Dance/Movement Therapy, Women’s Rights, and Feminism: The First 50 Years

Breaking Free: One Adolescent Woman’s Recovery from Dating Violence Through Creative Dance

“…I additionally employ the term bodyself to advocate for body equity (Caldwell & Leighton, 2016) in the human system. Speaking and writing the body as bodyself serves to enliven the body as a living entity rather than an object (Margolin, 2014).…”

“…I also draw from my interdisciplinary background in Clinical Social Work, including strengthbased practice, and facilitation of young women's groups as an Adolescent and Family Counsellor. Furthermore, Caldwell and Leighton (2016) illustrated that the field of DMT needs to consider the goals of feminism, which include women's freedom from violence and oppression. They highlighted that if we do not reflect on and include tackling oppressive patriarchal structural forces, we can potentially harm clients.…”

Dancing with My Other-Self: A Self-Portrait History of a Healing Process Through Dance

“…This incongruity places us at risk of perpetuating harm against those we work with unless we practice cultural humility and establish practices of liberation and inclusivity as a standard in our work (Cantrick et al, 2018 ). Part of this includes acknowledging and celebrating the deep heritage of dance/movement therapy, which extends beyond the limits of twentieth century Western psychotherapy, beyond twentieth century American culture, beyond licensure and professional association, into the cultural and biological aspects of healing found in ancient and contemporary cultures around the world that utilize rituals and practices of dance as healing (Caldwell & Leighton, 2016 ; Lauffenburger, 2020 ).…”

“…Next, her story propels us to question the power imbalances inherent in the medical models of healing which disempowers patients in relation to their own bodies (Caldwell, 2019 ). Finally, the article serves to challenge assumptions about ableism by centering the story of someone who has experienced marginalization within the dance world and found self-acceptance of her “other self” through dance and movement (Caldwell & Leighton, 2016 ). Through this story, dance/movement therapists can take pause, celebrate our history and be reminded of the rootedness in dance as a practice that heals individuals and communities all over the world.…”