Many thanks to all for your comments about how the presentation helped you to better understand what is dance/movement therapy and how it applies to working with a range of client populations. My best, Nana Koch
Clear, logical, loving presentation. I have been a dancer- sharer - for 20 years and just now putting the powerful experiences that I've witnessed into knowledge towards learning & practicing dance movement therapy. So exciting!
Im only 13 and I've been trying to figure out what i want to be and who i want to be so that I have a goal, this is exactly it! I am an excellent dancer and I have gone through LOTS and LOTS of trauma in my life so i feel that i can relate to clients better that way. This has to be my calling to the world!
Follow your heart and body and it will lead you in the direction meant for you. You will be able to share and teach at a depth that will help others since you have had your own experience and connection with both. May you find what you seek!
How wonderful you dance and you are curious. I am sorry you had some trauma and I trust will find your way into deeper healing and joy in your life. I wish you every blessing 🙏🏻💙🕊️
movement being the first form of communication is a statement that highlighted to me just how dance is natural to us. DMT is a form of therapy that can be done in a verity of specialties and locations. A normal session can be seen by having a welcoming to bind the clients through rhythm. The more that one moves the more that we start becoming stimulated leading to the symbolic movement. Being able to dive deeper into what DMT is helps others to understand the importance of it.
I really liked Nana's description of the group dance therapy session. The emphasis on equality of all people involved helped me visualize what is a form of therapy I have had little experience with so far.
This video reinforces the concept that rhythm, dance, and movement can be extremely powerful in building community and making individuals feeling connected to each other. I can see how, in a therapy setting, dance is a great way to connect and build rapport between therapist and client.
I really like how this video goes over a lot of different aspects of dance therapy. It was helpful to gain an understanding of how it came about, how it is used today, and why it is an important method for therapy. I also appreciated the overview of what the therapy sessions usually consist of as it painted a more clear picture.
Just over three years ago I lost Celia my wife of 53 years. That left a very big hole in my life so as she was I consultant psychologist I know that this thing that sits on my neck can kill or cure. So, with the power of positive thinking I tried tap dancing well at 74 I was to say the least a bit wooden in my movements. My dance teacher Gemma said that I needed to try a different form of activity to limber up the old body. Well you could have knocked me down with a feather and what did she suggest ballet! Well I had never dome it before but now I do three classes a week just me and 40 ladies, one has to suffer for ones art. So music and movement keeps you going and it is a lot of fun, both the dance and the social life. Bernard Bibby 74 UK
I'm so sorry for your loss. Such a bliss that you found dancing and do it that much. It sure is divine and healing, Thats been proven more than once. Sending love your way
Bernard, I am inspired by your courage to try something new that has brought such positive energy to your life. I imagine that losing your spouse was devastating, but your resilience and attitude led you to take up dancing. Kudos to you for taking the step into class and enjoying it so very much!!! As James Brown said: The one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing! You have found your joy in the dance!!! BRAVO!
You know, I was a dance major, years ago. One of the forms of dance I studied was tap dancing. Our professor said you will never find an unhappy tap dance. I think that's pretty much true. She called tap dancing the Happy Dance. Keep moving, my friend. :)
I really enjoy this video that she talk about the three different session and how to connect them to get the best effect. The warm up session is making a circle that way shows equal for every clients and therapist, and they using the music with the beats of rhythm to connect body to move differently from each clients. Some clients follow the beats of music to show the different moving posture that shows their emotion inside, a few clients start move slowly that hide their mind or inside body, and others would quickly moving with music.
I like how she quoted that the one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing. lot of people who are not dancers are afraid of the word or afraid to do it because of judgment. I like how the concept of Dance/Movement therapy breaks down that stigma and makes people more comfortable with the idea of expressing their emotions through movement and dancing. DMT has the power and ability to bring people of all ages together, and to connect with one another. I love how she chose to connect with the audience and make them think of a gesture. It created a comfortable space with everybody. When I took a DMT class, the class started off the same way, and it created a wonderful environment.
