Reflective Essays

I would have wanted to Tell People

Junjie Huang

In this class, I was introduced to DMT for the first time, which is also known as dance movement therapy, and it was the first time I learned that we can use body language and dance movement to treat some mental illnesses and help some people. I think that as one of the creative art therapies, DMT is different from choreography, performance, martial arts, Tai Chi, yoga and aerobics. It does not emphasize movement techniques, nor is it about weight reduction and body shaping. It pursues the integration of body and mind and mental adjustment in the body through dance, emotional expression and interaction.

In fact, I still do not fully understand DMT, but I think the expression and output of emotions is the most important part of DMT. It's like when we are extremely angry we want to smash things and break the table. In that moment we want to express our anger in such a violent way, and after venting our anger, we will feel more relaxed or we can calm down. I think this is the reason why DMT was created, because not everyone can control their emotions, and not everyone can find the right way to vent or export their emotions. Just like in real life, we can't take out our anger and emotions on the poor table every time. When these pent-up emotions can't be vented properly, we will have a harder time, and over time it becomes a heart disease.

But one thing that I believe I will use it in my future life or work is the Check in. This is when we all get together before class every day to talk about our state and mood. Then, after class, we do the Closing. Every day we all hold hands and look at each other and breathe in and out together. I just enjoy it, and when I hear everyone say they are doing great, I can feel that relaxation in them, so I am relaxed too. When I hear that everyone is as tired and nervous as I am, I feel that I'm not the only one who is so tired, everyone is the same, and that bad mood gets a lot better.

Most importantly, I think the check-ins provide an opportunity for us to tell our own stories and express our own state. I need to tell people something, I need someone to listen to me. The Check-ins were like that. I did not share because my English is not good, otherwise I would have wanted to say a lot of things and I would have wanted to tell people how I felt and what I went through.

Reassuring The Client that They Are Not Alone

Veronica Serber

Taking this course has allowed me to learn such beneficial techniques that not only can be used for dance movement therapy but also in one's everyday life. Techniques such as dance metaphors, rhythm drumming, innermost fantasy, and movement integration gave me more insight into how there are several mechanisms that can be done in either group therapy or with a close friend at home to help people reconnect their mind to their body whether they are dealing with an internal struggle, mental health issues, or any barrier that may come in life. The biggest takeaway from these techniques is that there are so many ways to communicate thoughts, feelings, and emotions through movement.

During the learning process, I was able to learn several dance movement therapy techniques while also being able to visualize how they are performed and why they are effective. Coming to class every day allowed me to feel excited to learn about such amazing techniques for dance movement therapy. One technique that really stuck with me was the self-portrait. Every day we wake up and see ourselves in the mirror and leave it at that, however, drawing the self-portrait and expressing my emotions through the portrait and movements allowed me to realize that there is much more meaning behind the face you see in the mirror. Doing this activity also allowed me to express things that were hard to vocalize through dance and movements, which I think was extremely beneficial.

As someone who wants to become a mental health counselor, I definitely will be able to use the many techniques we learned in class in my practice. Throughout the semester we learned about so many mental health issues and how one can seek dance movement therapy to help reconnect their mind and body. Techniques such as dance metaphors, rhythm drumming, and self-portraits would allow the client to express their mental health issues through movement, and as the therapist I can join in and reassure the client that they are not alone and that they can communicate their emotions through movement.

Reconnecting With Myself

Kaitlyn Bitting

Throughout this course I was able to learn many valuable lessons. The first thing I remember learning was the importance and value of the circle. The circle allows everyone to feel connected to each other and it symbolizes the ongoing cycle of life. I also learned how dance movement therapy can play such a large role in helping people reconnect with themselves. When one allows themselves to move freely, it helps bring up subconscious thoughts that the patient and therapist can then discuss and work through to help the individual. This is especially helpful in people that have a difficult time expressing and processing their emotions or traumas. Additionally, I learned how important it is to check in with your patients, as the therapist, before doing any therapy. This allows the therapist to know where everyone is at so they can adjust the plans for the session accordingly. This is not only helpful for the therapist, but also the patient as it allows them to connect to the other people in the group and allows them to see they are not alone in their feelings. I learned many things in this class, however, these are just a few examples of what stuck out to me the most.

This course not only taught me about the different DMT techniques, but I also learned a lot about myself. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to take this course using an experiential method. This allowed me to immerse myself in the different techniques to gain first hand experience for how the patients will feel and what they can learn through each one. As the course went on, I began to notice how my body was reacting in different exercises and I was able to start understanding myself a little more. At times I did feel uncomfortable because I realized I am not always fully connected to my body and myself. As the course went on, I did become more comfortable participating in the activities. I felt that the experiential method allowed me to not only learn, but understand the different DMT techniques which allowed me to feel more connected to the course material.

Going forward, I will definitely be using what I learned in my field of study. As someone who is aspiring to go to law school and practice law one day, I think it is extremely beneficial to be able to understand why certain people and clients will act a certain way. I know I will inevitably have to work with difficult people in the workforce and having a better understanding of people will allow me to collaborate better with them and therefore be more productive and successful. I will also use some of the techniques learned to help myself. Life can get overwhelming at times and being able to understand certain emotions, and where they are coming from, is very valuable. Additionally, using the techniques learned to help reconnect with myself in times of stress will allow me to be more successful in handling stressful situations. The lessons I learned in this class will be very useful in both my field of study and my future life.

Movement is a Transformative Process

Julia Russel

Throughout this course, we have learned many different concepts relevant to the field of dance-movement therapy. Of the list of terms, the one that sticks out the clearest in my mind is rhythm drumming. This was a technique in which one person began the rhythm with their instrument, and slowly each member of the group joined in with their own respective instruments, until the entire class was playing to the same rhythm. This was a transformative experience, because I have never thought of myself as musically inclined, but this exercise enabled me to realize that I don’t have to be musically talented in order to beat to the same rhythm. On the other hand, the innermost fantasy was a technique to express unrealistic fantasies, in order to connect the client and the therapist. This technique may be useful in patients with schizophrenia, because it can allow them to express abstract concepts, and give the therapist the opportunity to put themselves in the shoes of the client without necessarily the use of verbalization. Finally, I will reflect on the concept of movement integration, a technique that transitions from one type of movement to another, that may be drastically different. During this course period, we began with yoga, then transitioned into tai chi, and then salsa. Each of these movements techniques had drastically different paces and feelings related to them, but each one was necessary in order to transition into the next. The yoga enabled me to connect with each part of my body and release tension, the tai chi required me to move without thinking about what was coming next, and upon completion of both of these exercises, I was able to transition into the salsa technique, and feel relaxed and comfortable in my environment.

I felt extremely calm and unjudged throughout the learning process. On the first day of class, I remember feeling slightly nervous. I have never considered myself a dancer, nor have I ever really felt comfortable dancing. I used to always worry about what I looked like while I was dancing, and spend lots of time comparing myself to others. Throughout this course, however, I have learned to realize that we are our own harshest critics. There is so much more to movement than what I previously imagined when I thought of the concept of dance-movement therapy. I have learned that movement is a transformative process. The mind and the body have equal weights of influence on each other. Upon realizing this concept, I began to understand that I truly do have the power to alter how I feel, by moving my body in ways that will allow my mind to express itself. This learning process has required me to step out of my comfort zone, to focus on my mind and body, and to connect with others and realize that we all bring unique qualities to a shared group experience.

