“Every experience I’ve had in my life is a resource in my body.”
~ Anna Halprin
Dance Movement Therapy is a modality that explores the body as a vehicle for creative expression, self-regulation and interaction with the environment. Expressive and mindful movement is a source of well-being. It can create a sense of greater self-understanding, confidence and presence in the body. Listening to the sensations in our body, our breath flow and movement impulses gives us cues where we stand emotionally and in our thought processes. Awareness of this inner landscape helps us to regulate and modulate our state of being. Furthermore being embodied – in touch with ourselves and grounded – helps us to relate to our environment in an adaptive and satisfactory way.
There may be habitual patterns of movement, posture, breathing and body image that are no longer aligned with what we wish for ourselves. They may result from traumatic experiences in the past and function as coping mechanisms in the present. Dance Movement Therapy is one effective way of looking at these issues as they occur in our bodily experience. Welcoming, investigating and integrating the stuck parts of ourselves, that have been avoided, suppressed or simply ignored, can facilitate a powerful change. As we dance with, as and through those parts, we feel that we experience compassion with ourselves, emerging inner strength and a sense of wholeness.
In addition to all above mentioned dance and movement is simply fun. It makes us feel alive, connected and joyful. As we experiment with creative and spontaneous ways of expression through the body we feel at home in our skin.
My Background
I hold a diploma in dance movement therapy (415 hours). During my training between 2019-22, I was in placements with the elderly population in the Summerset rest home, with adolescents with physical and intellectual disability in expressive dance programs (Dance4Us, GASP Inclusive), with children in an arts program (Arts4Us), and with women participating in my Authentic Movement workshops. Since graduating I weave my dance movement therapy skills into my work as an arts therapist utilizing expressive dance, mindful movement, role play and safe touch.
Alongside the visual art, the art of dance and movement has always been a passion of mine. I have practiced Yoga for two decades and also explored Tai Chi and Qi Gong to stay supple, healthy and tuned into the flow of energy in my body. As a channel for creative expression 5 Rhythm Dance was for several years my weekly practice. It helped me to understand and harness the archetypal qualities distilled in Flow, Staccato, Chaos, Lyrical and Stillness. Contact Improvisation taught me the nonverbal way of relating to others and the art of giving and receiving. In my search for inter-modal therapeutic approaches Life Art Process left a deep impression on me, utilizing dance and art for holistic healing. Finally Authentic Movement revealed itself as the heart of my movement journey, addressing every aspect of my being and I love to share this practice with others. Since 2023 I regularly participate in the practice of the Discipline of Authentic Movement with a Circle of Four teacher Susan Cahill.
I am specializing in facilitation of individual sessions and group workshops/retreats in Authentic Movement. You are invited to join me in this practice if you wish to deepen in the experience of moving intuitively from within and to practice empathic, non-judgemental witnessing. A deeply therapeutic and explorative work which promotes integrity, self-acceptance, embodiment and compassion. It facilitates an honest and transformative encounter with oneself and other. The upcoming opportunities to practice will be posted in the News section. Registration is essential. Feel free to contact me to express your interest.
About Authentic Movement
Authentic Movement was founded by Mary Stark Whitehouse in the 1950´s under the name „Movement in Depth“. Among others, it was further developed by Janet Adler and Joan Chodorow. It is underpinned by the Jungian psychology of active imagination and collective unconscious, mysticism and mindfulness. Today it is widely utilized as a spiritual practice, therapeutic modality & in arts-based research.
Authentic Movement is based on the collaboration of a mover and a witness. Both commit to authenticity and presence. The mover enters the space, closes their eyes and waits for a movement impulse to arise from within. The mover listens while the body speaks. The witness is present with eyes open and holds the space for the mover. The witness is paying attention to the mover as well as their own inner stirrings that arise in resonance to what is seen. Each participant has the chance to be in both roles.
When it´s time, both mover and witness are allowed to process through writing and drawing. The mover may choose to verbally share the experience with the witness and may wish to hear the witness speak. This practice is an opportunity to develop a sensitivity for any personal projections and interpretations towards the other and to transform them into a deeper understanding of and connection with ourselves. A safe “container” is created where mover and witness are practicing empathic seeing, non-judgemental listening and mindful speech.
“May the quality of consciousness that is emerging collectively within our world outweigh the quantity of unconsciousness that suffers on our planet. May all suffering become compassion. May we be ready, may we be able.”
~Janet Adler
Literature: Adler, J. (2002) Offering from the Conscious Body – The Discipline of Authentic Movement, Vermont
A very good introduction on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authentic_Movement
Art as Resource 