Final Essays & Closing Dances

I realized Something...

Chiara Zacarias Carpinelli

My first Dance Movement therapy class I thought I was just going to talk about my feelings and dance a lot but it ended up being very informational and I took away a lot from it. I would say that my biggest takeaway overall is that a lot of the emotional health in a human being ends up demonstrating itself in somewhat of a physical way. When I look around at my classmates or even myself I can see some movements I do and I wonder what’s making me feel that way and why I’m doing that movement. Another big takeaway is that Dance Movement Therapy is an art and form of expression that greatly helps people not only with disorders. The last takeaway I had was that through the drawings we did in class and I realized something about myself I hadn’t realized before.

At the beginning of the class I felt very awkward and restrained since there were things I wasn’t imagining of doing and something I haven't done before. But it felt really nice how I could feel that every class the classmates and I would get more comfortable with each other. It felt really good the way by only doing a couple exercises you could feel how everyone connected and everyone stopped being as uptight. In one class in particular I was really amazed by the drawing exercise we did since I realized something about myself: I’m constantly a very stressful person and I get anxious and stressed very easily. Through my drawing I realized why and that it’s not really a bad thing. I realized I get very stressed since I have a lot of things going on but they are all beautiful in their own way and instead of being anxious over it, I should be grateful.

Some takeaways I've had that I've already started to implement is starting to take a look more at the movements that I do and try to understand where the moves come from. Through the class I learned that by understanding where the moves come from and why I feel the way I do I think it would help me feel better or learn more about myself. Another application I’ll do is that when I’m starting to feel overwhelmed or anxious I would practice the drawing exercises to see where it’s coming from or just draw to let myself dis-stress.

Sharing with Others

Skylar Koff

My main takeaways from this course include the process of going about a dance movement therapy (DMT) session along with the importance of connecting with others in a group setting. I think the steps of starting with a check in, diving more into personal movement, and ending with the group is a process that I will always remember. It helped me with becoming more honest with myself and in turn, having confidence when sharing with others. This ties into the importance of connecting with others which is something that did not initially come to mind when I thought of therapy. Having the ability to know you are not alone and really see is very important.

This course helped me to experience a different way of learning that I was not used to as a student in the business school. Having experiential learning was very helpful for me and allowed me to remember things in detail more than reading a textbook has ever done. I really enjoyed how we were able to read definitions and watch videos, but in the end, really reflect through our own exploration of DMT. I think that being able to physically participate and connect with other students allowed me to learn more about this subject. Overall, I look forward to pursuing more experiential learning in the future.

I have learned a lot of valuable ways to use DMT in this class and believe that I can use that to help me in my marketing studies. Marketing is all about being able to read peoples needs and provide a product/service that helps that. Having the skills and knowledge that encompass DMT will allow me to read others in a professional setting and be more aware of my surroundings. I think that it can also help me to relieve stress when in a hectic business environment. Having these steps to go back to will allow me to be a more relaxed person in the professional world.

In-depth Exploration

Melissa Percilla

In this course, I have been able to see what another form of therapy would look like, seeing as I am a student music therapist hoping to eventually go into a form of psychiatry. Tactile and movement integration alongside kinesthetic forms of therapy allow for forms of self expression and personal metaphors to be expressed and or opportunities of in-depth exploration to be analyzed in a plethora of different ways. Some clients may be auditory, visual, or tactile learners; it is all about how we can meet the clients’ needs. The forms of therapy that a 90-year-old patient may need are going to be different than someone who has schizophrenia and is in their young adulthood.

There have been several key moments in this class that I felt allowed for me personally to explore more about my own emotional standing. Exercises that I truly do remember well are the Cube-movement activity, the combination of art therapy and DMT, the hero’s journey, and mirroring/attunement. These several activities have actually integrated themselves into my personally self-care and calming techniques for coping with my anxiety or trying to help others. I truly felt most touched by the drawing activity, as that allowed me to express the stress and depressive thoughts that were very rampant at the time and find a way to externalize them in a healthy manner.

As someone who’s going into a field of mainly auditory based forms of therapy, I personally believe that I need to be open to the idea of several different forms of therapy being integrated into my sessions. There are several things in this course that I will be able to actually apply into my session plans for practicum, especially due to a statement my professor made just yesterday. She told me that most of my therapeutic plan work involved words or lyric based interventions, and that I need to be open to the idea of doing more hands-on therapy techniques. I will try to apply the things learned in this course to correct this deficiency to provide the best therapy to my clients possible.

I will make a change one day!