The content I have learned in this course applies to my own field of study, as well as my personal life, in many different ways. Upon graduating from the University of Miami this May, I will be pursuing a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. This course has enabled me to understand that there are many different approaches to therapy, and that therapy is not one-size-fits-all. While I myself have benefited from interpersonal therapy throughout my life, I recognize that verbal processing is not beneficial for all. Dance-movement therapy allows individuals to process repressed traumas or experiences through nonverbal communication. I will apply these concepts to my field of study in recognizing that when I do become a certified speech-language pathologist, my methods of therapy might not work for all individuals who come to see me. Just because an individual does not seem to benefit from one type of therapy does not deem that type of therapy useless for all, it just means that we are all unique, and what works for one might not work for the next person. This class has enabled me to further emphasize and advocate for creating and implementing practices that put the client first. It is important to understand the client as an individual before any action can be taken.

Dance Can Help People

Stella Lee

Being a member of this class, I was grateful to be part of it and share my feelings through dance images. The most helpful thing to me that I learned was it made me realize how dance can help people to treat themselves physically and mentally. I also used personal metaphors to understand myself better and to share my feelings with others instead of keeping them to myself. Movement integration taught me the ability to understand my positive physical, physiological, and psychological movements to connect with myself.

Dance therapy is not just for people who are sick, it is for everyone who tries to get through the day. I felt very comfortable sharing my thoughts and feelings about the day. I thought the check-in part was a very important part of the class. I learned a lot about myself and connect with others by understanding why they feel what they feel.

I would use it in my personal or professional life to make me feel better when I am angry or depressed. I learned about myself that I need to open my heart and listen to other people and what they go through. Since my field is helping other people, I would use these techniques that I learned in class to understand their emotions better and help them feel better about themselves.

A Deeper Understanding

Emily Tano

This course has allowed me to dive into the world of dance movement therapy. I have learned many valuable techniques and concepts that I will take with me for the rest of my life. We started the class explaining what dance movement therapy means in our own words. Dance movement therapy is a therapy that uses movement to help individuals communicate their conscious and unconscious feelings and emotions. We learned through therapy/patient activities how to help people physically and mentally. Body-ego technique, one of the techniques that we discussed, is a nonverbal teaching approach that relates movement and body posture to body image. The term schema goes along with body-ego and helps the therapist understand the body integration process. Innermost fantasy is another concept that we learned. Trudi Schoop developed the idea of exploring fantasy life or innermost fantasy through movement and dance. By doing this, it bridges the gap between the patient’s psychotic and normal realities. Rhythm drumming, which uses different rhythmic beats, is another method by Trudi Schoop that we discussed in this course. It helps patients develop a sense of body limits as well as understanding their emotions that resulted from difficult situations.

I felt very lucky that I was able to have the opportunity to learn about dance movement therapy. It has opened my eyes to a new form of therapy that helps patients connect their mind to their body. No matter what kind of mood I am in, I know that when I enter the classroom, I am in a safe environment that is welcoming and that understands my emotions. My favorite part of the class was the check-in circle. At the beginning of every class, everybody would sit in a circle on the ground. By sitting on the ground, we are all at the same level and facing inward. The check-in circle is an amazing way for everyone in the classroom to connect with each other and understand each other’s feelings and emotions. It also gives the therapist an opportunity to understand how the patients are feeling and to adjust their session accordingly. The circle creates a safe space to open up and share vulnerable feelings with one another. I loved how everybody had a chance to speak and be listened to. At the beginning of the semester, we did a memorable exercise that consisted of holding eye contact with one another. At first it made me a little uncomfortable, but as the session went on, I became more relaxed and connected. When we added movement along with the eye contact, it allowed me to connect with the other person and communicate how we were feeling without talking. I thoroughly enjoyed when we drew self portraits of ourselves. We created movements that reflected our drawings and kept adding to the drawing after every movement. It allowed me to reflect on how I view myself through my drawing and movement. I was able to create an image that showed a deeper understanding of what I actually looked like but more importantly how I was feeling.

I would like to pursue a career in the medical field and hope to become a pediatric physician. I believe that dance movement therapy can help me understand how patients are feeling due to the information I have learned in this class. The different treatment methods can also be beneficial to help with various conditions such as depression, eating disorders, and more. The techniques we have learned and discussed in class have also been very helpful in my personal life whenever I am feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or stressed. I will be able to take this information and use it in the future when I feel stressed or overwhelmed in medical school and beyond.

Bouncing Ideas Off Each Other

Ariana Brattoli

This was my first time taking any type of dance class. I learned that checking in with yourself and friends is a very important step in your day. It allows for you to realize what you or others have going on. Also, in a therapy circle the therapist is always feeling great. I also learned what dance movement therapy is and how there are different therapy tactics. For example I learned about the cube and self-portrait which were my two favorite dance therapy techniques. In addition, this class really helped me understand the power of movement and how important dance rituals are in different cultures.

I felt relaxed and reconnected with myself when using the experimental method that we used in class. I felt like I learned a lot by watching different dance therapy technique videos and practicing my own dance moves in front of the class. I really liked working with partners for a lot of class activities because we were able to bounce ideas off each other and I felt comfortable doing my movements in front of them. Also, watching other people's movements inspired me to try out different techniques. I also really enjoyed doing the activities because it made me feel engaged in not only my work but my classmates.

I will use the method we use in class in my studies because I can take the techniques and transfer them to my day to day actions. For example, since I learned how to feel relaxed I can use that technique when I am studying or I am stressed about swim practice. I also can get into the habit of checking in with myself every morning and ask myself how I am feeling and what I have going on for the day. I will also try to be active every single day because it makes me feel very happy and productive. I have really enjoyed this class and all of the activities and lessons we learned about.

An Effective Tool for Communication

Kemeria Baraso

Taking this dance therapy class was highly beneficial. Through this course, I was introduced to many new concepts and mechanisms that are effective in day-to-day living. One specific concept that was carried out throughout the entirety of the class was the interconnected of the mind and body. We used this as a building block to introduce other concepts such as kinesthetic empathy, Laban’s Cube, the Chacian Circle, Body ego technique/ body-ego ritual, eating disorders, and many other complex psychological disorders. From there, we systematically debunked how dance therapy specifically was used and integrated through these techniques to combat physical health issues, cognitive issues, or any health hardship. Because dance therapy is used as a healing mechanism is encompasses the ability to strategically release any tension whether from the past, present, or future. It also serves as an effective tool for communication for those who struggle with verbal and nonverbal communication. It works by allowing people to unite by creating vulnerability and compassion amongst one another which is why it serves as an effective therapeutic tool. Moreover, I have learned that through dance therapy one is able to self-express through movement. Each movement we choose to engage in is often a representation of our innermost selves. Meaning each movement comes from our subconscious and is not randomly engaged in. When were sad we often do movements that symbolize this and hold true for any other feelings we may be experiencing.

I really truly felt that this class experience was highly needed for my mental health. Being a college student it is hard to find a balance between having a social life and being a good student academically. Especially being a nursing major I’m stressed with the classes. In addition, I’m an out-of-state student which often gives me separation anxiety from my family. Struggling with these things in addition to just being an anxious person innately often takes a toll on my mental health. However, this class has enabled me to deal with my stress in an appropriate manner. I really enjoyed and appreciated the daily check-in at the beginning of class. Moreover, each activity we did helped me face my feelings whether they were feelings of excitement or feelings of stress and anxiety from external factors. The exercises helped by addressing these feelings through guided and unguided movements. In addition, I understand thoroughly that movement is necessary to cope with the hardship I face. Engaging in movement has immediate benefits which I’ve seen firsthand in class, when I found that doing daily physical activities helps uplift my mood.

