Dance as a Way of Expressing our Individuality - Essay Example

? Dance as a Way of Expressing our Individuality (Various Roles of Dance in Human Development) Dance is an interesting because of its role in human development. When I did a proposal on this subject, my primary purpose was to correlate it with human development. There were related subjects and important discoveries that I found, when I started my searches over various literature sources, from the virtual and print media, the internet, books, magazines, etc. In other words, there are many underlying topics on the subject of dance and what it can do to the development of the human psyche or spirit and the physical body as a whole. But there has to be more scholarly studies that should be conducted on this subject, as what is being done on poetry, music and other classes of literature, as there is a dearth on this particular aspect. When I reached this discovery (of the many topics related to dance), I had to figure out what specific subject would I focus on. I decided the general topic to be about dance and its role in human development but the specific topic is on dance movement/therapy, a rather obscure but interesting topic for discussion which some scholars and experts in the literature, have started to dig and explain to the general audience. What can be said further is that this obscurity has been brought into the open for the many people interested in a new form of medicine and healing. I want to present this to target audience which should be the young. Dance is being practiced – or performed – by our young population but it seems there has been no aim presented to; Why do they dance? I can surmise that their primary aim is to present or perform for entertainment or to show their skill. But the ideal motive of dance has not been presented. Dance is part of culture, there’s no arguing about that. But its role in the present age should be on the movement/therapy, which will be the main emphasis of this essay. My thesis is: ‘Dance movement/therapy is an alternative medicine and healing’ Introduction Dance as an alternative form of healing is not new. It has been with us for generations when early people performed dances to the tune of different forms of music. The movement is an expression and rhythm creates healing. Dance is significant in human existence. It is a nonverbal creative way of expression. People express their humanity and individuality in several ways, and mostly through verbal communication and in the art. Dancers feel it as an expression of the soul, sometimes of their own existence. Dancers have also reported of its “freeing, health-promoting experience” (Degges-White 2011, p. 4). Dance has also been introduced to psychiatric patients and positive results have been noted in the treatment for depression. The logic behind is because of the integration of mind and body that is attributed to dance. Dance and movement allow us to express ourselves when words find it difficult to express. (Degges-White 2011), it is also considered the most primitive of all the arts but there is not enough literature and history of scholarship, unlike poetry and music. (MacDonald 2003, p. 151) The main point of this initial part of the essay is to provide a short origin of dance and its role as dance movement psychotherapy. This concept evolved from the mere fact that therapeutic benefits can be derived from dance. It grew in a unique therapeutic modality during the early 1940s, just like art and music (Malchiodi, 2005 as cited in Degges-White 2011, p. 4). The therapeutic benefits of dance have been one of the areas of study by several authors. An example is the one presented on the youtube website (Therapeutic dance and dance movement therapy 2011) which explores the power of creative arts with ideas on the similarity and difference of therapeutic dance and dance movement therapy. The therapeutic aspect should be emphasized as we see the difficulties of modern medicine to cope with re-emerging illnesses like tuberculosis or the emergence of pathogens as a result of war or refugee camps (Chavers and Vermund 2007, p. 18). Dance can help as an alternative medicine in both physical and mental illnesses. An example is the use of dance as an alternative medicine for drug-related illnesses. This was one of the subjects of study conducted by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) wherein researchers found that expressive art like dance can be used in the treatment of drug-related disorders. (Delancy 2007, p. 95) Literature Review Dance is a rhythmic and stylized movement of the body whose aim is to communicate or to celebrate (Schrader 2005, p. 4). A dance is usually accompanied with music but this is not always the case. There are dances that are performed without music. Dances are a part of culture and are performed according to the culture and era they are presented. Dance is an expression of life, but most of all it is an expression of our own individuality. Sometimes we dance because we feel happy or we dance to express our various feelings and emotions. Other artists dance away our loneliness and happiness. Dance is not only a social activity; it is a physical, psychological, sociological and mental exercise that early people performed it as a very important aspect of life. We wear our most beautiful clothing in other aspects of human