Through the video, I can feel how dance therapy can fill my emotion and touch the deepest mind/most hidden thought. Dance gives me a good feeling, and it gives a way that i can emphasize the content of my conversation. It's better than hand writing. Like old saying when Chinese appeared to dance" The lack of words, the dance of the song."
I could feel it as well. Her words and her body language, especially her arms, tapped into that energy that she spoke of. I had not heard that old saying before. Thank you for sharing it.
Dance has the power to energize participants, and through dance therapy, experts are able to guide the individuals through this experience. It is so interesting that through this process, individuals will feel quite different after they engage in dance therapy.
I really enjoy your reflection on this video and I think how you highlighted the fact that people's feelings can change before and after a dance therapy class
It is so interesting to see how someone's personality can be reflected without words through movement and dance. I have never truly looked at dance in this light before seeing these videos. Being able to speak and convey a message through movement is amazing to see and I cannot wait to see how that progresses into the future.
I think it's fascinating how much movement really does reveal about a person, just as iterated in this video: "through dance, people reveal their innermost life." I also liked the comment about the importance of space, such as how a simple circle formation can largely affect (and improve) the bonding of a group of people, especially a group of strangers or physically/emotionally restrained people.
A very engaging talk! I now have a better understanding of dance movement therapy and why it is so effective. It is because " movement is a basic form of communication that provides us with opportunities for socialization." It makes sense to why movement can help people create a community for people to come together to understand one another
We invite you to visit www.adta.org to learn more about the profession. You may want to also follow @adtaorg on Instagram and on Facebook, to stay apprised of events, conferences and workshops. Be well. facebook.com/AmericanDanceTherapyAssociation
Nana, what a wonderful talk. This is a clear, concise, stimulating introduction to what dance/movement therapy is and how it works. I love the whole thing and especially the ending. You fit a lot into a short talk. I plan to have this be the first ADTA talk that my introductory dance/movement therapy students watch this fall. Thanks for doing such a good job.
"A circle is egalitarian. Everyone is seen in the same way...they are equal." You have said this so beautifully. It seems so simple, but the effects of just being together with people in this way can transform the time spent together. This idea will stay with me into the future, hopefully to be implemented when working with others struggling to be seen.
I find it very interesting that a person's body language, or the "shape and rhythm" of their body can say so much about their emotions, and how we as humans can pick up on that without even trying. We were never trained in dance movement therapy, yet we have an innate sense of which movements mean what, as movement is a universal language.
The statement of how movement is our first form of communication is very eye-opening. When I think about my life I realize how sometimes people know how I'm feeling based on my body movements and posture when I do not even mean to be letting them know how I feel. Movement is a universal language for all.
Thank you Nana for the great summary on DMT! Dance Movement Therapy makes me realize the power of nonverbal communication. To simply express ourselves through moving our bodies, not the way we are told, but by the way we feel, connects our mind and body in such a deep way. I also emphasize in my classes that moving our body, embodying our fullest expression in the class and outside of the studio is the best way to bring dance not as a hobby but as a lifestyle!
"The body reflects personality. Movement doesn't lie." This is such a strong and undeniable statement. I can think of so many instances in daily life where a small gesture reveals so much. For example, babies show us how they feel through movement before they can speak. Their care givers learn how to respond to their needs based solely on facial and motor expression. Efficient ability to assist one without the use of words has surprisingly endless possibilities.
This synopsis of DMT gave me a great overview of what this career entails. Something that stood out to me was that "movement doesn't lie" which shows how beneficial DMT is for clients of all personalities and backgrounds. Movement having the ability to voice unsaid feelings is a strong power that can be understood and embraced by dance therapists, and I find that both intriguing and beautiful.
Super interesting how DMT classes or sessions slowly build up until we can find a way to express our inner most feelings and thoughts. Movement is how we first learned to communicate how we felt, and it still helps us today which is cool to see how it comes full circle.
I like how she distinguishes the difference between a dance class and dance therapy and how in dance therapy people are encouraged to move however they see fit and to move based on their own personal feelings
From this video, I thought it was so eye opening to learn about how prevalent dance therapists are. I loved how you talked about how dance therapists don’t force their clients to preform a specific movement, yet encourage them to just do what comes naturally and I think that idea is so important especially for people that don’t have strong dance backgrounds so they don’t feel uncomfortable.