Dance therapy is a new therapeutic mechanism to heal patients suffering from a variety of diagnoses. As a future healthcare provider, I plan on prescribing patients dance therapy as a form of medication. This would be cost-effective and potentially more beneficial than pharmaceutical medications. Implementing this therapy is great because it can be used to cure or alleviate pain and suffering among a wide variety of demographics. Not only can this technique be used for young children but can also be used for elderly patients and anyone in between. Moreover, it can be used to mitigate a variety of health issues.

Learning to be Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

Molly Ferris

Throughout the semester, I have learned the various concepts and methods employed within dance movement therapy. The importance of personal identity and expression has been emphasized, whether through the use of personal metaphors or the innermost fantasy art depiction. I thoroughly enjoyed the class session where we did Tai Chi and learned to salsa dance, as each physical expression experience provided an outlet for different feelings. I have learned the importance of movement integration and learning to match the clients body language in order to convey understanding. Further, the insight-oriented improvisation activities provided understanding into intentional movement and the use of dance as a means of therapeutic expression.

Throughout the learning process, I felt excited and intrigued by the material. Every class we start with a check-in, where we sit in a circle and say how we are feeling that morning. As the semester continued, I really began to value and understand the importance of this step within the dance movement therapy process. Some activities pushed me out of my comfort zone, like when we had to partner up with someone in the class and hold eye contact for a prolonged period of time. However, learning to be comfortable being uncomfortable provided insight into myself and how one would utilize these strategies within therapeutic sessions.

As a marketing major, being personable is extremely important when connecting with individuals and trying to promote any brand. Using the techniques from dance movement therapy, such as mirroring, I now understand, on a certain level, how to make someone feel comfortable and to read their body language. Through this, I will be able to assess someone as I’m talking to them and utilize this information to create a connection with the individual.

My Psycho-physical Self

Sydney DiLoreto

Throughout this course, I have learned an abundance of information that will stay with me as I grow throughout college. I’ve danced my whole life, it’s always been a form of therapy and leisure that I could count on after a long day. During high school, I went through a lot of family issues and as a result, my home wasn’t something I could go back to in a relaxed state. For me, dance become more than just a hobby; it became a sanctuary. It made me feel safe, welcomed, and calm.

This course intrigued me from the start, as it allowed me to further understand why dance has always been an outlet for me from a more psychological and therapeutic view. Learning new ideas such as the schema, which is a collection of processes that registers the posture of one's body parts in space. It involves both brain processes and sensory systems, as well as familiar concepts I’ve done my whole life such as mirroring improve. Schema has allowed me to connect to the content in this course. I used to do Laban’s cube improv in a lot of my classes, but I never knew it was to physically experience where my boundaries lie and explore the extremes of personal space.

Even something as simple as warming up relates back to Blanche Evan’s idea of praxis and how it brings me into contact with the reality of my psycho-physical self. I’ve mainly had training in Blanche Evan’s idea of creative dance, a type of functional technique. Thinking back on my time as a dancer, I’ve realized how I’ve related my life to every piece I’ve been involved in. Whether it’s been a positive or negative association, it has stimulated my use of imagination and enabled me to express a range of emotions without needing to directly confront those feelings. I also enjoyed learning entirely new concepts, such as Trudi Schoop’s idea of innermost fantasies. This idea allowed me to apply what I know from dance to a more psychological point of view, as her studies mainly focused on patients with schizophrenia and bridging the gap between their psychotic and ‘normal’ realities.

During the learning process, I felt very motivated to further my understanding of the new topics in each class. I looked forward to attending class and relating what I already knew about dance to the new mindsets and ideas we were exploring. One class I particularly enjoyed was when we learned about Irmgard Bartenieff’s movement integration and coordination. Doing Yoga, Tai Chi, and Salsa allowed me to introduce new styles of dance to my body. Doing something that active and physical reminded me of why I love to dance so much. The whole class was instantly in a good mood and everyone was having fun. This class also challenged me in many ways. Specifically, when we learned about Marian Chace and making eye contact to establish a deep connection. When we did this, I wasn’t close with anybody in the class. It was really challenging for me to be vulnerable with someone I barely knew. Even though it was just the act of making eye contact, it truly went deeper than that. While it was difficult and awkward at first, it eventually provided subconscious support and created a connection. It made me realize how simple actions, such as eye contact, actually have a huge impact on both newly formed and deeply explored relationships. It allowed us to see each other's expressive feelings, images, and even traumatic memories that they might have shown through their movements.

As a psychology major, I can apply what I’ve learned to treat a variety of patients. I can use techniques like the self-portrait to embody awareness and symbolize who the patients see themselves as, in addition to methods such as Trudi Schoop's rhythm drumming to help patients with schizophrenia develop a sense of body limits. I have learned a wide range of practices that can help with both severe mental health conditions or simply just needing a moment to relax and listen to your body. I can give patients these techniques in a specific, personal way. I can find what methods will work best for them and target their needs. What I love about dance movement therapy is that it’s what you make of it; it’s all about your mindset.

If my patients believe it will help them and they give it their all, it will be beneficial to them. It is also easily customizable, once they understand the techniques I introduced to them, they can practice them individually in ways they want to explore separately. Personally, I will hold onto what I learned in this class for the rest of my life. This course allowed me to really explore why I’ve always loved to dance and how much it’s impacted my life. Now that I understand what these exercises and ideas mean, I can better apply them and focus on the goals I set for myself through dance. I can now do the movements that are so similar to my body and have them connect to my inner thoughts and express myself further. Thank you so much for such a wonderful course, it was truly the best class I had this semester!

Learning Ways to Cope, Process and Heal

Sofia Campos

Dance Movement Therapy provided a new and broad understanding of the inter-connectivity between body, mind, and self-expression through dance. The use of rhythm drumming and insight-oriented improvisation facilitated in-depth exploration and movement integration. Dancing images and the body-ego technique were effective tools for creating a harmonious relationship between the body and self. Overall, the course emphasized the significance of self-expression and self-discovery through movement. This semester was tough for me and this class always made me feel better, learning ways to cope, process and heal through dance broadened my awareness of myself.

During the learning process, I felt challenged yet empowered. The improvisation exercises, in particular, pushed me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to explore movements I would not have done or considered before. One instance in which I felt particularly challenged was during an exercise that involved creating a personal metaphor for a specific body part and then expressing it through movement. It was challenging to create a metaphor that accurately represented my feelings about that body part or myself, but after I realized more, it helped me think more deeply about the way I view myself and think of myself and others. A lot of times in the beginning, because exercises were new, it came with being uncomfortable and timid when doing movement exercises. For our last classes, that uncomfortable feeling was gone, I didn't care or think, I just moved. This was something I was hoping to reach and I did!