endeavour but in dance, you can wear anything according to the theme. Music cannot be fully appreciated if you don’t accompany it with dance. In ancient history, prayer is accompanied with dance. Ancient priests perform their rituals with dances and music. In Morocco, a country known for its ritualistic dances and music, an important part of the people’s tradition is trance music. The culture of Morocco is unique in that they emphasize the significance of dance in their way of life. Dance is expressed in the body and senses and appreciated with sound, image, and word. In the Gnawa culture of Moroccans, they look at men as musicians, but men and women perform dances “like the possessed”, and this ritualistic activity reveals a complex and flexible “gender power relations” (Kapchan 2007, p. 3). Every culture in the world has a history of dances and music, and dances are performed in accordance with the people’s culture and tradition. (Muddyman 1999) Music and dance are phenomena and causality, capable of arousing our feelings and emotions. We can appreciate music as we listen and see the face of the musician or dancer. When we express our love, sadness and anger, we sometimes express it in the form of music and dance. Emotions of anger, loneliness, happiness and excitement can be presented with music and dance as shown in a presentation in the youtube website (Expressing emotions through music and dance 2009). As we travel through time, we experience the many facets of music and dances imparted by humans in religion and culture, and through different aspects of life. In religion, music and dance are a form of prayer. It can be used to unite and adore. Prayer expressed through dances and songs are one of the best forms of prayer. Dancers are called artists because indeed they execute an art when they dance. And when they perform the art, they experience various feelings and emotions. Dance is considered an emotional expression and in doing this the goal is not only to present a performance but to explore one’s feelings that cannot be verbalized. (Stanton-Jones, 1992, p. 3 as cited in Nemetz 2006, p. 95) Dance, a nonverbal communication The study of nonverbal communication started to become popular in the 1960s to 1970s (Levy, 1988 as cited in Nemetz 2006, p. 98). Earlier than this however, Charles Darwin, in his writings on the theories of evolution, also wrote theories on nonverbal communication. Darwin said that “the movement of expression in the face and body … reveals the thought and intention of others more truly than do words, which may be falsified” (cited in Nemetz 2006, p. 98). Sir William Osler, who is hailed as the father of modern medicine, recorded the role of emotional factors in healing, particularly nonverbal communication as very important in the healing process. (Osler, 1932 as cited in Nemetz 2006, p. 98) Another major contributor to the study of nonverbal communication is Raymond Birdwhistell who wrote the Introduction to Kinesics in 1952. Birdwhistell wrote about dance/movement therapy and introduced the term “kinesics” which referred to “the study of bodily motions that are communicative” (Morain as cited in Nemetz 2006, p. 98). Movement can be studied and subdivided into parts, such as “small subtle actions”. Genelle Grant Morain (cited in Nemetz 2006) stated that in the different cultures, “there are many subtler movement interactions” (p. 98). The twentieth century brought in fresh ideas about psychotherapy which added to the development of dance movement therapy (Nemetz 2006). Psychotherapy was first formulated by Aristotle when he wrote De Anima (On the Soul) which provided a link between emotion and mental activity. This led to the discovery of mental problems during World War II, and the importance of releasing the sickness through the various modes of expression. (Nemetz 2006) Writings of scholars revealed the importance of dance as a psychotherapy. Dr. Fran Levy however argued that there was not enough writing that linked medicine and psychotherapy. Medicine focused on the body while psychotherapy on the mind. But during the 20th century, writings started to link these two. (Nemetz 2006) Carl Jung studied the importance of dreams and expounded on “the idea of active imagination” which focused on the artist’s work that provided healing. Freud and William Reich popularized the notion on the relationship of the body and mind. Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow popularized the “actualizing tendency”, a subject on dance/movement therapy which states that everyone wishes for “the best possible level of wellness” (Rogers as cited in Nemetz 2006, p. 99). The therapist can lead the client along this path but the latter should also have a part in the process of healing. Fitness programs are a form of movement with the objective of improving stamina and overall health. But dance is more on the creative side of the healing process. Fitness programs have the goal of increased mobility, more blood circulation, and relaxation. Dance is a creative movement which encourages “spontaneity, body awareness, increased self-esteem, and social interaction” (Herman & Renzurri as cited in Levy 1995, p. 134). Dance movement psychotherapy integrates various sciences like physiology, psychology, sociology , and the’ Art’ and’ Science’ of psychotherapy. The ADTA fosters the belief that dance /movement can be used as psychotherapeutic intervention. The body, mind and spirit are one and therefore dance/movement therapy is a psychotherapeutic process that makes use of movement to improve the “emotional, cognitive, physical and social” well-being an individual. (ADTA American Dance therapy Association: what is dance / movement therapy? 