Katherine Aguero

DMT, also known as dance/movement therapy, is a form of expressive therapy utilizing movement and dance to promote well-being on emotional, social, cognitive, and physical levels. The goal of dance therapy classes is to encourage self-expression through structured movement activities guided by trained therapists. Different dance styles, improvisation, and creative movement exercises are often incorporated into the classes to address specific therapeutic needs.

My experience with dance therapy classes has been very positive. I will feel really happy every day after this class! Self-awareness, emotional expression, stress reduction, enhanced body-mind connection, and a sense of belonging are some of the outcomes. Through movement and self-expression, dance therapy promotes holistic well-being.

My own field of study is public health. I can apply what I learned in this class. As an example, I host health promotion campaigns, mental health initiatives, school programs, and conduct as much research and evaluation as possible. Helping our community is really important to me, I will make a change one day!

Alternative Methods to Traditional Therapy

Andie Mancusi-Ungaro

This course truly highlighted the alternative methods to traditional therapy and showed me how important Dance Movement Therapy is as a form of help. Prior to taking this class, I was not aware of other ways to get help other than the traditional talking methods. As we learned in the class, Dance Movement therapy can bring out unseen problems and help those who can not speak have a way to solve those problems. Dance Movement Therapy exposes small movements, such as fidgeting that can indicate larger problems that are not seen in traditional therapy. Additionally, those who can not voice their feelings can use DMT as a method to show what is going on in their head through movements.

As a business student who spends most time in classes sitting at a desk and staring at excel sheets, I enjoyed the break from that format. DAN 291 offers a unique opportunity to learn through movement while giving students the chance to move during the day. I thoroughly enjoyed the classes where we would sit and draw how we are feeling, as it felt nice to actually think about my feelings and what was going on in my life. I also enjoyed when we would start with saying how we are truly feeling because we never really get the opportunity to share that outside of this class. This gave me the chance to actually feel in the moment, and take a break to actually reflect on what is happening in my life and how I feel about it.

As I said above, I am a business student, which requires a lot of screen time and professional work that does not always have meaning to it, especially when it is finance related. I enjoyed the chance to connect with other students, specifically those outside of my major considering that my classes are always the same people I have been with for all my years here. Business school is hard work, so it was nice to connect with others and take a break from that work in the form of movement therapy, even though I was working on myself. I’d like to bring this social and therapeutic aspect of DMT to office spaces, as it could be very beneficial to those who are working 80 hour weeks staring at screens. It might allow employees to be able to feel better about themselves and give them the reflection they need that I so thoroughly enjoyed that this class offered.

Incorporating Movement-based Techniques

Alessandra Diamond

My experience with the Dance and Movement as Psychotherapy course has been a journey of self-discovery and profound understanding of the intricate connection between mind and body. It really hit home how our bodies and minds are super connected. It’s all about how our physical selves are tied up with our inner feelings. We did these cool 'Insight-oriented improvisation' exercises, where I got to dive deep into my personal thoughts and feelings - kind of like opening doors I didn't even know were there. This course had us exploring our own stories and emotions through dance, which was both fun and eye-opening. I learned to be more in tune and okay with both my body and emotions.

During the learning process, I experienced a range of emotions. Initially, I felt apprehensive about expressing myself through dance, fearing judgment and vulnerability. However, a turning point came during a session of mirroring, where I found myself letting go of inhibitions. I vividly recall the liberating feeling of moving to the rhythm without self-consciousness. This instance was not just educational but transformative, helping me connect with my emotions and body in a harmonious, therapeutic manner.

As a student who has never done a psychology course, the insights gained from this course are invaluable. The practical understanding of dance/movement therapy will significantly enhance my approach to holistic mental health care. Specifically, I envision incorporating movement-based techniques into any future therapy sessions I go to, to facilitate my emotional expression. This course has also personally empowered me with tools for self-care and emotional regulation. The realization that movement can be a medium for exploring and healing the mind has opened new avenues for both professional practice and personal growth. These lessons, rooted in the harmonious interplay of body and mind, are ones I will carry forward in my life whenever I feel myself getting anxious and stressed.

Art Forms Unlock a Different Part of the Brain

Mabel Safe

I have learned more about movement and how it shows people's inner thoughts and emotions. I thought this was the most interesting because I have always known about body language, but never fully been able to read it and understand some of what the client is feeling based on that. I also learned how attunement, joining, and kinesthetic empathy allows the therapist to connect to the client and understand what they are feeling. I had also never heard the name Marian Chase before this class and did not know the impact she had on dance therapy. I knew the benefits of music on the brain and body, but in this class I also learned the great effects of dance.