I can’t say there is a direct connection to my career field of economics. But I can say this course taught me immense amounts of understanding about other avenues of therapy. Personally, I find myself making sure I play music on a speaker and dancing while I clean to feel better. It’s something that reminds me of my parents, playing cumbia and merengue, bachata in the morning to wake me up as a kid, it brings me joy and it makes me feel less homesick. I do it more often because of this class, and I always feel better. I do this normally but especially if I had a bad day or am stressed about school. I also found myself telling my friends that if we had a long difficult week we should go out dancing, I grew up dancing all the time and do it less because my friends here don’t share the same background as me and blasting music in the morning isn't for everyone! I found myself convincing them to go out and dance, it has been a new experience for them and a fun outlet for myself.

Differentiated Instruction

Lauren Lusardi

This class on Dance Movement therapy allowed me to learn more about the connection between the mind and the body and self-expression through dance. Techniques such as innermost fantasy and personal metaphors allow individuals to look inward and self reflect. Techniques such as movement integration, in-depth exploration, improvisation, and rhythm drumming allowed me to see more mechanisms that allow individuals to connect their minds and bodies and express how they are feeling through movement and music. These tools can be used for everyone including individuals with mental health issues or physical issues. Overall, this course emphasizes the importance of the connection between the mind and body and self-expression while highlighting the many ways to practice this.

Overall, during this learning experience, I was able to immerse myself in the content. While in regular-style classrooms we would just learn about the content, in this classroom we were able to participate in and experience different activities such as rhythm drumming, dance rituals, and body imaging. This allowed me to have a better understanding of these practices than I would have if I just learned about them in a classroom setting. Specifically, I really enjoyed the rhythm drumming. This is an activity in that I understood the content when we learned about it, but when we participated in the activity, my understanding was enhanced. I was able to interact with different instruments and I was able to see and feel the class come together to move in one rhythm. My mood changed for the better as we were able to work as a class and make music. We had complete control and were able to speed up or slow down the tempo however we wanted. This was really important to my learning and allowed me to have a better understanding of this technique.

At the University of Miami, I am majoring in elementary education. Throughout this course on Dance movement therapy I have learned so much that I can apply to the education field. First and foremost, I think I have learned the importance of movement and dance. Just adding a little movement/dance/mindfulness in the classroom can allow students to wake up, get eager about learning, express themselves, and be open to different activities.

Also, I really took a lot away from the check-in we would do each day. This check-in would allow the therapist to see where their clients are mentally and adjust their instruction based on their client's needs. I think this is something that could be very useful in the classroom. While this can manifest in a similar way that we did in class, it can also be a simple exit slip where students can write down how they are feeling and let me know anything they want me to know.

Not only is it important for a teacher to get to know their students and what is going on in their lives, but it can help inform instruction to allow me to create the best environment for my students to learn. Lastly, a large takeaway from this class for me was that people can communicate and learn in different ways. This idea was shown in every class we participated in as clients in dance movement therapy are able to learn about their minds and bodies through different practices. They are then able to express their feelings and emotions in different ways. This highlights the importance of differentiated instruction as all students do not learn the same.

Differentiated instruction allows teachers to reach students in different ways that will be most effective for them. Furthermore, it is important to allow students to express their knowledge in different ways. While all students may understand the material, one student may be better at speaking about what they learned, while another may want to write, draw, etc. It is important to allow students to express their knowledge in different ways.

Conscious and Unconscious Emotions

Victoria Torres

I have learned that Dance Movement Therapy is a form of therapy that uses movement to assist patients in achieving social, emotional, cognitive, and physical integration. DMT can be utilized for stress reduction, disease prevention, and mood management, all of which are advantageous for physical and mental health. These practices can both improve a patient’s interpersonal connections and communication abilities as one uses movements to heal one’s internal struggles. Dance therapists offer a secure environment for self-expression during sessions. DMT aids with emotional communication by using movement as a language. Through dance, patients in therapy can express both conscious and unconscious emotions, allowing a therapist to respond accordingly. Instead of using words, dance therapists encourage bodily expression to work through challenges. Therapists guide patients toward healing by observing their body language, nonverbal cues, and emotional expressions.

Overall, I have learned that DMT is an extremely effective tool that can be used by patients on their path toward healing. I felt the benefits of DMT while learning this experimental method throughout the semester. Through every exercise that was conducted in class, there was a common theme of a safe space. This safe space creates an open environment for the client to feel comfortable expressing their feelings towards movements. While taking the role of the client I was able to feel the effects that this method was having on me which helped me remain present and essentially feel connected to both my mind as well as my body. This method will help the client feel better about themselves and their bodies. The concept that body and mind are connected underlies the many applications of dance movement therapy.

I can utilize DMT in public relations to lessen work-related stress. This can be a strategy to reduce stress brought on by daily obligations in the field of public relations including a high intensity of concerns that need to be addressed constantly. I am confident that dedicating at least one day a week at work to doing these exercises will benefit my coworkers. These exercises, in my opinion, will help one become more in tune with their body and mind, helping to remove any hazy ideas brought on by stress and allowing one to be more productive. Additionally, as public relations is a sector that depends on a collaborative effort, this may be something that helps the office bond.

I Loved Expressing Through Movement

Rachel Fein

During class DAN 291: Dance Movement Therapy, I have learned about many different ideas relating to Dance Movement Therapy. During all of the classes and lessons learned, one that I remember clearly was the Self Portrait: Embodying Awareness and Re-Integration lesson. During this lesson, everyone was given a piece of paper and crayons to draw their own self-portrait. We then described what we were seeing in the portrait through movement. Ever since I was a little girl, I was diagnosed with severe anxiety. I have been to many doctors, prescribed many different medications, and have been to group therapy centers. Two summers ago, I was enrolled at a therapy clinic. Half the class was meditation therapy and half the class was art therapy. The art therapy was the part that I really remember and loved. During one of the lessons, we did the same exercise about drawing Self Portraits and really being creative and using my own imagination. When I was given this assignment during DAN 291: I was very happy that I would be able to do it again. I enjoyed the one we did in this class even more than the one I did in the clinic because I loved how dance was incorporated into it. I loved expressing through movement what I saw.

I have very much enjoyed this learning process. Compared to the other group therapy clinics I have attended, it was very different. For example, my therapy clinics are a maximum of 10 people versus this class which was 30 people. On the first day of class, I was a little nervous because I have never done a dance therapy clinic. I have done probably every other one but this. So, on the first day of class, I was nervous about how I was going to be judged. I was not at all judged and felt very comfortable learning about all the concepts. For example, I have learned how to listen to my body to express how I feel. I really enjoyed doing this exercise because it resulted in me being very calm. Finally, I loved taking the class first thing in the morning. It was a great start to my day and made me feel very relaxed.

One vivid moment I remember perfectly as a little girl sitting outside of the psychiatrist's office was the doctor telling my parents, “Anxiety is something that will be with Rachel forever. She will have it her entire life. You can’t just magically get rid of anxiety but there are ways to relieve anxiety.” That was the moment I realized I need to face that I have anxiety and need to find ways to relieve it. I will for sure be able to apply what I have learned in this class to myself personally. For example, through these exercises, I learned I can express how I am feeling through movement and drawing a self-portrait. What I have learned can for sure help me reduce stress and anxiety when I am having an anxiety attack. It can help me improve my communication skills and reduce my levels of anxiety in everyday life. I can make a time block for an hour once a week to do these exercises.

Your Life is What You Make It.

