FEATURE:
Strictly Confidential
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The Power and Pleasure of Dance as Therapy and a Way to Improve Your Mental-Health
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THERE are a couple of reasons why…
IN THIS PHOTO: Comedian Bill Bailey won the latest series of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing/PHOTO CREDIT: BBC
I am mentioning dance and focusing on it now. On BBC Radio 6 Music, there is a show on the schedule where a single song is spun to provide ‘dance therapy’: everyone listening can get down and lose themselves to a proper banger! Rather than it being glib or a throwaway thing, the intent is to show how one can feel better and rejuvenated by dance. Of course, it takes more than a single song to properly elevate the mood, but the power of music and dance is proven. This year’s Strictly Come Dancing has been one of the most-discussed and, in a year when they have had to change things and it has been a bit strange, so many people were connecting over it and being affected by the impact dance had on the contestants! I am not much of a dancer myself but, as we are practically locked down and there is no opportunity to dance socially, many people are doing it in their own homes. I think 2020 was pretty hard for many - and the toll that has taken on their mental-health is huge. Exercise is a great way of assisting with that, but I think that dance offers that extra boost of endorphins and, at the same time, you are physically connecting with music. I can well imagine, when people can go out and dance at clubs and gigs again, there will be this swell, as one of the most frequent things I have seen on social media is how people miss seeing live music and being able to get sweaty (and have that connection with the music).
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I am not suggesting that people exert that much energy when it comes to dancing, but if you are struggling with any range of mental-health issues, then dance can help. Maybe it is not possible to use dance professionally as therapy, but the idea of dance therapy is to help you think differently about your body. It can help when it comes to a lack of social connection; if you are living with low self-esteem, depression or some form of trauma, then movement is very beneficial. Here is some information regarding dance therapy (this is a useful organisation that can help) and what it can entail:
“According to the Association for Dance Movement Psychotherapy, dance therapy is “founded on the principle that movement reflects a person’s pattern of thinking and feeling.” The aim of this approach is therefore to use dance and movement to facilitate emotional, mental, spiritual and social growth.
In dance therapy, the body is considered the main form of communication and can be especially helpful for those who find it difficult to put how they feel into words.
Within sessions, a dance therapist will encourage you to communicate how you’re feeling using both verbal and nonverbal communication (like movement). Music may be included to help with this, alongside props such as fabrics and balls.
Dance therapy can be offered in a one-to-one setting (just you and the therapist) or in a group. Whichever format you choose, the relationship between yourself and your therapist will be key. Building rapport and trust will help the process, allowing you to be more open within sessions.
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That both body and mind are interconnected.
That physical movement can express aspects of our personality.
That non-verbal means can be used to communicate part of the therapeutic relationship.
That the movements we make can represent our unconscious processes.
That improvisation and experimentation can help to bring about changes and new ways of being”.
There are obvious heath benefits to dance. One can do it recreationally or as part of a class. I have seen so many people express distress during this very dark time. Maybe they would feel inhibited or strange dancing at home – even if it is private -, so it might seem quite embarrassing. I can appreciate that. For those who want to take a class, there are articles that recommend good dance classes online (those you can do virtually). For me, the benefits of even simple dance – no more than a bit of a jig when there is a quiet moment – can really help out. When it comes to depression, the positives of dance are clear:
“One of the main reasons people dance is to modify their emotional state; typically, they strive to feel more joy and happiness and to reduce stress and anxiety. Since its inception dance therapy, similar to somatic psychotherapies, has emphasized the reciprocal interaction between body and mind, and the ability to regulate emotions via changes in body postures and movements.
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The exploration of new movements can evoke novel perceptions and feelings. It may also facilitate seeing a wider range of possibilities in a given situation. Some new or old movement patterns may evoke repressed material and enhance better understanding of oneself and one’s environment and history.
One of the most compelling studies supporting this idea examined complex improvised movements, and identified unique sets of movement components that can elicit the feelings of happiness, sadness, fear or anger. The associations between emotions and specific motor components have been used in the past for diagnosis or emotion recognition. This study goes further and proposes specific techniques for modifying emotions”.
Online gigs/events like Dua Lipa’s Disco 2054 have really got people involved and dancing along; if you have been keeping abreast of Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Kitchen Discos, then I would recommend you watch them. She has shown that you can create a mini-party in the home without too much effort – although she does crack the disco ball out! Everyone is going to be different regarding whether they feel comfortable being more exuberant and visible about their dancing or whether they want to do it in private. Even a little boogie at the desk can be nourishing. There are great playlists suggesting the best dance songs, and there is also a mix if you want to dance alone. Things will get better this year but, as so many of us have been living with mental-health problems and finding it hard to get motivated and see the positives, I feel that dance is a very good (temporary) solution. Whether dancing as therapy or doing it as a form of exercise, it will not take too long until you…
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REAP the rewards.