I feel like this course is very helpful moving on into daily life. Anyone who works without people could benefit from taking this class. Being able to read body language and movements in a valuable skills in therapy and teaching, but also in engineering, banking, or any other profession. The stress that also comes with these professions could be expressed in a healthy manner using dance therapy and everyone has traumas and struggles they are dealing with, so dance therapy can be helpful to anyone if they open up to it. This course forced me to open up and let go of some of my insecurities about dance. Even though I still struggle with some of them, it is easier to relax into the music and express my emotions through dance, similar to how I do with music.

I study music therapy, so in a way you can use some topics from dance therapy and apply them in my field. Both use music and depending on the client's needs, both use movement. I saw a definite overlap between some interventions that we use in music therapy and dance movement therapy, such as the song 'Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" and other movement songs. Also in music therapy, the music therapists have clients use instruments to express their emotions, similarly to how dance therapists have the clients express their feelings through movement. The care for the client and the empathy that one needs to be a therapist are the same in both forms of therapy. They both are different from physical, occupational, or speech therapy because they combine art forms with therapy and art forms unlock a different part of the brain to work on the goal of the therapist. I also think having a better understanding of reading people's actions will allow me to help my clients better with what they need.

A Holistic and Caring Perspective

Nina Figueira Batista

This dance movement therapy course was eye-opening, showing me how valuable it is. I discovered that expressing feelings through movement is a powerful way to connect with myself. The best parts of the dance movement therapy course were the times when we checked in on how we were feeling. I really liked these moments because they gave us a chance to think about our emotions. My favorite activities were the mirror exercises where we copied our classmates' moves. Doing this made us feel more connected and helped us understand each other better. I also enjoyed the group project where my team focused on giving therapy to students with PTSD. Working on this project not only made me appreciate how movement can be therapeutic but also showed me how dance can help students dealing with PTSD. Overall, these experiences made the course really interesting and applicable to real-life situations.

Being part of this dance movement therapy course was a refreshing break from my busy schedule, especially with my business law classes. Even though I had a lot of academic stress, doing therapeutic movements brought me a lot of happiness. Even though I could have attended more regularly, the course became a special time for self-therapy and relaxation. It helped me focus on my mental and emotional well-being, which balanced out the challenges of my business law major.

The things I learned in the dance movement therapy course could make my approach to business law better. Including regular emotional check-ins and building unity within teams can improve communication and teamwork in legal settings. The mirror exercises, which stress understanding through movement, fit well with the need for clear communication in negotiations. Also, the group project showed how therapeutic movement can help in specific challenges, which might inspire creative problem-solving in legal situations. In general, the course gave me tools for better self-awareness and adaptability, offering a holistic and caring perspective useful in dealing with the complexities of business law.

I am a more open and understanding person

Angelina Carapezza

I personally felt that I gained a lot out of this course, both about how to read other people through their body movements, words, and reactions, as well as how to read myself and my own reactions and instincts. I think personal metaphors and innermost fantasies are both helpful when looking deeper into myself, and I would recommend this to other people to find a deeper connection within themselves. This is possible through either exercises such as the ones performed in class, or even pausing to notice others or your own daily movements, posture, mindless movement like what you do with your legs, feet or hands. The in-depth exploration we covered the overarching ideas and techniques such as attunement, other techniques like the box exploring our space, and breathing exercises, either person or in a group were all extremely grounding, and I feel I have a lot of knowledge and ideas of how to apply this to my daily life. We sit for so long at desks, in our bed, and while eating, that a concept such as movement integration in class is helpful to even just us as students. In relation to dance movement therapy in hospitals and for mental health, there has been extreme growth, which is so positive to me as this is such a strong option that does not involve medication. Nowadays, we look immediately to a prescription, when listening and reacting to your body can create a real, deep, long-term solution.

I am very big on self-reflection, self love and self sufficiency. I personally deeply enjoyed this class and loved making the connections to even my simplest movements to my inner thoughts. I think I grew as a person and have even been able to connect this to outside the course, even in daily tasks. I love to journal, and when I have been waking up I take a few minutes to stretch and breathe, and think about my day ahead. It puts me in a very calm space and a positive mindset to begin my day. I was happy to be learning in class every day, and thought the different concepts through the different people and videos helped me understand the big picture. Actually doing the movements, coming up with our own idea and really working together in class created a wonderful sense of community and safety. At this point, I can say that I am very comfortable with everyone in the class with these exercises, and I am much more open and ready to do so outside of the class as well.