Elizabeth Arrowsmith

The takeaways I had from this course were misting on the rhythm drumming and the innermost fantasy. The things I took away from the rhythm drumming was the different ways that everyone has an instinct when they possess an instrument . I liked how although we were all curious about our sound and unique instrument that we still banded together to create a beat. This is important in dance movement because including sound is a great way to include those who might have a hard time moving. My interpretation of the class we spent on innermost fantasy was also fascinating to me. I loved drawing my dream life and doing movements based on that feeling. I really liked how it was positive for everyone because we all are looking forward to our futures. I think this stuck with me especially well because it helped me remember that my everyday stresses are not forever and there are great things to look forward to in the future. For these reasons this was my favorite segment of the class and definitely something I will remember.

Depending on the class my feelings towards the exercises were mixed. I really really felt uncomfortable when we had to do the eye contact exercise. I have noticed ever since covid that I have a hard time keeping direct eye contact so this was hard for me. I felt uncomfortable and it definitely made me evaluate how I might need to work on this more. My favorite activity was the group project where we were able to create our own recommended activity for DMT. I felt like we were able to create and incorporate all the things we have learned into a project. I also really liked the box activity. It made me feel more comfortable moving without thinking when the only thing I had to think about was exploring the parameters of the box.

I am majoring in finance and entrepreneurship. I think the ways I will include these concepts in my future would be the meditation lessons. I also think I will remember the moral lessons that our professors taught us about treating each other with dignity. This is something that can be incorporated in everyone’s lives more. I also liked the lessons about how important having a community is. I think that I will use these concepts when I am deciding where to work in finance because so much of our lives are impacted by the people we chose to surround ourselves with. I think I will take away the professors positive and calm attitude towards life and remember how your life is what you make it.

Connected to All My Peers

Sara Aframian

In this class I have learned a lot about how to help people with different disabilities and issues who struggle to understand their own bodies and have trouble connecting with those around them. I learned how important dance movement therapy is when dealing with these group which include the elderly, people with autism, psychiatric patients, juveniles, people with disorders and people of all ages and backgrounds. By participating in dance movement therapy people have the ability to express themselves through movement and release stress and pain that they have been enduring. Some activities that we participated in included, the mirroring task, holding eye contact, creating a self portrait and a movement to correlate to it, and Laban’s cube. The mirroring task and eye contact activity really allowed me and my partner to develop a connection on a deeper level through our movements. Additionally, the self portrait activity gave me the opportunity to understand myself and express my feelings in a drawing. The activity surrounding Laban’s cube was extremely helpful in learning about the space around me and my awareness to it. Furthermore, something I loved about this class was the connection I was able to develop with everyone, especially when we would get in a circle at the begging and end of class. By doing so, we were able to check in with one another and see how we were all feeling. Being in this circle made me feel like I was a part of something important and very connected to all my peers. Overall, throughout this course I have learned a great amount about how crucial dance therapy is in the development of one’s body awareness, ability to grow as an individual, understand oneself on a deeper level, and connect with those around us.

I have loved using the experiential method in class as it has allowed me to experience everything firsthand. By doing so, I was also able to learn a lot about myself and how to understand others as well. When doing the different activities in class I learned a lot about connecting with others, my own body, and the space around me. For example, when doing the mirroring task and being fully in synch with my partner’s movements we were both able to understand one another in a deeper way. By learning in an experimental method I opened myself up much more to the class and was able to share my emotions, as well as fully express myself.

In the future, I want to be a real estate developer. When doing so, it is really important that I am able to connect with my client and understand their wants and needs. Therefore, this class will help me a lot as I am now able to connect more with people and understand them in a deeper way. By being able to understand people from different backgrounds, I will have the ability to collaborate with them in a very efficient way. Additionally, this class will not only help me in my field of study but especially in my daily life. Now that I am able to be more open with those around me, I will continue to make more friendships and deeper connections. It will also allow me to control all the stress and anxiety that I experience. This way, I will live my life in a more healthy and positive way.

Back to Their Bodies

Nicole Gorbatov

After taking Dance Movement Therapy, I believe that I have a better understanding of the positive impact dance has not only on one’s physical well-being, but on one’s mental well-being as well. Particular dance techniques, such as insight oriented improvisation, rhythm drumming, and movement integration have allowed me not only to express myself, but to analyze other’s emotions expressed through movement as well through group work and trust building exercises. These techniques are useful for everybody, but are of particular importance when treating patients with mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, PTSD, bulimia nervosa, and anorexia.

During the span of the learning process, I felt myself becoming more in tune with my body and my emotions. Our class was usually the only point in my day where I could reflect on how I was feeling, and take a second to listen to my body and what it needs to perform its best. During every check-in, I felt myself grow closer to my classmates, as everyone tended to be open and honest about their day, which built a foundation of trust and support at the end of the class. Furthermore, holding hands at the end of the class allowed us to truly connect physically and take the time to acknowledge one another, which created almost a sense of validation for me. Lastly, there were also a few specific techniques that I felt were most beneficial for me. Insight movement improvisation has allowed me to freely express the movement my body wants to make, and then go back and reflect on what I was feeling in that moment, thus I felt insightful with my true, subconscious inner feelings coming out. Rhythm drumming was my favorite exercise as someone who finds comfort and stability in rhythm. It allowed me to feel connected with the rest of the class in a unanimous beat, working together to create music. Movement integration was also one of the techniques I particularly enjoyed due to my dance background and love for yoga, as we were able to use systems of movement coordination to exercise Yoga, Tai Chi, and Salsa, which made me feel happy and joyful.

After this class, I would definitely be able to apply all of the techniques that I have learned to my own field of studies. As someone who is interested in the medical field, I would be able to use these therapy techniques to connect with people of all ages and backgrounds, as music and dance are common to all. Specifically, I would be able to use the joint, attunement, and kinesthetic empathy in a therapy session to make my patients feel comfortable, safe, and heard, which is definitely a great boost of confidence for those in homes where they do not receive nurturing love and support in the home. Nonetheless, all of the techniques that we have learned allow a therapist to interact with various people in a comfortable and safe environment, which allows those with mental and physical disorders to bring themselves back to their bodies and value the movement they are able to create. As my personal goal, tying into my professional goal, is to help heal others, the techniques we have learned have been critical to connect and heal patients.

I Was Able to Express Myself

Anna Swirski

Throughout this semester, dance and movement therapy has been a class which taught me various techniques that can be used as a form of therapy for various mental disorders and disabilities. The most important thing that I learned in this class was the importance of the circle in group therapy sessions. The circle can represent the life cycle, all participants being equal, and is important for group therapy.

Dance and movement therapy has taught me that you can use movement as a way to cope with different feelings or emotions. By using instruments, drawings, and dance, I was able to express myself in a way I had not before. I feel like this class allowed me to be more open with others by allowing myself to be more vulnerable with talking about how I felt in the moment.

I will continue to use what I learned in class as an outlet from my other classes. As a pre-med student, I find it very hard to wind down at the end of the day. I have actually begun to meditate as a nightly routine so I am able to relieve some anxiety and have a few minutes to be content with myself and my emotions.

Always Come Out With a Smile

Maha Hussain

In this course, I mostly learned about dance movement therapy. DMT is a type of psychotherapy that uses movement and dance to support emotional, cognitive, and physical integration of the individual. This is based on the belief that the body and mind are connected, how movement can be used as an effective way to access emotions and thoughts within us. Dance movement therapy can be used for many things, such as anxiety or depression. Within anxiety, by doing exercises such as breathing or mirroring helps calm the nerves. Effects of dance movement therapy include improvement of mood, reduced stress, and anxiety.

