmakologi untuk Gangguan Tidur pada Pasien Kanker Payudara

This research aims to determine non-pharmacological intervention strategies in treating sleep disorders in breast cancer patients. The method uses a systematic review, by identifying nursing problems faced by breast cancer survivors, determining research questions, exploring relevant research, and carrying out data extraction. The results show that there are various non-pharmacological intervention strategies for sleep disorders in breast cancer patients, both single and combination therapy. These interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), Sleep Hygiene Education (SHE), Bright Light Therapy (BLT), internet-based interventions, Acupressure, Acupuncture, Tai Chi, Dance Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Yoga. In conclusion, various non-pharmacological intervention strategies can be carried out by oncology nurses independently, where each intervention has its own advantages. In its implementation to patients, should adapt to cultural backgrounds, be flexible, easy to apply, doesn’t require large costs, effective, efficient, and focuses on patient needs. Keywords: Sleep Disorders, Non-pharmacological Intervention, Breast Cancer

Ritual dance, authentic movement and dance movement therapy among indigenous Wiwan females in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (Colombia)

This article presents results of a collaborative research with indigenous women from Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombian. Here, I discuss the possibilities of the intercultural dialogue between authentic movement, dance movement-therapy and rituals and communitarian Wiwa dances. I seek to answer certain questions such as: How does an authentic movement from dance movement therapy dialogue with the ritual dances of Wiwa women in Colombia to restore human and nonhuman sexualities in the postconflict scenario? What functions do the roles of mover and witness discharge? What challenges and possibilities emanate from such a dialogue vis-à-vis the deep healing of our sexualities and the reconceptualization of dance movement-therapy and authentic movement? The results presented here are the mixture of a fieldwork in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta during the last four years and the intercultural authentic movement experience with Wiwa Elders and women.

Effectiveness of dance movement therapy and dance movement interventions on cancer patients' health-related outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This review examined the effectiveness of using dance movement therapy (DMT) and dance movement interventions (DMIs) with cancer and palliative care patients. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Six databases were searched from inception to July 9, 2022, without limits on year or age. Searching was updated on July 10, 2023. The risk of bias was assessed by the Cochrane (RoB 2) and ROBINS-I tools. Meta-analyses were conducted to pool estimates of the effects of DMT and DMI on patients' health-related outcomes. A narrative synthesis of outcomes was performed where meta-analysis was not appropriate. Among a total of 16 studies included in this review, nine were randomized controlled trials and seven were non-randomized trials, with a total of 893 participants. Only six of these studies were fully or partially described as true DMTs (some with less clarity than others), whereas the majority (n = 10) were DMIs with unclear therapeutic alignment. Most studies focused on female patients with breast cancer. Cancer patients undergoing palliative care received little attention. The overall risk of bias from the evaluated studies was high. Meta-analysis of two trials revealed that DMTs had no effect on QOL in cancer patients (SMD - 0.09, 95% CI - 0.21-0.40, P = 0.54), while narrative analysis and non-randomized trials showed no overall effect of DMTs on anxiety, depression, body image, self-esteem, or sleep disturbance but significant positive effects on perceived stress, pain severity, and pain interference. DMIs had significant positive effects on cancer patients' depression (SMD - 0.53, 95% CI - 0.93 to - 0.14, P = 0.008) and fatigue (SMD - 0.42, 95% CI - 0.70 to - 0.14, P = 0.003). DMI trials synthesized narratively showed an effect on patients' body image, self-esteem, physical function, right and left handgrip strength, life satisfaction, and the mental component of QOL. Both DMT and DMIs had promisingeffects on severalhealth outcomes, but results were inconsistent, and the evidence was weak. The reviewed studies' low evidence quality and small sample sizes affected the findings' robustness and reliability. Large-scale, high-quality randomized controlled trials with sufficient sample sizes, and clear and veracious DMT and DMI protocols and data are required to provide more credible research evidence and influence practice.

Child Maltreatment and Survival in Jane Rowan’s The River of Forgetting: A Memoir of Healing from Sexual Abuse

In the twenty-first century, child maltreatment has broadened our perception of the relationship between child sexual abuse, survival and the healing process from psychological trauma. Trauma narratives are considered personalized responses to the awareness of the drastic effects of sexual assaults on children. Memoirs illustrate the effect of child sexual abuse on memory and identity. This research paper aims at applying Jennifer Freyd’s trauma theory that involves child maltreatment and emotional neglect to Jane Rowan’s The River of Forgetting (2010). It deals with the concept of betrayal trauma, its symptoms and some of the defensive surviving strategies such as dissociative amnesia and dissociative identity disorder (DID) as adaptive responses to childhood sexual abuse. Rowan’s memoir is considered a personal account of her psychological suffering due to her repressed memory of being sexually abused by her father during her early childhood. It examines how the protagonist struggles to survive among persistent traumatic memories that are repressed during forty years of her life. Finally, the textual analysis clarifies the process of recovery from psychological trauma by using psychotherapy, dance therapy, art therapy and scriptotherapy.

