“All movement is suitable as dance material”
Rudolf von Laban (1879-1958), dance artist, choreographer, creator of the Laban Movement Analysis

For me dancing has always been an important way of expressing myself and gathering my thoughts. The idea of dance being more than just a series of specific movements put together and memorized is what led me to dance improvisation, authentic movement and dance therapy.

In 2011 I applied to Theatre Academy Helsinki (TeaK) Institute for Extension Studies to study Dance Movement Therapy (DMT). The 30-credit studies lasted for 9 months during which we got basic knowledge of the history and methodology of DMT: its theories and methods, expressing oneself through dance and body motion, movement analysis and body maintenance. In classical or traditional dance the teacher is the one leading when in social dance the leader is the environment as a whole.

THE EARLY YEARS

"If you don’t have anything to say, you can't dance"
Mary Wigman (1886-1973), dancer, choreographer, dance instructor

The roots of DMT lie in the early 1900's when the field of dance started to get new influences and strong-minded visionaries. Performers and choreographers started seeking inspiration from primitive tribal dances and ethnic styles and the art form that had turned a bit elitist began to open up for everybody. The idea of the body and mind being connected became a guiding star for the pioneering dance instructors of that time.

Dance therapy per se was born in the USA in the 1940’s. It first started at private studios with so called “normal neurotics”-people who came to dance classes and found new means of coping with the challenges of everyday life through the teaching methods of modern dance. Gradually it expanded to the treatment of psychiatric patients, the disabled and older people. During the 60’s and the 70’s Dance Therapy was used in public healthcare, research was made and theory formulated to back up the method. The term Dance Movement therapy was adopted.

MOVEMENT AS A TOOL FOR A FACILITATOR

Today Dance Movement Therapy is an established form of psychotherapy and expressive therapies. It can be used in clinical environments with patients suffering from physical, psychological or social problems; its methods can contribute to education and can be used with both groups and individual clients of all ages. The applied methods include working with body-mind connections, movement improvisation, dance in its different forms, movement games, relaxation, visualisation and body perception exercises and of course communicating the experience through words, visual aids or movement.

In my opinion there is no “dance for the disabled”, just dance. You do not have to be an experienced performer and instructor to lead groups, all that is needed is an open mind, an eager body and sensitivity. Dancing is not something restricted that belongs only for the highly trained few, but a way of connecting with one’s self and others, of being social and creative, of putting something into movement that cannot be put into words. It is a great tool for all kinds of groups, especially when working with people who have physical limitations: it can be very empowering to realise, that a wheelchair or having hemiparesis or chronic pain does not rule out dancing and movement from one’s life. Everybody can dance despite what the reality show judges on TV say and everybody should.

WHERE TO STUDY MOVEMENT

The field of Dance Movement therapy in Finland is actually fairly large. The 30-credit basic studies can be taken at TeaK or the Eino Roiha Institute in the University of Jyväskylä. The latter also offers 3-year vocational training to become a Dance Movement Psychotherapist and there have been rumours about starting a longer training programme in Helsinki as well. The basic studies, previous subject related studies and work experience are a prerequisite when applying to the vocational training.

The Eastern Finland Sports Institute ISLO offers education in Dance and Somatics in English. These vocational extension studies last one year and are also a good way of getting familiarized with creative movement and body-mind connections.

Psychotherapy students do not receive Kela subsidy but it's always possible to apply for different grants and scholarships or even get one’s workplace to aid with the study expenses. The somatic studies in ISLO, however, are financially subsidized for eligible students.

INTERESTING LINKS:
Finnish Dance Therapy Association: http://www.tanssiterapia.net
American Dance Therapy Association: http://www.adta.org/
Theatre Academy Helsinki: Institute for Extension Studies: http://kokos.fi/
The Eino Roiha Foundation: http://www.ers.fi/
ISLO: Education in Dance and Somatics: www.islo.fi/en/education+at+islo/education+in+dance+and+somatics/
Community Dance in Finland: http://www.yhteisotanssi.fi/

Text by Maria Talvitie