During class time, we did a lot of group activities practicing different methods to experience it. Every 10 minutes of class time, all students would come together in form of a circle and go around to say what our mood was like and how we are feeling. The circle allows everyone to see each other and create connections by introducing ourselves and saying something they want to express. I found this activity to be very beneficial as it allowed me to create friendships, felt comfortable in expressing my emotions and comforting hearing others feel the same way I felt during that moment. Another activity that we did was mirroring; this exercise was to copy your clients’ movements or actions to help them feel more at ease and belonging. I found this activity to be very interesting and comfortable.

As a graduating senior, I am pleased to have taken this course. I always looked forward to this class. Some days I would go into class feeling stressed or anxious, but I would always come out with a smile in my face since the professor did an amazing job of making this into a comforting class. One specific activity we did was eye contact, where we would stare into our partners eyes without talking. This allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and felt more confident in the connections I would make. I will be using this technique in my future job to help create connections. I am thankful to take this course and have recommended my friends to take this course as well.

Make Things More Dynamic

Gia Brucker

This course was my first introduction to DMT. I have years of experience with dance and therapy but never the two together. Learning about dance movement therapy has deepened my knowledge about myself and others. In this course, I learned the different techniques to guide a therapy session for clients with a variety of mental illnesses, such as eating disorders and body image issues, autism, dementia, schizophrenia, and psychosis, to name a few. It is good for people of all age groups and personal backgrounds. Dance therapy clients can unlock a new level of healing because it caters to mental and physical well-being and strengthens the mind-body connection.

Through movement, clients can express themselves non-verbally, offering a new kind of release. Pairing DMT with rhythm or music aids in the healing of trauma. I also learned the importance of the group dynamic within DMT. As a group, we have the ability to experience a sense of community and support. The check-in at the beginning of the session is significant towards this connection. Within the circle is a safe space to communicate feelings, where everyone is equal and allowed to be vulnerable. It also helps the therapist, who can adjust sessions based on the emotional needs of the group that day. Dance movement therapy encourages clients to translate emotions into actions, and when more structure is needed, tools like Laban's cube, mirroring exercises and the creation of self portraits are all ways to explore therapeutic topics in a low pressure environment. This class has sparked a new interest in me and inspired a learning path that I never considered before.

I felt a variety of emotions over the course of the semester. I felt happiness during many of the exercises, like the day we were guided in tai chi, yoga and salsa as part of the unit on movement integration, or when we practiced joining as a group by taking turns matching each other's movements. I had fun and felt nostalgic when we learned hands-on about rhythm drumming, and I got to use the rain stick, which reminded me of so many positive childhood memories. Some days I felt sad, like when I felt empathy for certain clients' stories. For example, seeing the old videos of patients in a hospital who seemed scared and vulnerable.

I am majoring in public relations with a minor in marketing, and I see how some of the skills I have learned in this class will help me in my future career. I see many of the activities we've done in class as a good way to encourage group relationships. If I am part of a team, or the leader of one, in my career, I am equipped with the skills necessary to create cohesiveness within a group. Taking 5-10 minutes to check-in with a group can make things more dynamic and collaborative, and builds trust within the group. I also learned exercises that resonated with me personally, that I can add to my self-care toolbox for when I need support. Sometimes when I'm feeling down, my tendency is to isolate and limit my physical movement. But sometimes the solution is exactly the opposite, to get up and move my body to become more present in the moment. Movement can help break down stress, sadness, anxiety, and even anger.

A Greater Sense of Self-awareness

Adriana Bohon

Through the dance therapy course, I learned how dancing images and personal metaphors can be used to explore one's innermost fantasies and enhance communication and expression. The body-ego technique helped me understand how my physical movements are connected to my mental state, and the schema concept gave me insight into how my past experiences influence my present actions. The course also introduced me to body-cathexis and rhythmic drumming as methods to integrate movement and emotions, and the in-depth exploration and insight-oriented improvisation exercises helped me gain a better understanding of myself and others.

During the learning process, I felt a range of emotions. In some instances, I felt self-conscious when asked to express myself through movement in front of others, but as the course progressed, I began to feel more comfortable and confident in my ability to communicate non-verbally. The rhythm drumming exercises were particularly enjoyable and helped me feel more connected to my body and emotions. The in-depth exploration exercises, while challenging at times, were also incredibly rewarding as they allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of myself and my emotions.

As an introverted individual, the principles of dance therapy that I learned in the course can help me better understand my emotions and express myself non-verbally. The practice of using personal metaphors and dancing images can help me access my innermost fantasies and explore my emotions in a creative and non-threatening way. The insight-oriented improvisation exercises can also help me gain a deeper understanding of myself and others. By integrating movement and emotions, I can develop a greater sense of self-awareness and improve my ability to communicate my feelings to others, even when words fail me.

A Direct Approach

Minh Ho

Through the course material, I learned about the importance of the mind-body connection and how dance movement therapy strengthens this connection. Dance movement therapy stands out from other therapeutic techniques I have learned about because emphasizes non-verbal expression. This is based on the principle that the body and mind are interconnected. By using one's own body to express one's mental state, one can access and convey emotions that are difficult to verbalize.

When applying different DMT techniques, I feel overall more connected to my own body and understand it more. Acknowledging what my body is feeling is a stepping stone for me to control it, and having this control over both my emotional and physical state makes me feel calmer and more aware. Aiding the individual to have this control is what most therapy techniques aim to do but none that I have encountered take such a direct approach as DMT and it is refreshing to me.

As a psychology student, I am adding DMT to my “mental toolbox” ready to be used either on myself or others. I think this is a valuable and versatile therapeutic technique that aids both mental and physical health and can be applied to many clinical populations with an appropriate approach.

Allie Hopfenberg

This course truly taught me everything that I now know about Dance Movement Therapy (DMT). I learned that Dance Movement Therapy is specifically therapy sessions in general that allow those participating to express and release both themselves and their emotions as a movement. how dance in general and as therapy is a way of healing and evaluating oneself and others or their peers regarding this class. I learned about Collective body memory and how it is a means of a way of living that our body can remember. How it is the natural movements our body can execute without thinking when expressing ourselves. Other things I learned about were the benefits and deeper meaning behind mirroring, that the core aspect of DMT is kinesthetic empathy as well as what attunement was. The last major thing I learned through this course was the pioneering woman who founded and helped make DMT what it is today like Marian Chace who is from my home state, and Sharon Chaiklin (her student) and Ana Halprin, who developed dance rituals, who is from California.

Using these experimental methods in class I always felt better leaving the class than how I felt when I came. I don't have many words to describe my feeling overall about the class but I can only say positive things. It was nice to sit in a circle and not be confined to the stiff chair or desk or even just the small classroom that a typical class at UM offers to students. It was also nice to not just be lectured out the entire semester and actually have conversations whether that be through dance, discussion boards, drawings or face-to-face with my entire class, professor included. I will say even up until the end of the class I still felt a little shy and maybe closed off while I danced but I for sure opened up even if it wasn't a lot throughout the duration of the semester. One thing I do think about is how I had to make up work one time after class and I have a video of me filming a dance or set of movements that I created to send to you professor and I was alone in the classroom and I seemed very happy in it. That video makes me feel very good about myself and how this class affected me.

