Dance therapy is a holistic practice that helps to rebalance the cognitive area , the emotional area, the rational area , the psychomotor area  and increases the level of general psycho-physical energy. Let’s find out better. 

>   1. What is dance therapy

>   2. How it works

>   3. What does dance therapy cure?

>   4. For whom is dance therapy designed

>   5. The law in Italy and abroad

>   6. Associations and reference bodies

What is dance therapy

Also known by the name of dance music therapy and the acronym DMT ( dance-movement-therapy ), dance therapy is a form of art therapy that uses music and movement as a cure and therapeutic means.

It is essentially based on the holistic principle of man’s bio-psycho-spiritual unity and has its fundamental element in physicality : emotions and memories in the body come out through dance.

It is therefore a practice for which dance and movement are considered revealing of inner states and offer the psychic possibility not only to make them emerge, but also, if necessary, to face them, overcoming certain obstacles that make one live well. thanks to the intervention of a trained therapist.

Dance, therefore, in this context, is not only an applied art, but must be understood with a broader meaning that combines movement, the kinetic energy of the body, with the emotional experience of the person.

How does it work?

Through the body, the patient lets that inner world emerge which is usually mute or, at least, comes out with extreme difficulty through words.

Increasing the body vocabulary is very important, as it serves to access new dimensions of self-awareness . Since the beginning of the last century, the enormous potential inherent in movement as a key to access the unconscious was perceived.

A pioneer in this field was Gustav Jung who showed a great openness to the different modes of expression: pictorial, dramatic and movement.

What does dance therapy cure?

The ailments that dance therapy can help cure are different, belonging to different areas of being. These are:

• the cognitive area , whereby through dance therapy it is possible to improve certain skills such as the body schema, the learning of concepts or the use of symbols;
• the emotional area, increasing the ability to express one’s emotions;
• the rational area , for which intrapersonal relationships are improved;
• the psychomotor area , increases motor coordination and the ability to manage space, proprioception and body awareness.

All this has as its final purpose that of promoting the well-being of the person, stimulating pleasure and psycho-physical energy and offering greater possibilities for the development of relational skills.

Dance therapy: the authentic movement that inhabits the body

Who is dance therapy designed for?

Dance therapy is an easy and pleasant technique, suitable for people of all ages and psychophysical conditions . An approach to this discipline is recommended for minors and adults suffering from psychological disorders; to people with eating disorders or suffering from other addictions; adolescents, the elderly, the disabled, pregnant women. Used in the social and rehabilitative fields, it is also a great tool for healthcare professionals in contact with patients with a complex psyche.

More generally, it is recommended for those suffering from somatic, psychological and relational disorders : shyness, stress, anxiety, psychosomatic diseases, eating disorders, addictions, learning difficulties, neuroses, psychoses, obsessive behaviors, depressions, language disorders and post-traumatic problems.

The dance therapy meetings can be aimed at single individuals, couples or groups: the choice of context is generally made in relation to the methods and needs relating to the specific problem being treated.

The law in Italy and abroad

Today there are many forms of mind aids that use dance, are adopted in private settings or in hospitals and public facilities in the mental health or education and training sectors.

The various dance therapy methodologies are based on different theoretical interpretations of dance and its potential to support the mind.

Associations and reference bodies

In 1997 the Italian Professional Association Danzamovimentoterapia (APID) was established on the initiative of dance-movement therapists from all over the country. In the absence of ad hoc legislation, it is the APID that regulates the criteria for the training and professional practice of the dance therapist .