Extraordinary Essays

 

 

 

The Process of Building Connections

Sheamus Yuwen

 

 As a student in the University of Miami Dance Program, I have had a truly transformative experience that has left a lasting impact on my life. Throughout my time in this program, I have learned invaluable skills and gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for the art of dance. 

 

 One of my significant takeaways from this program is to step out your comfort zone. I learned this from my Dance movement therapy class, the professor always encouraged us to express our feelings and connect with others. At first I don’t feel comfortable with eye contact and similar exercises. But I told myself that "this is just the process of building connections and don’t worried that much." This idea have taught me to push through physical and mental challenges and to strive for excellence in all that I do. I have learned to work effectively under pressure and to never give up, even in the face of adversity. 

 

I have also gained a greater sense of creativity and self-expression. The program has encouraged me to explore my own unique style and to find my own voice as an artist. Through various performance opportunities and collaborations with other dancers and choreographers, I have learned to communicate my ideas through movement. I have been able to connect with audiences at a deeper level..

 

 The learning process in this program has been both challenging and rewarding. I have been pushed out of my comfort zone and have had to confront my weaknesses head-on. However, with the guidance of my professors and fellow dancers, I have been able to overcome these challenges and grow both as a dancer and as a person. One thing I enjoyed during the learning process was that we had an opportunity to work with talented and experienced professors who were passionate about dance. They were always available to answer questions and provide guidance, and they challenged me to push beyond my limits and to explore new ways of expressing myself through movement. 

 

I also loved the opportunity to work with a diverse group of students from all over the world. It was inspiring to see the different styles and perspectives that each person brought to the table. It taught me to appreciate the beauty of diversity in all forms. Another thing that I enjoyed was the focus on performance. The program provided numerous opportunities for us to showcase our skills. This not only helped to build our confidence as dancers but also allowed us to share our passion for dance with others.

 

 As a student from the Dance program, I have gained a deep appreciation for the value of discipline, creativity, and teamwork. While these skills may seem more immediately applicable to a career in the arts, they can also be incredibly valuable in other fields, including economics. The creativity and self-expression that are central to dance can also be applied to the field of economics. In order to succeed in economics, it is important to think creatively and outside the box, to come up with innovative solutions to complex problems. The ability to communicate ideas through movement can also be translated to effective communication in the workplace, helping to build strong relationships and collaborations with colleagues. 

 

Finally, teamwork is another key skill that can be developed through the study of dance. It is essential in the field of economics as well. In order to succeed in any complex project, it is crucial to work collaboratively with others, to communicate effectively, and to support each other's strengths and weaknesses. The experience of working with a team of dancers in the UM Dance program has taught me the importance of clear communication, flexibility, and respect for others' contributions.

The Process of Building Connections

Sheamus Yuwen

 

 As a student in the University of Miami Dance Program, I have had a truly transformative experience that has left a lasting impact on my life. Throughout my time in this program, I have learned invaluable skills and gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for the art of dance. 

 

 One of my significant takeaways from this program is to step out your comfort zone. I learned this from my Dance movement therapy class, the professor always encouraged us to express our feelings and connect with others. At first I don’t feel comfortable with eye contact and similar exercises. But I told myself that "this is just the process of building connections and don’t worried that much." This idea have taught me to push through physical and mental challenges and to strive for excellence in all that I do. I have learned to work effectively under pressure and to never give up, even in the face of adversity. 

 

I have also gained a greater sense of creativity and self-expression. The program has encouraged me to explore my own unique style and to find my own voice as an artist. Through various performance opportunities and collaborations with other dancers and choreographers, I have learned to communicate my ideas through movement. I have been able to connect with audiences at a deeper level..

 

 The learning process in this program has been both challenging and rewarding. I have been pushed out of my comfort zone and have had to confront my weaknesses head-on. However, with the guidance of my professors and fellow dancers, I have been able to overcome these challenges and grow both as a dancer and as a person. One thing I enjoyed during the learning process was that we had an opportunity to work with talented and experienced professors who were passionate about dance. They were always available to answer questions and provide guidance, and they challenged me to push beyond my limits and to explore new ways of expressing myself through movement. 

 

I also loved the opportunity to work with a diverse group of students from all over the world. It was inspiring to see the different styles and perspectives that each person brought to the table. It taught me to appreciate the beauty of diversity in all forms. Another thing that I enjoyed was the focus on performance. The program provided numerous opportunities for us to showcase our skills. This not only helped to build our confidence as dancers but also allowed us to share our passion for dance with others.