I will use this class in my field of studies as a way to communicate. As a Communications major, It is nice to be in a field where people are oftentimes encouraged to voice their opinions and thoughts as in communication. So, I don't know how much I will use Dance Movement Therapy and communications but I would love to hopefully pass it on to my future co-workers and friends as a means of expression and release for them. I will say as a marketing minor, contrastingly, I feel that the industry is not oftentimes encouraged to fully voice their opinions and communicate how they're feeling especially since it is a male-dominated field. I would love to use the concepts I learned in this class to encourage my future friends and coworkers from that field to potentially let loose more and express themselves just in general whether that be within their

Without the Use of Words

Itzel Cuevas-Galarza

I learned so much and gained so much knowledge from this class that I would’ve never gotten from a traditional classroom. One of the biggest takeaways that I will always carry into other aspects of my life is that you should let your body move the way it needs to, always. This may be your body’s way to release tension and stress you may not have even realized was there building up and to express itself in a way words cannot. This method can be further expanded to describe the body-ego technique. This technique was a technique developed by Trudi Schoop and she most famously used this technique on schizophrenic patients to help them express themselves without the use of words (some of the patients were catatonic). This technique was very impactful for me, because it was one of the first times I saw dance/movement therapy used in such a clinical way. I think it was more impactful for myself, because I am a psychology major and seeing how alternative kinds of therapy can be used to benefit the client was fascinating.

The learning process was a bit different in this class than others. I think the concepts taught in this class were best practiced and understood through a more hands-on approach. Many times, we would be introduced to a topic by watching a video or reading an article, etc. and then the professor would have us get up and practice what we just learned. I really liked this style of learning, because I think I learn best through visual media or hands-on work. I think by structuring the class like this, we as the students were able to digest the material better and apply it to real-world scenarios.

As I mentioned earlier, I am a psychology major, therefore this class was even more interesting and insightful for me. The concept of this class was intriguing to me, because a lot of the traditional therapies I have learned/known about up to this point have been very traditional therapy-heavy (i.e. cognitive/behavioral therapy, cognitive processing and exposure therapies) where you talk a lot of things out. I knew there were other kinds of alternative therapy forms, yet I had never really been exposed to them in my studies and I wanted to know more about them. This was one of the biggest reasons for initially taking this class; the idea of dancing or moving as a form of therapy was intriguing. I now can see how therapeutic movement can be and how beneficial it can be to our psyche. It allows the client to freely express themselves in a way words cannot and in a way we may not understand with words. I will take this knowledge and apply it throughout my career and hopefully it will help clients the way it has helped me.

Listening to One's Body and One's Heart.

Sheamus Yuwen

This course has taught me a lot of things. First thing I learned is to have eye contact, so you can be connected with each other and this requires you to step out your comfort zone. I think it is very important to have connections during a therapy session. Second thing I learned is to connect with your body, build relationships with your body. Even though dance therapy is about helping people mentally, gaining self awareness is essential. The ability to control one's body and know the feelings in one's body is the key to tell the story in one's mind.

I really enjoyed rhythm drumming, we played different instruments, but were able to have the same rhythm. This technique was able to bring people together. When we did that exercise, I felt we all connected to each other's heart. I also enjoyed other movement ideas we learned in the class, for example the Laban's cube, salsa dancing, etc. Those movements systems gave me the opportunity to explore my body.

The innermost fantasy was also a important technique that I learned. When we drew out the thoughts from our minds, it was easier to let it out. Also, innermost fantasy allows people to share their deepest feelings, their deepest fears. Overall there are many takeaways that I learned from DMT, but I think the most important one is listening to one's body and one's heart. One should have some time everyday when one can just focus on oneself.

Our learning process has always been a fun ride. Starting from the beginning of every class, the check in was key. When we sat in the circle and shared our thoughts, I always enjoyed that process. It brought me closer to my classmates as I was able to know how they feel. I think this process can really help people to feel more comfortable with each and let one's guard down. It gives us a good environment for leaning.

Usually after learning the concept we will start some exercise regarding what we just learned. This is the process where I enjoyed the most, the mirroring, the rhythm drumming, etc. I loved those activities we did in the class. The one I enjoyed the most was actually the innermost fantasy. As mentioned before, during the process, we drew our thoughts and danced them out. It helped to share my feelings and secrets; it made me relax. The exercises we did are an essential part of the learning process. It gave me a deeper understanding of the concepts.

Although dance movements therapy is not related to my study on economic and music industry, I believe that the concepts we learned and my key takeaways will be beneficial in my future. After learning about DMT, I have a better connection with my body and mind. I know what my fantasies are. I know how to focus on myself and not let other unimportant things stress me out. This is a essential ability in nowadays world since information is quickly shared over the internet, judgement and criticism are continuously going around. But using the materials we learned, I know how to deal with them and how to relax.

Another important piece of knowledge I can use for my future life is knowing why, how and when to step out my comfort zone. From the DMT course I learned the benefits to step out of one's comfort zone; it brings us more opportunities and possibilities for success. The results will usually surprise us; all you have to do is not to be afraid. Before I took this class, I had no idea about what DMT stands for, but now I know what it means and how helpful it is for people., The relationship I built with myself and my body is going to be beneficial for the rest of my life.

A Powerful Tool for Self-Discovery

Joseph Cherubin

Attending a dance therapy class led our Professor was a truly profound experience for me. Through non-verbal gestures and movements, I was able to explore my emotions in a way that I had never done before. Guided by his expert direction, I discovered a newfound appreciation for the power of eye contact, the beauty of diving into my innermost fantasy, mirroring, and the significance of circles in creating a sense of community.

The Innermost Fantasy technique was an eye-opening aspect of this class, as it allowed me to tap into my deepest desires and explore them through movement. It truly is a powerful tool for self-discovery, as it allows me to tap into my subconscious and uncover aspects of myself that I was not consciously aware of. I also very much loved the technique of mirroring that we did in a circle many times. I was able to connect with others in the class on a deeper level, forging a sense of unity and trust with students who I previously felt I didn't know on a personal level.

One of the most valuable lessons that I took away from the class was the importance of connecting my mind to my body. By focusing on my breathing and being present in the moment, I was able to gain a greater understanding of my physical and emotional self. Overall, attending this dance therapy class was a truly transformative experience for me. It allowed me to explore parts of myself that I had never accessed before and gave me a deeper appreciation for the power of movement as a tool for healing and self-discovery.

Personalized Technique

Olivia Lee

Over the course of this semester, this class has really taught me the value of movement therapy and the different techniques and applications of it as well. I learned different ways one can move their body and express emotions and feelings through this movement.

Movement can be very expressive of one’s feelings for that day but it could also show one’s deeper and repressed feelings. Movement can also connect a group of people, it can help one’s self-esteem, boost mood, treat physical and mental health issues, and so much more.

During class, although in the morning, I felt refreshed and relaxed. I liked that the class was designed to be personal and that the effort you put in was what you got out. At the beginning, it felt odd to move my body and at times, a little embarrassing but with each class that passed, I grew to be more comfortable and enjoy the movement.

One of the most memorable methods that we experimented with in class was mirroring. In dance/ movement therapy, mirroring is defined as reflecting or mirroring another person’s movement as a conscious attempt to develop a connection with someone through movement. As a general, l am an extroverted person, this was a fun and interesting way for me to connect with others in the class.

I felt that I could understand the emotions of the person I was partnered with and was able to connect with the mind in a different way. Now after learning the importance of dance movement therapy and understanding the different techniques, I feel equipped to implement this in my life. I think it will be very beneficial.