A working model of dance movement therapy and its application for psychological assistance hotlines

Psychological hotlines are widely used, convenient, and effective means to help people overcome their stress reactions. In this article, we focused on integrating somatic and mental-micro interventions into the psychological assistance hotline process. In addition to verbal communication, dance movement therapy based on the body-mind interaction can help clients re-establish their connection with psychological resources, such as creativity and resilience in addition to verbal communication. Based on the basic steps and core points of the SAFER-R model, we explored how embodied movement elements can be applied to the hotline setting for body-mind micro-interventions. Furthermore, we proposed the CREATE model and explained how it can be used to intervene and realise the basic functions of psychological hot line service through four case vignettes. Through this article, we added new perspectives and options for the provision of psychological support during public health events, and we enriched the working methods of psychological hotline assistance.

Treatment resistant depression: a critical reflection on missing oral narratives in dance therapy literature

South Asian narratives are underrepresented in dance movement psychotherapy academia. Systematically supporting more anecdotal literature on utilising the body’s innate wisdom in illness prevention and treatment is essential to support equitable accommodation of oral narratives. In this critical reflection, I have integrated my emerging perspectives as a member of the South Asian diaspora, a clinician who has trained and worked within the medical model and an early career researcher. I present two anecdotal themes and brief case examples relevant to contemplating the value of oral narratives within dance movement psychotherapy. They are: (1) embodied storytelling as a way of building emotional intelligence, and (2) intuition as a way of trusting one’s bodily cues in individuals.

Women with disabilities, body image, and wellbeing: Assessing the effectiveness of dance sessions

IntroductionThere is growing research evidence on bodily discourses and body image issues of women with disabilities. Within the art-based intervention repertoire for persons with disabilities, dance and movement-based therapies and interventions are gaining prominence. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of dance sessions (delivered online) on body image, body satisfaction/dissatisfaction, and wellbeing of women with disabilities. MethodA quasi-experimental waitlist control design study was conducted with data collected at two time points: baseline or pre-test and five-months later or post-test. Outcomes were measured using the Body Image Scale and the WHO-5-Wellbeing Index. ResultsThe dance sessions were effective (Hedges’ g = −0.56 –0.88; p < 0.01) and post-test body dissatisfaction scores were lower and wellbeing scores were higher for participants with a college degree or postgraduate degree, self-employed or students, and whose intervention compliance was above threshold (>50% dance sessions attended and corresponding homework sessions completed). Tobit regression models indicated that it was possible to estimate post-test outcomes due to dance sessions alone, controlling for significant socio-demographics. DiscussionThe domain knowledge of non-pharmacological art-based interventions for persons with disabilities, particularly women, is supported. ConclusionsFindings commend dance sessions as effective psychotherapeutic mechanisms to mitigate body dissatisfaction, improve body image and wellbeing of women with disabilities. Future research may focus on large-scale cross-sectional trials, variations in the repertoire for women with different disability types and histories, and qualitative narratives.

“Can I really be authentic?” A co-created critical autoethnography on whiteness in dance/movement therapy education

As a cultural force, Whiteness is insidious in dance/movement therapy (DMT) education. In the process of learning, East Asian international students and educators may aspire to White, middle-class, able-bodied, heteropatriarchal norms of what constitutes healthy movement and relational styles while excluding others, particularly within a group dynamic that privileges modern dance technique and overt emotional and verbal expression. The reach of educational neocolonialism in East Asian countries further perpetuates this force. As the foundational form of the discipline of DMT, “modern dance” is the standard of the expressive practice. And although “other” dance forms are starting to be welcomed, there is still a gap regarding how these are included into DMT education and applied in practice. This co-created critical autoethnography emerged from an embodied reflexive dialogue between two East Asian former international students on their experience of Whiteness in DMT education. Through counternarratives, we illustrate ways towards a decolonizing praxis of DMT that is situated within the educational environment and with the students with whom we work as educators and supervisors.

Dance/movement therapy for improving metabolic parameters in long-term veterans with schizophrenia

Accumulating evidence has supported the implementation of dance/movement therapy (DMT) as a promising intervention for patients with schizophrenia (SCZ). However, its effect on body weight and metabolic profile in SCZ remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the outcome of a 12-week DMT session on weight and lipid profile in patients with SCZ using a randomized, single-blinded, controlled trial design. This study encompassed two groups of long-term hospitalized patients with SCZ, who were randomly assigned to the DMT intervention (n = 30) or the treatment as usual (TAU) group (n = 30). Metabolic markers, including weight, body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol were measured in both groups at two measurement points (at baseline and the end of the 12-week treatment). We found that DMT intervention significantly decreased body weight (F = 5.5, p = 0.02) and BMI (F = 5.7, p = 0.02) as compared to the TAU group. However, no significance was observed in other metabolic markers, including fasting glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol after treatment (all p > 0.05). Our study indicates that a 12-week, 24-session DMT program may be effective in decreasing body weight and BMI in long-term hospitalized patients with SCZ. DMT intervention may be a promising treatment strategy for long-term inpatients in the psychiatric department.