2012) (see appendix A) Other important ideas and concepts derived from the ADTA philosophy are: Dance/movement therapy focuses on movement as a means of healing. Groups and individuals can make use of dance/movement therapy which is a form of expression and communication. Body movement is the primary component of dance that leads the physical body to the healing process. (ADTA American Dance therapy Association: about dance movement therapy 2012) Dance/therapy is applicable for mental and physical purposes, including for rehabilitation, medical, educational and forensic applications and in many other purposes. Dance therapy is effective to heal developmental, physical, social and other forms of impairment. Dance psychotherapy can be used as an aid to repress negative emotion. It is applicable for the young and the old and for all ethnic groups. (ADTA American Dance Therapy Association: about dance/movement therapy 2012) Anxiety is one psychological problem that can be healed through dance. Anxiety is a central feature of many psychological problems, including that were formerly called ‘neuroses’. It is a response to some as yet unrecognized factor, either in the environment or in the self. (Emmanuel 2006, p. 6) The American Dance Therapy Association recognizes this and has some programs for the treatment of anxiety. ADTA American Dance Therapy Association: about dance/movement therapy 2012) Sigmund Freud’s concept of anxiety is related to the sexual energy or libido. When this is not consummated or expressed, it becomes toxic and results to anxiety. Regular sexual practice can release the blockages and erase anxiety. Environmental factors and situations create anxiety. In the context of the musician, anxiety is the one that has most penetrated the literature on musicians and their training, professional work and lifestyles. (Kemp 2004, p. 85) Freud formulated the concept of the id, ego, and superego. He emphasized the dark side of human nature and the irrational id. More attention must be paid to our innate healthy drives and to the strengths and capacities of the ego. Theorists have criticized Freud for his overemphasis of the id, ego, and superego. (Ewen 1998, p. 81) Dance movement/therapy can heal anxiety and the irrational behaviour. This is demonstrated in the next section on DMT session. A DMT Session Dance movement psychotherapy (DMT) has been introduced in groups as a form of counselling session. A DMT session was held by four mothers along with their four toddlers, which was eventually called “The Love Bugs”. This session was conducted in 1987 at Leeds Family Service Unit (LFSU), and the children were reported to be at risk by abuse by a social worker. Helen Payne, who wrote the chapter of the book about DMT – Dance movement therapy became dance movement psychotherapy in the UK in20210: theory and practice, acted as dance movement psychotherapist and researcher for the project. (Payne 1992) The following interventions were used in the DMT session: The dyads were properly recorded with the members of the group given their own files, added with Polaroid photographs. The purpose of this was to portray a visual reflection of mother and child as a distinct unit and to encourage the mother to have all activities be a part of the file as charted by the therapist. The therapist recorded positive comments that should be encouraged in the course of the session. Maladaptive behaviour was corrected, for example, the mother should hold her child in such a way that she maintains an eye contact in giving instructions to her child. Mother and child interactions were encouraged while both had to be a part of the group. There was an activity in which a child was rocked by the whole group using a blanket. The mother maintained the eye contact while the whole group rocked the baby in a smooth, gentle rocking motion. The child’s body was forming an arch. Payne recorded that this activity established “rhythmic synchrony and indulging, nurturing movement qualities” (Laban 1960 as cited in Payne 1992, p. 20). They also used circles and songs in conducting the beginning and end of each session. They used ways in which the mother would be able to protect the chid. A dance number was used to portray a dance movement therapist as a wolf, chasing the children as the mothers came to their succour and hid them in their body shapes. (Payne 1992) As the sessions continued, the group members were allowed more independence, i. e. without interventions from the dance movement therapist. The purpose was to allow more freedom of interaction between the mother and child. Home sessions were also conducted for the DMT to be focused and integrated on the whole family. The aim was to make it a part of the family activity and to counter any negative effects in the system. (Payne 1992, p. 20) The sessions conducted activities for both mothers and the children. The mothers were given exercises on relaxation, eye focus, contact and rhythmic synchrony, and other body exercises. Through a dance movement