 

 As a student from the Dance program, I have gained a deep appreciation for the value of discipline, creativity, and teamwork. While these skills may seem more immediately applicable to a career in the arts, they can also be incredibly valuable in other fields, including economics. The creativity and self-expression that are central to dance can also be applied to the field of economics. In order to succeed in economics, it is important to think creatively and outside the box, to come up with innovative solutions to complex problems. The ability to communicate ideas through movement can also be translated to effective communication in the workplace, helping to build strong relationships and collaborations with colleagues. 

 

Finally, teamwork is another key skill that can be developed through the study of dance. It is essential in the field of economics as well. In order to succeed in any complex project, it is crucial to work collaboratively with others, to communicate effectively, and to support each other's strengths and weaknesses. The experience of working with a team of dancers in the UM Dance program has taught me the importance of clear communication, flexibility, and respect for others' contributions.

The Process of Building Connections

Sheamus Yuwen

 

 As a student in the University of Miami Dance Program, I have had a truly transformative experience that has left a lasting impact on my life. Throughout my time in this program, I have learned invaluable skills and gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for the art of dance. 

 

 One of my significant takeaways from this program is to step out your comfort zone. I learned this from my Dance movement therapy class, the professor always encouraged us to express our feelings and connect with others. At first I don’t feel comfortable with eye contact and similar exercises. But I told myself that "this is just the process of building connections and don’t worried that much." This idea have taught me to push through physical and mental challenges and to strive for excellence in all that I do. I have learned to work effectively under pressure and to never give up, even in the face of adversity. 

 

I have also gained a greater sense of creativity and self-expression. The program has encouraged me to explore my own unique style and to find my own voice as an artist. Through various performance opportunities and collaborations with other dancers and choreographers, I have learned to communicate my ideas through movement. I have been able to connect with audiences at a deeper level..

 

 The learning process in this program has been both challenging and rewarding. I have been pushed out of my comfort zone and have had to confront my weaknesses head-on. However, with the guidance of my professors and fellow dancers, I have been able to overcome these challenges and grow both as a dancer and as a person. One thing I enjoyed during the learning process was that we had an opportunity to work with talented and experienced professors who were passionate about dance. They were always available to answer questions and provide guidance, and they challenged me to push beyond my limits and to explore new ways of expressing myself through movement. 

 

I also loved the opportunity to work with a diverse group of students from all over the world. It was inspiring to see the different styles and perspectives that each person brought to the table. It taught me to appreciate the beauty of diversity in all forms. Another thing that I enjoyed was the focus on performance. The program provided numerous opportunities for us to showcase our skills. This not only helped to build our confidence as dancers but also allowed us to share our passion for dance with others.

 

 As a student from the Dance program, I have gained a deep appreciation for the value of discipline, creativity, and teamwork. While these skills may seem more immediately applicable to a career in the arts, they can also be incredibly valuable in other fields, including economics. The creativity and self-expression that are central to dance can also be applied to the field of economics. In order to succeed in economics, it is important to think creatively and outside the box, to come up with innovative solutions to complex problems. The ability to communicate ideas through movement can also be translated to effective communication in the workplace, helping to build strong relationships and collaborations with colleagues. 

 

Finally, teamwork is another key skill that can be developed through the study of dance. It is essential in the field of economics as well. In order to succeed in any complex project, it is crucial to work collaboratively with others, to communicate effectively, and to support each other's strengths and weaknesses. The experience of working with a team of dancers in the UM Dance program has taught me the importance of clear communication, flexibility, and respect for others' contributions.

 

 2

 

Appropriate Use of Movement Under the Therapist's Assessment

Ambi Pu

 

Before taking this class, I was deeply in love with dance. In my understanding, dance has always been the most primitive and ancient form of therapy. Whenever one controls one's body to move to the rhythm, one can always feel as if one's consciousness is pulled by the music and the beat and rise to another level. Through this semester, I have come to understand how dance can be used as a vehicle for creative expression under the guidance of a therapist, augmented by different theoretical and practical techniques, to express inner emotions and thoughts freely through body language, and to facilitate the emotional, cognitive, physical and social integration of people through the appropriate use of movement under the therapist's assesment. 

 

The first feature of dance movement therapy is to find the connection between the emotion and the body in the patient's experience or symptoms: a process of infusing emotion into the body, which is a key concept in dance therapy, Body cathexis. This is the subjective experience of how a person feels about their body and their sense of identity and self-worth in relation to their appearance, abilities, and experiences. Body cathexis can have a significant impact on a person's mental health and well-being. Negative body catharsis can lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression, while positive body catharsis can lead to greater self-confidence and assertiveness. Therefore, when looking for the underlying causes and restoring the emotional and physical catharsis of the patient, it is necessary to focus on what kind of Body cathexis the patient has and then develop a therapeutic action session based on the theoretical knowledge. 

