CRAZY DANCE

Dance is known to some as a performing art, to others as a way to exercise, or a way to engage an active child, but what about dance as a therapy? What about using dance as a way for children to communicate and express themselves when traditional forms of communication are hindered by behavioral or cognitive difficulties?Dance/movement therapists use body movement, as the core component of dance, to provide the means of assessment and the mode of intervention for therapy. Dance/movement therapists’ unique abilities allow for better understanding which aid in reflecting and expanding nonverbal expressions. This can help individuals improve socialization and communication as well as build body awareness which can directly affect motor deficits. The therapist helps to enhance communication skills, creating pathways from the nonverbal to verbal. As a result, awareness of self and others, coping skills, and the ability to form relationships can all be improved. Verbalizing movement is another means of positively reflecting the child’s appearance, improving body image as well as helping the child organize and structure experiences in the brain. Integration of the child’s own body parts and awareness of others’, builds the child’s movement vocabulary. This in turn increases their ability to communicate their wants and needs.