When I feel stressed or a lot of anxiety and it could be used as a coping method. In fact, I’ve incorporated the use of movement before I am about to undergo a stressful situation like a presentation or an interview.

I play my favorite song and move my body in ways to shake out any nerves, which is something I would not have normally done before taking this course. I found that it has really helped to ease my nerves and release any pent up tension. I will continue to use this kind of personalized technique to help me in any future stressful situations. I will also always appreciate this course and the impact it has made on my life!

Expressing Your Subconscious Thoughts, Feelings, and Fantasies

Leah Nolan

Being a member of this class has taught me many valuable things. First off, I have learned what dance movement therapy is, and that it isn’t always necessarily actually dancing. I have found it is more about expressing your subconscious thoughts, feelings, and fantasies in ways of metaphorical movements. So not only is this helping people physically, as it consists of movement, but it is mainly helping people mentally. They are getting to express what they need to say without actually saying anything out loud. This class also showed me some of the ways that we can connect with other people through DMT, such as with mirroring.

Throughout the learning process of this class, I felt many different things. For example, the check-in circle in the beginning of class was one of my favorite parts, as I got to hear what the other students were feeling, and that would make me feel not so alone in my own feelings, such as if I was overwhelmed. There were some instances in the class that made me more uncomfortable than others, such as the eye contact and the one time we did a group dance or something similar. However, it also made me realize that everyone was just focusing on themselves, just like I was, and no one was really focusing on me. I learned many things in this class that I can use in my everyday life now to help express my feelings and take some of the stress off myself.

As a nurse, I can use many things we learned in this class and apply them. If a patient of mine is ever very stressed and doesn’t know how to express themselves with words, I can use some of the techniques from this class to help them. This class has also given me the ability to listen and understand others emotions better, so I can apply that when caring for patients as well.

Dance / Movement to Connect with My Thoughts and Feelings

Kayleigh Lumia

I have learned a lot from this course about myself, my emotions, and how they can be dealt with or helped through dance movement therapy. I enjoyed looking at the concept of DMT through the eyes of different therapists and leaders, such as Marian Chace, Trudy Schoop, Blanche Evan, Patricia Capello, and many more. We started with the meaning of the circle and Marian Chace’s theories of the collective consciousness and group rituals which I felt was a great place to start learning about DMT both individually and in a group setting.

Schoop’s body-ego technique focuses on how our body movement and posture relates to our body image and typically goes hand in hand with schema, a non-conscious process of how you sense the posture of your body through different movements. I also really enjoyed Trudy Schoop’s concept of the innermost fantasy because this seemed like a great way in my eyes to connect with your patient and their goals/dreams to try to understand how they see things from their perspective and then begin to help bridge that gap between our reality and our fantasies.

I also enjoyed our movement improvisation exercises, specifically the Laban’s cube. I loved the way that the cube broke up the space and gave us a better understanding of different ways we can move around the space around us without thinking too hard about it. This was the first exercise I can remember not having to think about my next move but rather letting it come to me.

I am very grateful for our class and the learning process over the past semester. There were days I would come to class feeling a bit upset, or anxious, or confused, etc., as I am sure we all feel at some point or time. I can confidently say that I never left class feeling worse than I did when I walked in – only better. School itself has always brought me a lot of anxiety due to tests and grades but the fact that this class was all about just learning, experiencing and doing made it so valuable for me. I loved that I could come to class for an hour and 15 minutes, forget about whatever else was on my mind that day, and just focus on concepts presented in the blog that day.

Going through the motions and using the technique exercises made me happy and like I was learning a new hobby rather than being forced to learn something in school. For example, the day we did the rhythm activity where we all played a different instrument and added on to the beat came at a very busy time for me. I was overwhelmed with school and some things in my personal life but our activity allowed me to forget about all of that, focus on myself, and enjoy the activity.

I am a finance major at school but outside of academics I am very interested in health and wellness, specifically holistic nutrition and healing. I felt that DMT and this course completely aligned with my beliefs that there are alternative ways to help your body and mind other than just taking a pill to “fix something”. I loved learning about using dance and movement to connect with my thoughts and feelings on a deeper level and help heal yourself from the inside out. For closed-minded people who might not believe in DMT or other alternative ways of helping your body, I would recommend they just try an intro class or a session because it can’t hurt!

Acting as Both Patient and Therapist

Sophia Hussain

Throughout the course we were able to learn from a variety of lessons regarding dance movement therapy. While we learned the history of DMT and different treatment methods we can use to help our patients, we were also able to act as both patient and therapist. With the innermost fantasy, we drew where we were or where we would be the happiest. It can be anything real or fake, but it is an image of our deepest desire.

Movement integration is imperative to DMT because we use the integration of our physical movements to understand what goes-on in our minds. Body ego technique is the idea that our ego is formed through our perception of our body, and we can use our bodies to influence or affect it. Rhythm drumming is a key practice in DMT as using different rhythmic beats or movements that can really help a client understand or place his or her emotions.

Another thing very key to our DMT class sessions were the idea of the circle. We sit in a circle because everyone can be seen, and we are all at the same level. With check in, we are able to gage the level of feeling among the clients and are able to continue or replan our lesson based on that. It also begins to create an environment of comfort and unity as we all share and our open and vulnerable with each other. During the check in, the therapist is always fine. We also always make sure to end the session.

I felt very open and inspired throughout the learning process. I did not really know what DMT consisted of until taking this class. From the first class, a safe environment was created where I felt like I could truly immerse myself in the activities as if I were in a session. The self-portrait was one lesson that really stuck out to me. While creating our self-portrait, we took breaks to create movements that reflected our drawings. I felt like I was able to create a deeper understanding of how I really see myself through both my movements and drawing. As I continued to work on the drawing, I noticed more things I could add. This self-reflection I drew helped me realize what I may need to work on to continue to be the best version of myself.

Along with this activity, I felt that the mirroring with eye contact was something very important. Eye contact is a very important action to do when speaking with someone. Making silent eye contact with one of my classmates one at a time was uncomfortable at first and did make me want to laugh because of my discomfort. It was easy to warm up to the idea of silent eye contact when I realized that everyone is probably feeling this way. Eventually we were able to make movements mirroring each other with eye contact, and I did feel a deeper connection to each partner I had in the class.

I was able to take a glimpse into their emotions and feelings through their movements and eye contact. Crafting my innermost fantasy through drawing also made me reflect. I was able to think about the fact that it really didn’t matter about the place I was in this fantasy, but who the people were. It is easy to get lost in the material things the world has to offer. However, I know I am always happiest when I am surrounded by the people I love and care for. It brought me peace.

The course on Dance Movement Therapy has given me many different techniques to do when I may be feeling very anxious, stressed, etc. Even when I come to class extremely stressed or not wanting to start my day, I find myself leaving feeling positive and like a better version of myself. Self-reflection during the self-portrait activities would benefit me in a state of change in my life. I need to understand how I currently see myself to continue to adapt to new environments and be the best version of myself.

Learning how to use movements to express my emotions and feelings is also something that will heavenly benefit my personal life. The movements and dances made it easier for me to put into words how I am feeling about certain topics. They also gave me clarity on some of my feelings. This course reiterated to me how important mental health is in a person’s daily life. It corroborated how taking the right steps can lead to a much healthier and happierlife.

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Dance/Movement Therapy - C / Spring 2023

Reflective Essays

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