 

The first step is to determine what kind of body cathexis the patient has and then to analyze the patient's personal metaphor. Metaphors are a core part of human ability, linking sensory-motor experience, emotion and cognition. The symbolic meaning that is present in our action box is the action metaphor. Just as a person will unconsciously close their eyes when they think of a horrific image they have experienced because when a situation causes a particular emotion, the metaphor is recognized by the brain but disconnects parts of the body. This approach therefore helps the patient to understand and appreciate the different changes in their body and the underlying emotions that are being aroused so that they can better regulate themselves physically and mentally. 

 

The Body ego technique focuses on the connection between the body and the ego. The Body ego technique focuses on the connection between the body and the ego, or the conscious sense of self, encouraging patients to explore their physical and psychological emotional experiences and to see their subconscious contradictions and dynamics through this awareness. As we coach the patient, we can encourage them to explore their own emotional and physical connections and reflective subconscious thoughts through stretching or complex expressive movements. There are many ways in which these individual exercises can be combined, such as the observation and identification of schemas, to modify the treatment plan (as patients have different frameworks and ways of accessing information depending on their individual experiences). However, in addition to the individual aspects and movement therapy and exercises mentioned earlier, group and musical (rhythmic) therapy is also widely used in DMT. 

 

As I mentioned earlier, the original form of therapy uses dance and rhythm to allow the person to connect their emotions to the beat, rhythm, and body movements. Rhythm is very contagious and can organize individual behavior. A simple and safe rhythm can help the person to integrate and display their thoughts, ideas, and emotions in dance movements, and can also plan for extreme excesses. This is the case with Rhythm drumming, where the use of instruments such as rhythmic drumming is used as a medium to link the patient's emotions into complete movements. In addition to this, I remember the exercises we used to do in class where we all used percussion together, and the rhythm created a sense of togetherness that infected everyone in the room. Having people connected by music in a collective where they can share emotions, feelings, and thoughts is a great opportunity for those who have difficulty connecting with others due to their own barriers to feeling the sense of empathy, community, security, and belonging that develops from inner energy.

One of the things that has struck me most during this semester is that all of the knowledge and approaches learned in this class share the same philosophy as the DMT we have learned. The learning in this class was more of an exploration of our own emotions and perceptions. As we learned each new concept, we had the opportunity to experience firsthand how different theories explain the flow of emotions between bodies and movements, metaphorically revealing our subconscious thoughts. In each class, I was able to feel more deeply guided by the different theoretical knowledge of how the natural changes in my body that I was not aware of before were linked to my mental activity and how the unity of my mind and body and the collective was accomplished through our exercises in class. 

 

The most impressive activity for me was the exercise where we painted ourselves and created expressive dance movements. In that exercise, I was able to construct an 'innermost fantasy for the first time and try to combine this emotion with my own experiences and perceptions of myself, and finally link these thoughts together through the creation of dance movements. What I learned was not only the scientific technique of using dance movements for healing, but I was truly healed and felt how powerful my body, my brain, and my mind can be to integrate one's soul in such a wonderful way and show it to the world.

 

My profession is education, and this class has a deeper meaning for me in my future work with children. Although children are not patients, they are at an important stage in their consciousness and psychological development. The trends that occur during this period will determine their perceptions and the direction of their hearts for the rest of their lives. Therefore, although they are not patients, children need more than anyone else a teacher who can guide them in exploring their bodies, their emotions, and how to channel them physically. In my current opinion, for most children, there is a need to help them establish a healthy, usual relationship and pathway between their emotions and their bodies. At this stage of their cognitive development, I need them to develop a positive and beautiful body cathexis with their bodies because only if they accept and love their bodies positively from the inside will they be able to deal with their emotions, thoughts, and experiences in a more positive way later on in life. 

 

During childhood, many children experience emotional suppression and are unable to express themselves. Such repression is very harmful to the development of mental health. Some of the techniques of dance therapy can be incorporated in the classroom to encourage children to be more creative in expressing their needs and emotions, understanding that their emotions are a natural response, are accepted, and are part of the body and ourselves that we should love. Some of the group DMT exercises can also be used in the classroom and can be adapted slightly from the objectives in the lesson plan to achieve an integrated approach to developing students' coordination, communication skills, mastery of content knowledge, and at the same time feeling a sense of safety, connection, empathy and belonging in a group. Children's psychological and cognitive development needs to be guided, and many people overlook this. I am taking this class because I hope that I can be a teacher in my future classroom who not only teaches content knowledge but also helps them explore the beautiful relationship between self, body, and emotions at a critical time in their development.