I agree that this is so interesting and important to do movement that comes naturally. In my own dance experience, I know that I love improvisation and value how I feel after it.
Many people aren't really aware of DMT and how it is used around them. This video shines an excellent light on expressing ourselves and becoming aware of our feelings through a different form of communication.
Before this class, I didn't even know DMT existed, so I am very intrigued to learn how this medium can be used instead of traditional means of therapy.
I liked hearing and also seeing where dance therapy comes from and how it is put into action to help a variety of individuals. There are so many contributing factors to one's identity and I am very excited to see in our DMT class how we are able to carry this out with the combination of music, movement, and dance.
I resonated with Koch's statement that movement is our first form of communication. I think about myself and how sometimes others can tell how I'm feeling before I know. Or someone being able to tell if a person is lying, their body language/movement can speak volumes. It's powerful how much the mind and body intertwine.
Dance can provoke expression that overcomes barriers and shares genuine feelings. It is so interesting to hear about the different ways individuals connect to the rhythm and to others.
I just recently learned about dance movement therapy as a profession however it is so interesting how we portray so much about ourselves through movement.
I think it is really cool to see how dance therapy started and what it does now. It was nice to get a breakdown of what happens in a group session and it really helped me visualize what a full group session would look like. I believe this would help us gain shared experiences to build strong relationships as we learn to understand ourselves and one another.
This is a wonderful summation of DMT. The idea of body language as the first language is not new to me but it always interesting to think about. I've tried to consciously pick up on movement cues but it's been very hard. Generally, however, I think we are subconsciously far better at picking up cues. Being able to read and understand this language can be invaluable.
I love the idea of movement as communication, for both patients/clients that are nonverbal and patients looking for another way to express themselves and explore within.
This is a wonderful introduction to dance and movement therapy with a lot of information that helped me see a clear vision of what the field looks like. It is so interesting that the therapists can connect the symbols they see within their client's movements to emotions within the unconscious mind.
This talk was very helpful to me in learning about what a dance therapy group session entails; I've been learning about dance therapy as an occupation, and it sounds very interesting to me based on my interests in physical therapy and dance. This talk actually helped me understand what the goal is, what a group session is like, and the value of this type of therapy.
I love how condensed yet easy to understand this presentation is. It gets to the core of dance therapy and shows hat any movement is crucial to expressing emotions and feelings. It just such a deep mind and body connections that is so powerful
It is so inspired to hear that movement is the first and a basic form of communication. I like the idea that body movement can reflect the personality of a person and could not lie.
I love this introductory summary of dance therapy. Before this video I had no idea what dance therapy consisted of, but now I have a better understanding. This is going to help me a bunch as I prepare to take my first dance therapy class during my college career.
What really stuck out to me from this video is that rhythm is what binds us. When i think back on being in group setting, if I am with people who are in sync with my emotions or movements for example if we are all happy and sharing similar body movements, it makes me feel more connected with those peers, rather than if I am in a sad mood, and my friend is being more active and happy, it can feel like more of a disconnect from my peers.
This is a great talk. I never realized how many tiny details can be picked up based on a persons gestures. It's cool to think of dance as how we move in our normal lives.
her definition of movement dance therapy is different from what I thought it would be. I would not have thought that the mind would have anything to do with it but DMT is involved in both the mind and the body. The feeling that is evoked by a gesture and what a dance movement therapist may tell a client is interesting to me, as these are approaches that I would not have initially would have thought
I agree, this is why I think the idea of group therapy is such a great concept. It allows people connect with each other and feel a sense of unity and understanding that they are not alone.
I think it is very cool that we are able to use dance to develop connections and express our inner emotions. Dance therapy allows for movements to show the individuals self and life.
Your comment just made me realize that by developing these connections, not only are people able to show past experiences but also consider new points of view and show different thoughts about their experiences
I really enjoyed the idea of dance therapy as an unprescribed treatment presented in this talk. So much of my studies in the psychology department stress different models of treatment to prescribe a client, but dance therapy really allows the client to dictate how they are feeling and what they need that session.