therapist, the mothers were encouraged to respond to children and develop a sense of cooperation with their children. It was concluded from the DMT sessions that children who were candidates of abuse improved their sense of interaction with their families. DMT sessions were recommended for those who were at risk of abuse. Mothers had a big role in the DMT sessions; their motivations were important in the sessions. The research also found that mothers who had a history of abuse had negative outcomes or affected the results of the sessions; they had negative outcomes and effect on the children. But if it was applied to individual DMT for the mother alone, the effect was considered insignificant. The DMT session also found that there was no relation on the degree of positive change on the child’s kind of birth, the family size, and the child’s position in the family, but the older children in the DMT sessions experienced more positive change. It could be that the older ones were mature to interact with their mothers during the sessions. (Payne 1992, p. 33) The Influence of the Medium on Creativity in dance and fine art Pina Bausch’s dance Bluebeard emphasizes the importance of the medium in art and the role of the artist to produce an art. To create an artwork is an interaction between he medium and the artist and the process by which the artist works the medium. Pina Bausch’s Bluebeard has sexual violence as the theme. There is battle between man and woman and the world of personal and emotional turmoil. This musical play is an expression of life. In the dance, the stage area represents one setting: a garden, grey and dismal in colour with a window that seems to be with no direction. Bausch repeats movements throughout, becoming more violent and enhancing the emotional content. The repletion of movement has an artistic purpose – to echo emotions of life. Music and dance have a purpose. (Haworth & Haworth 1991) Bausch’s Bluebeard has a theme of truth and violence which is part of the dance portrayed in the play. The creative process determined the direction of the artwork. The production used a method in creative process known as improvisation in which the performers had freedom in their movement. Some scenes had violent and real emotions injected by the dancers and actors wherein there was no restriction on the performers’ movement. Improvisation allowed the performers to express fully and enhance the emotional truth in performance. Bausch used realistic movement with some psychological concept, using dance as an expression of her artwork. The creative process involved a complex interaction between thought, emotion and activity. It was also used to express sentiments on violence against women. (Haworth & Haworth 1991) Conclusion We have established in this essay the importance of dance in our daily lives. Dance movement/therapy is used in the healing process: for abused children or candidates of abuse, as an expression, or as a means to express sentiments on violence against women. During earlier times, dance has always been a part of human activities. The interrelated topics of dance noted in the research forced this researcher to dig deeper, that dance was not only invented for the purpose of enjoyment but also in frustration, loneliness, and most of all, in the healing process. This is what we need in this particular era, with all the complexities we experience in our daily lives. Dance is an expression and a cause itself. We feel we have to express, and we dance because of the ill causes that we experience. Dance as an important factor in human development invites us to see what is there in dance. We found evidence from the writings of Charles Darwin, from psychologists Freud, his contemporaries and present generation psychologists, and even Aristotle – that dance is a nonverbal communication which is used in the early development of a person, from childhood up to adulthood. There is a growing interest in dance movement psychotherapy because of the positive benefits dance has created on those who constantly make dance a part of their lives. Dance is a celebration and the word celebration creates excitement and happiness, even laughter. As they say, “Laughter is the best medicine”. But there are various benefits in applying the concept of celebration to dance and not just its being an expression of emotions or culture. When we celebrate, we always connote this with happiness as we don’t celebrate something that makes us sad or angry. Celebration and happiness uplift the “sleeping” spirit inside us, and so it can trigger healing or something of the sort. Dance can be used for repression. There are times that we experience a shameful feeling. This can be treated with dance. When we do it, we put to our subconscious such shameful feeling and proceed with another feeling, or, shall we say, enter into “another world” where only dance and music reign. Such is the power of dance that we need to continuously practice in order to make it a form of therapy or power itself. Appendix A: Dance therapy in America is Dance/movement therapy, And Dance movement psychotherapy in UK since 2010. References ADTA American Dance therapy Association: what is dance / movement therapy 2012, viewed 6 April 2012, < http://www.adta.org/>. ADTA American Dance Therapy Association: about dance movement therapy 2012, viewed 6 April 2012, Read More