Dance

Art Therapy: Dance

The art therapy experience of dance falls under many different styles. Some see it as a performing art; however, it is so much more in the world of healing. Through the sequences of movement that have no rhyme or reason, one’s body can begin to demonstrate an outlet of emotion that can help an individual heal physically, mentally, and emotionally. Herman points out the healing benefits of dance within art and therapy through synchronous movement to rhythmic auditory stimulations (RAS) and music through organized activity with the body (Herman 2019).

In the story of Anne Halprin, who lived to be 100 years old, the power of dance and emotional healing from trauma can be explored. Halprin, a dancer, began the “Circle the Earth” dance program. She started it in the late Eighties, a program geared toward individuals dealing with HIV/AIDS. The dance was not choreographed; it was a dance of expression and movement. Each song was a dance by the individual’s interpretation of their feelings about the disease and the trauma they faced (Lee 2017). When music, action, emotion, and belief are intact, dance’s healing factors can be profound. Body psychotherapists provide patients with the ability to know they are there with unconditional presence, support during times of terrifying experiences, and comfort, which can lead to healing (Lee 2017). Dance therapy does not replace conventional medicine; however, physiotherapy serves as a supplement that is a profound part of an individual’s healing process (Lee 2017). Halprin’s ability to work with people through self-expression exemplifies how pushing individuals toward impossible goals inspires them to reach for the miraculous.

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