Definition of dance and dance movement therapy: overview of dance styles and their application for the scopes of the dance movement therapy in different countries and cultures

摘要

The master thesis discusses the areas of dance and dance movement therapy. Moreover it presents an overview of the artistic dance, which is applied for therapeutic treatment purposes. Furthermore, it defines concepts and dance genres that are present within different dance movement therapy approaches. udDance description is further elaborated in those chapters dedicated to the understanding and development of dance movement therapy. The thesis presents different dance genres and forms, which are nowadays frequently used within dance movement therapy (ballet, buto, contact improvisation, expression primitive – primitive expression, oriental dances, social dances, tango, creative movement, modern dance) as well as their application for the purposes of dance movement therapy, where I provide an explanation on how has dance contributed to its development. udThe research provides an overview of the dance movement therapy in Europe, additionally it presents some examples and influences from other continents, namely America, Africa and the Far East. Along with the overview I described different dance genres and their usefulness in various dance movement therapy approaches. Furthermore the research discusses the differences between various approaches by taking into consideration and confronting the historical development of the discipline of dance movement therapy, which is a young discipline yet widely spread throughout the world. Dance changes through time and space, and so does also the dance movement therapy. udOn the basis of the examined literature I described the differences between the concept of dance, which is used for therapeutic purposes, and the dance movement therapy. Furthermore, I reviewed and presented the field of dance movement therapy and prepared an insight into different fields of dance and dance genres within the chapters, which are related to the understanding and development of dance movement therapy. udThe thesis presents modern approaches to dance movement therapy and describes new findings in the field of neuroscience, specifically on how a dance movement therapist stimulates the neuroplasticity process activation in a particular patient’s brain. This can be done by identifying how a person moves and by encouraging this person to enrich his or her movement pattern. I also described the anthropological approach, which assigns a major role to the person’s “dance identity”.ud