For my field of study, advertising, these concepts apply vaguely to my clients, but more to myself and my interaction with them. I think it does help me personally to help read both people and their movements in meeting or public relations instances, to understand them as people and get to the bottom of their intentions and desires. I think overall, and there are many techniques I can use to calm myself, control my movements, and stay positive like I said before. This, similar to how a therapist leads a group, puts me at a point of good energy and positivity always, and I can become known as a strong and trusted figure. I can put these ideas into my creations, to bring forth the idea for the clients in an artistic and creative way that fits everyone to the best of my ability.

I will always make sure to dance

Ella McDonough

Dance movement therapy has been a very influential and insightful class. I have learned so many new things that I had never thought about before and types of therapy and healing that improved my knowledge of psychology. I took away ideas of patience, serenity, and expression from this class. I was taught how healing is not linear and that sometimes to get better you have to slow down and let your body do its own thing, and with time healing will come. I always felt so calm when coming to this class, whenever I was stressed about my school or outside life I would come here and it was almost my own little therapy session which i truly appreciate. Finally, I learned how emotion is expressed not through words, but through movement and body language. I always have been pretty good at reading people and love analyzing people's behavior as I am an observer, so this class allowed me to do that through dance.

In this course I felt calm and welcomed. This class came with no stress or hardship and it was a place where I could learn without the pressure of performing to the degree of the professor. I felt like I could express myself in the way i felt comfortable. I feel as though the professor is extremely passionate about his job, and this passion illuminates onto the students and allows us to truly feel apart of something, rather than just sitting in a class and lecturing. I felt like I learned a lot such as different forms of group therapy that are used for different mental illnesses.

Although I am transferring schools and out of a psychology major, I will definitely still be apply what I learned to my own life and that of my friends and family. I love to be the therapist of the group, so gaining knowledge on how to better aid them is very valuable to me. I will use some of the calming activities and opening activities to be able to talk to my friends and make them feel safe with me. I will always make sure to dance with my friends because I know how much it can help the mind even if it is subconscious. I will be passionate about what I do everyday because I have seen what it is like to have real passion for what you are doing and how much that happiness bleeds onto others.

I am very grateful for this class, thank you!

The feeling of healing.

Victoria Howell

I think my biggest take away from this class is that movement is a lot more therapeutic to a lot more people than I thought it would be. Don't get me wrong dance has always been this therapeutic healing thing for me. I could be having a really bad day and I would get to my dance class or I would be able to dance more and I would just instantly be better. But my thing is I thought that is only something dancers experienced because it is something I and other dancers loved to do and from something you love comes happiness. But now I know that movement can help so many more people, one learn to love dance and in turn help them and two movement in general can be healing whether it be in a therapy session or a big group or even just a one on one with someone you trust.

I am not one to really express how I feel out loud unless it is to a person I deeply love and trust but in this course I felt a little more free to express myself through movement and I can understand how it would be easier. I was dancing and moving more for me than anyone else and to have an outlet to do that in this class was something I really didn't know I needed. And having a professor with with a warm heart and amazing attitude in each and every class really boosted the experience for me. This semester has been tough in some aspects with people and whatnot but I felt like this class was some sort of emotional outlet for those emotions and healing in some way.

I feel like I can really apply this to my own field and future field of studies. I know there will be times when I will be overly stressed from studying and eventually work and I can tell the things I learned in this class will help me to release that stress and find peace again. Because like I said before movement has always been my outlet but more techniques like mirroring and checking in, whether it be in a circle holding hands or just talking and movement, can help not only myself but my friends and colleagues. Despite learning all the techniques and technical terms during the course I think the biggest thing I took away and can apply to my field of study is the feeling. The feeling of healing.

I went home and shared this with my roommates

Samantha Sorger

Walking into this course, I was a little intimidated because I do not dance and have no previous dance experience. As soon as I walked in everyone was very welcoming and made me feel comfortable and I saw others around me who were in the same position as me. A lot of these classes are for people who are majoring in therapy or have had dance experience, however, as a criminology major I was taking this class out of curiosity for Dance Movement Therapy. Some things that I have taken away from this course is that you do not have to know how to dance in order to learn and participate in this class. As long as you put in the effort and try and participate you will learn that the more you participate the more comfortable you will become in the class and realize that the lessons are very important. Another thing that I am taking away from this class is that there are other options than medication that are used in therapy. Honestly, I never really thought that dancing could be therapy and after taking this class I have never been more wrong. Dancing is a great way to express how you feel when you cannot describe it. Also, I learned that this class does not just include dance it also includes check ins and different activities to help show how the entire class is feeling and get everyone involved if they want. Our self portraits that we did and all of our drawings was actually very self reflective and made me think back to a time where I had to overcome an obstacle and I went home and shared this with my roommates and we now all have pictures on our fridge with our stories written on the back. Also, all of our activities that involve us moving in a way that we feel has helped me realize that there are certain things I can do when I am stressed to make me feel better whether that be dancing or just being active and moving my body in some way.

