- Dance/Movement Therapy helps connect movement and emotion to boost physical and mental health.
- People don’t need a background or special abilities in dance to benefit from Dance/Movement Therapy.
- Dance/Movement Therapy may be beneficial for treating depression, eating disorders, ADHD, and more.
- Visit Insider’s Health Reference library for more advice.
Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) is more than a choreographed dance routine: According to the American Dance Therapy Association, it is the psychotherapeutic use of movement and dance to support intellectual, emotional, and motor functions of the body. As a creative arts therapy, DMT looks at the connection between movement and emotion to improve a person’s physical and mental health.
Dance/Movement Therapy may be recommended for people with a hard time communicating what’s troubling them, or as an alternative for those who don’t find traditional talk therapy effective, says Orit Krug, MS, BC-DMT, LCAT, a Dance/Movement Therapist. It is a form of psychotherapy that utilizes nonverbal cues, movement, dance, and talking.
Learn who Dance/Movement Therapy benefits and how it can enhance your physical and mental health.
What is Dance/Movement Therapy?
Dance/Movement Therapy emerged in the 1940s, led by Marian Chace, one of the founders of modern dance and dance therapy. She worked at St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, D.C., where dance and movement became a language for “shell-shocked” veterans – what we now call PTSD – to begin communicating and expressing as an integral part of their mental health treatment.
Krug describes Dance/Movement Therapy as going on a physical and mental journey to unearth past trauma and repressed emotions.
Dance/Movement Therapy is conducted by a registered or board-certified Dance/Movement Therapist with a master's degree in the field who analyzes subtle and expressive behavior to better understand and work with a client. Dance/Movement Therapists develop treatment plans, maintain a clinical record of progress, and may work alongside other healthcare professionals.
According to the American Dance Therapy Association, Dance/Movement Therapy occurs in various places, including nursing homes, medical facilities, psychiatric centers, schools, and private practice.
DMT employs different techniques to help a person connect to their body. Here are a few common methods:
- Mirroring: This is the most popular method for DMT, and it can be done either with a group or with only the instructor. One person performs a spontaneous movement while other people imitate the movement. "It's like the people mirroring the movement are saying 'We see you, I understand what you're saying, and I'm reflecting it back' just like a verbal conversation. It helps people be seen on a human level," says Krug.
- Chacian: This is method focuses on rhythmic body movement and symbolism to promote communication and expression, says Julia Iafrate, DO, an Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine and Director of Dance Medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. It often starts in a circle with the therapist giving verbal and nonverbal cues to get a sense of the group's emotional state. The group then engages in simple, repetitive movements, while the therapist verbally addresses those feelings, connecting them to the body's movements.
- Authentic Movement: This technique involves having clients explore their subconscious emotions and thoughts by acting them out through improvised dancing. The client keeps their eyes closed to minimize distractions and to better connect the mind to the body. The person running the therapy session observes the process of the mover in a non-judgmental way.
Conditions treated by Dance/Movement Therapy
Dance/Movement Therapy may also be therapeutically beneficial for various chronic physical and mental health conditions. Here's what the research shows:
- Depression. A 2019 review found people who practiced DMT reported lower levels of depression and anxiety and an increase in physical skills such as walking, turning, and balance. The positive effects of DMT were continuous in subjects over 22 weeks.
- Eating disorders. A small 2020 study in women with eating disorders found Dance/Movement Therapy helped improve body image and was most effective when combined with traditional eating disorder treatments, such as talk therapy.
- Autism. A 2018 review reported improvements in social, cognitive, and physical abilities in both children and adults with autism after several sessions of DMT. Researchers also found a decrease in compulsive and repetitive behaviors.
- Chronic pain. A 2018 study in patients with fibromyalgia reported less chronic pain after participating in a 12-to-24-week dance intervention program.
- Parkinson's disease. According to the Parkinson's Foundation, DMT aids with balance, coordination, and mobility. It also helps with depression, digestive issues, anxiety, and fatigue associated with Parkinson's.
- ADHD. A 2018 study found Dance/Movement Therapy resulted in improved test scores for young children with ADHD.
Benefits of Dance/Movement Therapy
The effects of Dance/Movement Therapy are supported by research. Moving your body is thought to evoke emotional awareness and regulate your emotional state.
Dance/Movement Therapy boosts cognitive abilities by:
- Encouraging creativity
- Improving body image
- Relieving stress
- Managing mood
Dance/Movement Therapy also helps refine gross motor skills - raising arms side to side, jumping, coordination, and balance - as a form of exercise, according to the Disability Resource Community.
The physical benefits of Dance/Movement Therapy include:
- Improved balance between muscles and fat, or overall body composition
- Improved muscular and overall strength
- Improved balance and coordination
- Decrease cardiovascular risks
Insider's takeaway
Dance/Movement Therapy is a nonverbal form of treatment that helps a person make a connection with their body and mind. It's an appropriate therapy for people of all ages and may particularly benefit people with chronic diseases. DMT can also boost a person's mental and physical alertness.
Dance/Movement Therapy is sometimes covered by private insurance, but this may vary. If Dance/Movement Therapy piques your interest, the American Dance Therapy Association is the best resource for more in-depth information.
Dance/Movement Therapy has been found to help people express anger, happiness, and sadness, as well as increase quality-of-life and boost cognitive skills. Overall, Iafrate says DMT can be a good option for anyone who is having trouble verbalizing their emotions. It may allow their body to tell the story that their mind and mouth aren't able to yet.
"We're good at using words to cover up how we're feeling, we choose what words we want to say," Krug says. However, when people work out their feelings through bodily movement, they can "subconsciously express themselves as an alternative to traditional talk therapy."