Can Dance Heal?

I had never heard of dance/movement therapy until a mentor introduced me to it. At first, I was surprised that something I had spent so much of my life doing could actually be used as a form of therapy. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. I already knew how different I could feel after dancing, less stressed, happier, and more focused, so the idea of intentionally using movement to support someone's well-being immediately caught my attention.

I wanted to know more, so I started researching dance/movement therapy and talking to someone who is learning about the field. What I found made me look at dance differently. I had always associated it with performance, creativity, and expression, but I began to see that movement could also have a psychological purpose.

Dance/movement therapy (DMT) is a therapeutic approach that uses movement to support emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Unlike a typical dance class, the goal isn't to learn choreography or prepare for a performance. Instead, movement can explore emotions, build self-awareness, and deepen understanding of the mind-body connection. A session can look different depending on the person and their goals. It might involve guided movement, music, breathing exercises, mindfulness, or reflection. What interested me most is that the movement doesn't have to look a certain way. The focus is less on whether someone is doing a movement “correctly” and more on what that movement communicates and how it makes them feel.

This is where DMT feels especially different from the dance I know. In a regular dance class, I might spend an hour learning choreography, correcting my technique, repeating a movement, or preparing for a performance. A movement usually has a specific way it's supposed to look, and I focus on getting it right. When I was younger, I focused more on learning the steps and making sure I did everything correctly. As I've gotten older, I've started to appreciate the moments when I can simply move, enjoy the music, and not worry about whether everything is perfect. DMT takes that idea even further. Instead of asking, “Did I do this movement correctly?” the focus can be, “How did that movement make me feel?”

There's also no expectation to be a trained dancer or perform for anyone. I find that difference really interesting because it shows that dance doesn't always have to be about perfecting a movement. Sometimes, the movement itself can be a way to express or understand something we are feeling.

Dance/movement therapy can offer several potential benefits. It may help people express emotions, develop self-awareness, manage stress and anxiety, and practice mindfulness and relaxation. Movement can also support physical skills such as balance, coordination, flexibility, and strength, while group sessions can create opportunities for social connection. That idea of connection especially stands out to me. I was shy when I was younger, and dance gave me a way to be around other people without always having to find the right words. Some of my closest friendships have come from dance, and spending time with other dancers has shown me how movement can bring people together. In that way, my experience with dance has made the idea of using movement to support social and emotional well-being feel very real to me.

Some of the other potential benefits feel familiar too. After a long day at school, I sometimes go to dance feeling tired and unmotivated, but I usually leave feeling happier, less stressed, and more focused. My experience isn't the same as participating in DMT, but it made me understand why the idea of using movement to support well-being interested me in the first place.

At the same time, DMT isn't for everyone. Access to qualified therapists can be limited, people may respond differently to it, and some may feel uncomfortable with movement or prefer a more private form of therapy. Like any therapeutic approach, its effectiveness depends on the individual and their needs.

Before researching dance/movement therapy, I had never really thought about dance as something that could be used therapeutically. Now, I see movement differently. I still think of dance as an art form and something I love doing, but I also see how it can influence emotions, connection, and well-being in ways I hadn't considered before.