In this course, just like I mentioned in the first paragraph, I did feel uncomfortable because I did not know what I was getting myself into. I was scared that I was going to have to step out of my comfort zone which generally would have driven me to take another class. However, I was interested in this class and I wanted to push myself to take it and I am so glad I did. I look forward to this class on Tuesdays and Thursdays because they are my most hectic days and this class is a class where you can express how you are feeling on a stressful day have people there to support you and let you know you are not alone and do activities to help take that stress away. I also felt like in the beginning you are uncomfortable because you do not know anyone in the class but by the end of the semester you feel like you are friends with each person in the class and for me it was an accomplishment that I stepped out of my comfort zone and it ended up being one of my favorite classes of the day.

I would apply what I have learned to my own field of studies because even though I am a criminology major I am still able to help certain people who need it. I am there to support the people around me and this class has taught me how to support those around me and how to connect with my peers and understand and relate to them. This class has honestly taught me life skills that I will hold on and hopefully spread information to others around me. It has taught me that eye contact is key and checking in with someone is key. I am very excited to also share this class and recommend it to my peers because I feel like this class honestly taught me more than any other general class could teach me for my major. It also really helped me understand how I feel and made me check in with myself to make sure I was okay which I really liked because usually I do not talk about my emotions especially with other people. I am sad that this class is ending but I cannot wait to take more classes like this in the future.

Be honest with your emotions

Nydia Kyriakopoulos

Some of the take-ways i have from this course are those that i will be able to cherish for a long time. I have learned a lot about connecting with my body and not being ashamed to do so. There can be a lot of nerves and embarrassment you feel in the first exercise, but as time progresses in the course you will learn that this should be embraced. This course connected me to the students in my class and gave me a deeper insight into them and their feelings. I am glad i was able to open up to such a special group of people and feel so connected to them. Another take-away i had was about my own writing. I found in a lot of my reflections that i would examine my writing into seeing a bigger picture for myself and my own movements that i have expressed.

This course made me feel very safe. I am not really one to share emotional aspects of my life with strangers, but for some reason in this class i felt very open and willing to discuss. It made me more freely willing to be vulnerable with others and i felt as though the environment supported me in doing so. Support from your peers is so important in a class like this and it shows that we were very connected and willing to share. Everyone enjoyed the instruction of our professor and felt as though he supported us in a very important way. The lack of judgement and ultimately the need for trust went hand and hand.

I can apply what i learned in dance movement therapy to a lot of aspects of my life. For instance in my day to day stresses, this can be used. Dance movement therapy allows you to connect with your body and when you are stressed you need to take care of yourself. It is necessary as well in these moments of stress to be honest with your emotions and express them however you feel. Pushing a boundary of comfort can result in feeling free with yourself. It will also help me connect with others and feel empathy for other people.

We all move together

Emily Arzola

Throughout this course, I have learned that dance can be healing for any individual. A dance movement therapy session can help with an array of problems a person may have. They are given the opportunity to show their feelings through movement. This is beneficial because movements can express emotions better than words can. When someone cannot verbalize their issues, they can dance them.

I enjoyed this class a lot. I loved being able to move without fear of judgement. Each class, a safe environment was created. I felt when we focused on eye contact, it made me more comfortable with my peers. Usually in classes students do not get the opportunity to interact a lot, but we were able to connect with each other. I did not know what to expect when entering this course, however I learned much more information than I thought I would. This was very valuable to me.

In my future, I will always consider using movement when I do not know what to do. I think personally doing yoga would be very beneficial because I can channel how I feel and move accordingly. Dance movement therapy can be used as a stress reliever, which is already something I do now. I like to take classes where we all move together. I will remember how dance can connect you to strangers and to your surroundings better.

Newfound Abilities

Isabel Bregenzer

When reflecting on my experiences and the knowledge I have gained from taking this course, many things come to mind. For one, a major takeaway I have gained from this course was how dance can be used to not only express one’s mind, but also help heal the mind. The practice of moving one’s body and feeling the space around oneself can be very calming and centering. I’ve always loved to dance and it’s always helped me when feeling down, but this course has showed me that it can be not only helpful, but therapeutic. Mixing the arts with therapy is a way to heal the mind that may not be as overwhelming as direct psychotherapy. With many strategies, and a long history of dance movement therapy, I feel confident in my newfound abilities to infiltrate it into mine and my peers’ lives.