I really want to get into Dance Therapy. I have been teaching for nearly 20 years in Latin and Ballroom and although I have been helping people overcome personal issues I want to further my help to others by using dance as therapy. I am not sure how to go about this taking online courses but if anyone knows of a good school please let me know.
This video really helped me to understand dance therapy a little more. I found the quote "the choreography of the emotions" really powerful. Dance therapy helps to express emotions that sometimes a client wouldn't have any other way to express, and I think that is really cool
Excellent presentation, I loved how the speaker had a certain rhythm or good vibes. This made the presentation even better. The definition of dance therapy is also very helpful.
I really appreciate the notion of movement being the first and foremost form of communication. Having taken a nonverbal course this semester, I completely agree that body movement allows for someone to communicate how they're feeling without editing or fine-tuning their true response. It's fascinating to see a group of people watching the same presentation give off different emotions through their body movements. I can't help but think that if they were prompted to do the same, but instead replace the motion with a verbalized sound, the responses would be much less candid.
You can definetly tell her passion for Dance Movement Therapy. As she explains how movement can inform others about how they are feeling, I am able to understand how much authentic love an knowledge she has for DMT by the way Nana carries herself.
This talk by Nana Koch provides insight into how important dance and movement is in providing insight into an individual and gives individuals a way to communicate with each other without even having to talk. Dance and movement therapy has huge potential to give those who struggle with communicating how they feel or coping how they feel an outlet where they can be understood.
Your last quote is very impressive! It was a very great way to describe what dance therapists do to help others! It's very interesting how the many movements we do everyday shows what we choose not to express through words. Watching this video allowed me to realize how many of our actions often goes unnoticed, as we don't usually realize that we're expressing our emotions.
This was helpful in better understanding what a dance therapy session/practice might look like, and how to take what you learn in a dance therapy session to other parts of life.
Nana thank you so much for this video it really helped me understand the DMT process and how it is actually organized and used. I loved the interactive part with the audience in the middle of the video I thought that was a very helpful example.
I tried the exercise with you during the talk Nana, and I agree that it was a very helpful example. It's so inspiring to see that everyone does something different because we all feel differently.
I enjoyed her comment about rhythm being the connector between people. Every time a good song comes on, you can watch everyones expression in the room change and immediately impact their mood. Thus, as group sessions work to make a deeper connection between movement and emotions, I can understand how dance therapy would be beneficial to those who struggle to communicate. In doing so, patients are able to successfully communicate with others and find closure with their daily struggles.
I agree! Not only is dance and movement a way to communicate and connect with others but music as well. I like how you mentioned how expressions in a room change instantly when a good song comes on and how movement to this music can help people to connect to one another.
I found the discussion around "the symbolic" very interesting. Movement can reveal so much more than people realize. Sometimes a person may be saying one thing, but their movement indicates another. There also may be a time in your own life where you have repressed feelings, and our movements helps us realize those feelings so we can then work through them.
I never thought of it this way! There is many times I can personally relate to this idea, but I haven't noticed until you mentioned! Thanks for the input!
I totally agree, I also feel as though some people don't know how to express their feelings through words, so being given another avenue of communication that is not always though of is such a helpful tool
This was quite a lovely and succinct introduction to the concepts of dance/movement therapy. I loved being able to watch the audience create their movements and share them with each other. Your voice is also so soothing to listen to!
I am very excited to begin studying dance/movement therapy after watching this talk! I am especially intrigued by the many possibilities for both individual and communal dance/movement therapy interventions and the various settings for such a holistic practice.
I am also intrigued to understand how communal dance movement therapy works! Normally when I dance, I dance by myself without anyone watching me. It will be interesting to see how the dynamic changes when I have to communicate with others by dancing.
I love the importance on how dance is a form of communication and how it is our first way of communicating and how you can tell feeling and personality though movement. The comment about how dance can show and express the inner feelings of people is so fascinating to think about as well!
I also found the discussion around the symbolic very interesting. It is both cool and scary how our movements can reveal what we are truly feeling or thinking.
