The purpose of dance therapy is to help people
achieve greater self-awareness and a positive sense of well-being.
The idea is that through authentic movement, one can express oneself and
come into contact with the conscious and unconscious parts of their personality.
This contact leads to accepting one's self for who they are. Dance/movement
therapy is based on the idea that the body and mind are interrelated.
The American Dance Therapy Association defines dance/movement therapy as
"the psychotherapeutic use of movement as a process which furthers the
emotional, cognitive and physical integration of the individual."
The American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) was founded in 1966 and there
are currently 1200 members in 46 states and 20 foreign countries.
Examples of those receiving dance/movement therapy are those individuals
with eating disorders, adult survivors of violence, sexually and physically
abused children, dysfunctional families, the homeless, autistic children,
the frail elderly, and substance abusers. More recent approaches
to dance/movement therapy emphasize disease prevention and health promotion
and treat many people with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, chronic
pain, and breast cancer.
The American Dance Therapy
Association (http://www.adta.org)
This is the link to the official dance therapy organization.
There is a description of dance/movement therapy, contact information for
leaders in the organization, a description of the profession and where
one can get their education, and information on current research.
Innermotion (http://www.innermotion.org)
This is a website for the group called innermotion which is a survivor
dance theater company composed of men and women who were sexually abused
as children. Included is a list of contacts for those that have been
abused.
National Coalition of Arts Therapies
Associations (http://www.ncata.com)
This organization was founded in 1979 and is dedicated to the advancement
of the arts used for therapeutic purposes. There are links and special
information on music therapy, dance/movement therapy, drama therapy, art
therapy, poetry therapy, and psychodrama.
International Institute
for Dance Therapy (http://www.dancetherapy.com)
This institute was founded by Petra Klein who conducts seminars, training,
and education is dance/movement therapy. You can also order books,
videos, and music on her website.
Susan G.
Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (http://www.sackomen.org/dancetherapy.html)
This site has a description of the benefits of dance therapy for women
suffering with breast cancer.
Authentic Movement
Institute (http://www.authenticmovement-usa.com)
This is the site for the institute that develops new training approaches
to psychotherapy. The goal is to develop kinesthetic awareness and
give the individual a medium for creative expression. This also contains
a number of links relating to this topic.
Columbus Center for
Movement Studies (http://www.being-in-movement.com)
This site is for a school that teaches many types of movement therapies
for different purposes. They teach such things as Aikido, the Feldenkrais
Method, , being in movement, and authentic movement. A description
for all of these is also given.
Hancock Center for
Movement Arts and Therapies (http://userpages.chorus.net/hancock)
This webpage gives a description and purpose of dance/movement therapy.
The center gives classes in the dance therapy to adults, children, and
the elderly.
Kinections (http://www.kinections.com)
This is a counseling center that utilizes dance and movement as a therapy
device. They use the term Living Dance to describe a kinesthetic
approach to self-discovery, awareness, and and self-confidence. This
service helps people struggling with eating disorders, depression, and
other negative responses to stress.