Throughout this course, my feelings honestly wavered. In the beginning, I was a little hesitant and nervous going into it as I did not know what to expect of using dance as therapy. However, as we connected more with our classmates, learned more about the history of it, and understood ways of practicing dance movement therapy, my nerves went away and they turned into fascination and interest. I felt that the class became a very safe space to practice new movement therapies and learn about myself and others. Now, as we close out the semester, I feel passionate about dance movement therapy and would like to keep it present in my life moving forward.

Being that I am an accounting and legal studies major, dance movement therapy may not seem that connected to my own life. However, gaining such experiences in dance movement therapy are going to be helpful to me for the rest of my career. A stressful business environment and career can be overbearing and seem like a very rigid lifestyle. With the knowledge I have gained from this class, I feel like I am better equipped as a person to take on stressful endeavors in my career. I love the arts and always have and feel grateful to now know how to use them to center myself. I am excited to have dance movement therapy strategies under my belt to carry me through stressful times and allow me to escape in a peaceful, yet very enjoyable way.

My Findings and Learnings

Natalia Hoadley

This course was extremely different to most, if not all, of the other courses I've taken at UM thus far. I truly loved the environment in which we learned. A take-away that I had from this course is to let go and let be... meaning that I am able to feel the not-so-good feelings and it is totally fine and normal. Another take-away that I find rather important from this course is that there is no right way to do therapy- as long as you are starting to heal and feel good in what you're doing- is the therapy that is best for you. Specifically, dance movement therapy is special in that it's different and there's no set rules to follow.

In this course, there were times that I walked in a little stressed or sad. However, I can say that after every single one of these classes, I left in a better, lighter, overall happier mood. I felt open to do tasks that I probably normally would not feel comfortable doing in front of people I'm not super close with. I think everyone in this course helped provide a safe and welcoming environment so that we could all feel comfortable to move and speak in our own way. All in all, I felt very happy with this course and the experiments and things I learned in the course.

I am a senior graduating in May with a Biology major in hopes of pursuing a career in Occupational Therapy. I think that my findings and learnings from this course will most definitely help in my future career. Because I will be working with patients to improve their overall function and well-being and this course allows for experimental play with oneself, the two can come together. I can take my main takeaways from this course and teach them to my future patients. Additionally, I can apply it in all my aspects of life when I am feeling stressed. In conclusion, I am so happy that I enrolled into this course... the course is a little out of my comfort zone, but it allowed me to really grow.

Thank you Jorge for an amazing semester!

This is life, this is living

Valeria Wakil

I took a lot away from this class, especially my desire to pursue this further after graduating. But, remembering everything we’ve done, the power of connection and symbolic movement in healing has stuck with me a lot. I can’t believe I used to think verbal therapy was enough, especially when the presentation of so many diagnoses is corporal. I have thought about the Laban Cube exercises a lot, and have actually done them with my mom and sister multiple times. I also think a lot about the eye contact exercise we did in class, and how people tend to avoid eye contact a lot when they are uncomfortable but how sustaining it can make people more trusting towards you. Same with simple things like checking in, holding hands, and getting closure. We don’t think about the importance of these small gestures and acts enough, and they genuinely do make a difference in fostering ease within people and groups and allowing people to feel more comfortable with others and feel more comfortable sitting with their own emotions. Something that has also stuck with me a lot is moving for the sake of movement and expression, recognizing what you feel and just “acting it out.” These past couple of years, I have been weight training and have almost forgotten that movement can look and feel and be different. Sometimes, moving for the sake of release and expression is even more beneficial than for the sake of muscle building. I think in this class, what I learned most was that living things and doing them is more important than their theory. We think learning is theoretical but it’s really just experiential. And I think, beyond any actual or specific technique / practice we employed in this class, what stayed with me was the broader message that it’s important to employ these techniques / practices in the first place. It feels like such a minor acknowledgment, but this was a revelation for me, learning so often and so exclusively the features and importance of the mind beyond the body.

That being said, the first couple of classes I was confused and disoriented. I was just not used to having experiential classes at all. Holding hands? Making eye contact? Talking to each other instead of looking at the projector? Ha! What a concept. When we had to embody our names or when we went around in the circle, chanting and making noise… I just thought it was so bizarre but when I really jumped into the experience without thinking about it, I realized that I was actually having fun, and I was actually feeling what I was supposed to be feeling from what I was learning. After the first couple of classes where I was just feeling disoriented and weird, I started coming to class excited. When else am I going to get an opportunity to learn like this, in a school setting? It felt improbable that I had ended up in such a wise class, and I think that even though, up until the end, I still felt this weird anticipation of the unexpected, I learned to come to look forward to it. It’s not often that we experience learning like this, and I think it can be super easy to kind of turn away from something new and wish it was a “normal” class, but it wouldn’t have been as fun, and the connections that we made in class wouldn’t have been as fluid or genuine.

