Coming alive: creative movement as a personal coping strategy on the path to healing and growth

Abstract

This study interviewed 29 women from various countries and spiritual backgrounds, between the ages of 16 and 67, seeking to better understand how dance/ creative movement supports women during difficult life struggles such as trauma from abuse, relationship breakups, community violence and loss of self, and how it acts as a connection to the sacred. Results yielded three overarching themes of empowerment, healing, and a connection to Spirit. The results also give rise to a unique healing element for women through dance. It appears as if dance provides these women with a resiliency to not only survive very difficult circumstances, but to move past them to a place of healing.

Dance as a moving spirituality: A case study of Movement Medicine

“…Although this practice provides a framework that includes different gateways to transcendence -facilitated by specific processes and exercises -and also provides a way of interpreting certain experiences and events in a coherent structure, I believe that any form of dance can be used to reconnect with the self and with life in all its myriad forms, reconnect with gratitude, creativity and life force, and find meaning and significance (compare Penfield, 2001: 109;Worth & Poynor, 2004: 53). This includes dance in mainstream western settings such as club culture (Buckland, 2002), raves (Gore, 1997;Sullivan, 2006;Sylvan, 2005: 107), tango (Leseho & Maxwell, 2010), American country dancing (Flinn, 1995), belly dance (Kraus, 2010), and even striptease (Scott, 1996). Although the settings as such may not be 'sacred', practitioners touch on spiritual dimensions through their dance practice.…”

“…On the other hand of the spectrum, participants also frequently experience 'raw' and difficult emotions. Feelings such as shame, stress, guilt, fear, rage, a feeling that life is uninhabitable and yet one is 'stuck' in it are uncomfortable places to visit in oneself or to admit oneself to feeling (see also Leseho & Maxwell, 2010). Most Movement Medicine dancers feel at some point that they are 'going over the edge of the comfort zone', 'falling apart' or 'deconstructing'.…”

Make New Friends but Keep the Old: The Sisterhood Bonds that Have Shaped Me

“…We also incorporated sand tray therapy so that she could develop themes of trauma and eventually rehearse feelings of safety (Fitzpatrick, 2001). When she was ready to, we would incorporate dance/movement into our sessions so that she could reclaim her body (Leseho & Maxwell, 2010).…”

Transforming Spirituality in Artistic Leisure: How the Spiritual Meaning of Belly Dance Changes Over Time

“…Dancing with other people allows dancers to connect with each other and contributes to spiritual experiences (McGuire , ). Also, dance helps some practitioners merge their bodies and spirit (Leseho and Maxwell ) and experience individual “highs” beyond everyday, ordinary occurrences (Flinn ).…”