Researcher ORCID Identifier

0000-0003-1157-1100

Graduation Year

2023

Date of Submission

12-2022

Document Type

Open Access Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Biology

Reader 1

Brian Duistermars

Reader 2

Tamara Venit-Shelton

Terms of Use & License Information

Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

Rights Information

© 2022 Alessia Zanobini

Abstract

Dance/movement therapy (D/MT) is the psychotherapeutic use of expressive, creative movement to support holistic well-being. D/MT views the human being as a single body-mind unit and movement as a manifestation of life experiences. While typically practiced as a mental health intervention, D/MT can be adapted for a variety of populations. This thesis evaluates scientific data for the non-traditional use of D/MT for three conditions: autism, Parkinson’s disease, and cancer. For individuals on the autism spectrum, D/MT can strengthen attunement skills, provide creative communication outlets, and relieve harmful physical manifestations of autism. For individuals with Parkinson’s disease, D/MT can simultaneously ease cognitive and physical symptoms while slowing disease progression. For cancer patients, D/MT serves as an adjunct, palliative therapy accessible before, during, and after treatments to help with psychological and physical pain management. D/MT does not cure these conditions; rather, it is a complementary intervention that promotes healing, increases quality of life, aids in expression, and restores bodily safety. Limitations include a lack of robust scientific literature on the subject, a lack of diverse D/MT practitioners and practices, and limited availability of services. Through the D/MT framework of movement as medicine, we can view life itself as a dance.

Streaming Media

Streaming Media

Download

Share

COinS