I’m kind of a little bit in love with DMT. I am going into a Master’s program in Marriage and Family Therapy next Fall and I am planning on becoming a certified Dance Movement Therapist after I finish my Master’s program because this is the type of practice I want to genuinely and truly implement into my work moving forward. I can’t imagine only having therapy based on verbal communication and expression when most of our problems are stored in our bodies and most of our troubles are hard to speak of or unconscious to us. And I think that, even if my plan wasn’t to become a therapist, this knowledge would have been useful regardless. It gave me a whole new perspective through which to perceive and interpret the world that's just so useful and transformative. This is life, this is living, and the pace of life here is almost encouraging us to live dissociated with ourselves and our bodies. This class and this information was a very powerful reminder to come into ourselves more intentionally— and this is something that’s relevant regardless of the field of study one is pursuing.

More Awareness of the Body

Shir Beals

I feel that a take away from this course is the importance of community and body awareness. Doing the eye contact closing exercise made me realize how little eye contact I make with others in general. I feel like I’m almost afraid to make eye contact with others and this made me aware of it. With more awareness of how and why I make the motions I do, I feel like I can gain a better understanding of myself and change my habits. Understanding what motion you make when you’re stressed (tensing up shoulders and jaw) and sad (moving slowly and with a curved back) can allow you to know quicker which emotion you’re feeling and act appropriately to mitigate it.

I felt really good while taking this course. The professor was very engaging to listen to and the material was stimulating. Some interventions made me feel better. I specifically appreciated the drawing the self and dancing it exercise. Beyond the interesting material, the professor worked really hard to encourage a sense of community and socialization between the students. I really appreciated the kindness of this group and the community we’ve created here. I had not felt like this in most of my classes at UM and I really looked forward to attending this class. Additionally, there was not a lot of pressure in the class. The professor would consistently repeat directions and this took away the worry of asking him to repeat himself in front of everyone. We also did not need to worry about academic writing such as run-on sentences or grammar when writing which made it easier to answer posts quickly and honestly. Additionally, we were allowed to make up absences if we were sick or really stressed. I feel like he treated us like humans instead of students – with compassion.

If I continue with my Music Therapy major, I will apply the teachings of DMT with my future clients. We learned about intervention techniques to train different behaviors such as mirroring, self expressive dancing, and eye contact. And we learned how to apply this to different groups of people from young children to geriatrics to people with physical and mental health issues and disabilities. Specifically, I deeply valued the lesson about the dancer, psychologist, and DMT. She danced and then explained the meaning behind it. The psychologist was analyzing her words, but the DMT was analyzing her fidgeting hands as she explained. This taught me to look for the underlying psychoanalytical meaning behind movements. Every movement has intention behind it. Additionally, as a performer, I need to make every single movement during a performance have intention. This class taught me to have more awareness of the body and intentions behind motions and behaviors.

Learning how to be comfortable around others

Julia Steinberg

Taking this course I felt I learned a lot. I was able to learn what dance therapy is, how it can help people and how it is really beneficial for people who deal with mental illnesses. I also learned that dance movement therapy is not just meant to help people deal with their mental illness but is also helpful for people to just learn how to express emotion. It is a great way for people to tell others how they feel even if they cannot express it verbally. Besides learning about dance movement therapy I also learned about a lot of mental disorders. I thought I knew a decent amount about them but realized I only knew a little. I enjoyed how we got to see examples of how dance movement therapy was used for specific disorders and enjoyed practicing exercises as well.

Throughout the course I felt I was really taken out of my comfort zone. I am someone who is very shy and can be overwhelmed in a big group of people. When we first started to do the individual exercises it took me a minute to get adjusted but I started to ease into it and really experience the exercises. But when we had to do partner exercises that took me longer to get used to. The one exercise we did when we had to make direct eye contact with our partner was very hard for me and something I struggled with. It was very hard for me to look at someone and not look away because I was uncomfortable. I don’t know if I can still do it now but I felt throughout the course I did a lot of things I would have not done normally which helped me a lot.

Being a Public Relations major I will work with a lot of people. I think working with others and really trying to understand how they feel or what they are trying to say is very important in my field. It is important since we are trying to help and understand our clients needs and wants on a daily basis. Learning how to be comfortable around others is something that is very important which I feel I worked on a lot this semester. Also learning ways to read people's expressions is something I learned and will help me understand others if they are struggling to get a point across. I feel a lot of the social skills we learned I will definitely be carrying with me into my field of study.