It is interesting to think about how your body language is your first and foremost message you are giving to the world, yet it is used so little in methods such as talk therapy. It is awesome to see this embraced within DMT
I have always known that our body can speak for us even before we say any words, but I have never thought to use those expressions to help determine how a person might need help. I think DMT be very beneficial to those who struggle to communicate how they feel with words because the body often times speaks for the mind.
Great points! I have heard of many people who have selective mutism that use dance as an outlet for expressing themselves. This supports how DMT can be beneficial for those who struggle with communicating vocally.
Something I learned and have to adapt to is that DMT is not about specific dance movements or expressions but rather it is about the individual moving freely and comfortably to express emotion felt inside. Nana Koch's definition and explanation definitely helped me understand what to expect with DMT.
As someone with a dance performance background this is something I'm also needing to wrap my head around, and feels like a really important piece of getting the most out of dance and movement therapy as a client and practitioner
I was not really sure what a dance therapy session consisted of so I really appreciated how the format of a dance therapy session was explained in this video. The structure of the session seems optimal for allowing clients to feel most comfortable expressing themselves in the group environment. It may be more intimidating if the therapist stood in front of them the entire time while they sat. The circle is a good way to start.
I agree, I think a circle is the best way to begin a session because it makes everyone a part of the group. There is no beginning, end, front, or back, just the group and I think that creates a really inclusive environment, which then makes group members more comfortable.
This is an incredibly passionate talk by Nana Koch -- a very gentle introduction to the vast and fledging field of Dance/Movement Therapy. Thank you for this!
This is a truly impactful video. I’m currently a junior in college majoring in psych, and assisting a psychologist when I’m home from school. I love all that psych has to offer but I never had a clear path of what I wanted to do after I graduate. I’ve danced competitively and recreationally for 15 years, and I know how much it can help someone who needs to “let it out”, but cant get it out verbally. After watching this video, I know EXACTLY what i want to do after college. Thank you for sharing this video!!
I find it incredibly fascinating that the nonverbal cues expressed through an individual's body language, encompassing the "form and cadence" of their movements, hold such profound meaning regarding their emotions. It amazes me how, as human beings, we possess an inherent ability to instinctively grasp the significance behind these movements, even without any formal training in dance movement therapy. This universal language of movement allows us to comprehend and interpret various gestures and postures effortlessly. The presentation I recently witnessed was immensely enlightening as it shed light on the intricacies of a dance therapy group session. As someone who has been exploring the field of dance therapy, it captivated my attention due to my keen interest in both physical therapy and dance. The talk provided valuable insights into the objectives, dynamics, and benefits associated with this form of therapy. Ultimately, this discussion greatly contributed to my comprehension of the underlying goals, the nature of group sessions, and the inherent value embedded within dance therapy.
I had never heard of dance movement therapy. This introduction to it was really informative and I really enjoyed watching this! I hope to use aspects of movement therapy in my classroom one day!
Very well explained ma'am. I was searching about dance movement therapy for a long time but couldn't find a proper knowledgeable resource. After watching this I'm happy that my doubt is clear now. 😊
I liked her comment about how movement reflects personality. DMT can be used to express your feelings and to communicate with others. Small movements you do every day can reveal a lot about yourself. Very interesting.
I agree, so interesting! This made me think of the movements I do unconsciously, and how it reflects upon my personality. I would love to learn more on how to analyze personalilty based on movement.
I grew up in a very dark home as a child. I learned to live in my mind and it further isolated me from others. I remember being in my room and I would dance my heart out. I feel that it may have saved me as an adult from becoming a drug addict or criminal perhaps. I have a peace about me that is lighter than air and also rooted into Earth. I think God or Goddess or my angels led me to music and movement.
I really liked this speaker personally. She did a great job explained what DMT is by the official definition and some other ideas similar. I found it really interesting that movement is so powerful the body can tell experiences. That is fascinating to me.
I agree that movement can be a great communicator for the body. Often times I can tell when I am stressed because my body is tense, especially in my shoulders and neck.
I find that interesting too! When creating a dance, a choreographer may structure it in a way that is supposed to convey an experience or story, but in DMT, the movement can tell experiences without awareness or intention of it.