Overall, I had a wonderful time taking this class. I was able to learn a lot and step out of my comfort zone.

A holistic perspective on mental health

Andressa Goes Paes Mendonca

The journey through this Dance Movement Therapy course has been nothing short of transformative. I've come to appreciate the profound connection between physical movement and emotional well-being. The concept of 'Embodied Cognition' really stood out to me, illuminating how our thoughts and feelings are deeply intertwined with our bodily movements. Engaging in activities like 'Emotional Release through Dance' and 'Mindful Movement' provided me with tools to navigate complex emotions in a healthy and creative way. Moreover, the practice of 'Movement Narratives' has been particularly insightful, allowing me to express my internal experiences in a liberating, non-verbal manner.

At first, the idea of exploring my emotions through dance was daunting. The initial hesitance soon gave way to a sense of exhilaration and freedom. The class became a sanctuary where I could express myself without fear of judgment. I particularly cherished the 'Shared Movement Sessions', where the communal experience of dance fostered a unique bond with my classmates. This nurturing environment cultivated by our instructor encouraged vulnerability and genuine expression, making every session a journey of self-discovery and connection.

As a business major, the insights from this course are invaluable. I plan to integrate movement-based therapeutic techniques into my future practice, recognizing their potential in aiding non-verbal communication and emotional processing. This course has equipped me with a holistic perspective on mental health, emphasizing the significance of the body-mind connection. In addition, the stress-relief strategies learned here will be instrumental in managing the demanding aspects of business work. This course has not only enriched my academic knowledge but also provided me with practical skills that I look forward to applying both professionally and personally.

Understanding how to convey emotions through movement

Celeste Pongratz

From the DMT course, I've gained enhanced body awareness, crucial for creating impactful poses in modeling. The course taught me to express emotions through movement, adding depth to my work in fashion shoots and shows. I've learned valuable stress management techniques, essential for navigating the high-pressure modeling industry. The emphasis on creative expression has improved my collaboration skills with photographers and designers. Personally, the course has increased my confidence and self-awareness, enriching both my professional presence and personal well-being.

During the Dance Movement Therapy class, I often felt a sense of liberation and joy, especially when exploring new forms of movement and expression. The moments in class brought a sense of community and connection, making me feel part of something larger. Engaging in improvisational dance allowed me to feel more in tune with my emotions, providing a profound sense of self-discovery. The discussions about body awareness and emotional expression through movement often left me feeling enlightened and more connected to my own body and to others. Overall, the class was a deeply fulfilling experience, offering both personal growth and a newfound appreciation for the power of dance and movement.

The body awareness skills honed in the DMT class will be invaluable in fashion modeling, allowing me to create more dynamic and expressive poses. Understanding how to convey emotions through movement will enhance my ability to bring life to fashion narratives during photo-shoots and runway shows. The stress management techniques learned will be crucial for maintaining balance and well-being in the fast-paced, high-pressure environment of modeling. The improvisation and creative expression fostered in the class will enable more effective collaboration with photographers and designers, adding depth to my professional engagements. Overall, the insights from this class will empower me to approach modeling assignments with greater confidence, creativity, and emotional intelligence. Thank you for a great class and great year of learning.

People around me genuinely cared

Jade Capell

I have learned many concepts and techniques during this course. When I first signed up I thought of this class as a filler for my arts and humanities course. Little did I know it would serve as a mind opening class that would change my perspective on therapy. I always heard the word therapy and my mind thought of talking. This class taught me that is not the case. I took away from this class that movement is a form of therapy. Many people aren’t willing to talk about their emotions, so DMT serves as an alternative. I learned that movement can be used to express emotion. I further took away that movement can connect groups of people.

I had a great experience in this class. I got to connect with people I may have never met. I have never been in a class where I felt so connected to my classmates. Our check ins, in this class made me feel like I had a class where the people around me genuinely cared about how I was doing. Most importantly a professor who really cared about his students. Some exercises like eye contact and kinesthetic empathy allowed me to connect with classmates. I got to express my emotions without speaking. The eye contact exercise really stands out to me. It was super difficult for me at first to not laugh or feel awkward. Though as we kept going it got easier. This raised my confidence inside and outside of class.

I plan to be a child psychologist after college. I spend a lot of time studying disorders and treatments. Though in all of my psych classes, dance movement therapy was never mentioned. I feel as if after this class I am at a great advantage. I have learned a new form of therapy that I am excited to use in my practice. Many people are not comfortable speaking, therefore DMT can help me build connections with my patients. I believe this course will greatly help me in my future and field.

CLOSING DANCES