DANCING TO GOOD HEALTH
DANCE IS NOT JUST A FORM OF EXPRESSION, IT CAN ALSO BE A WAY OF HEALTHY LIVING. DIRECTOR, SHRISTI CENTRE OF PERFORMING ARTS & INSTITUTE OF DANCE THERAPY, SPEAKS ON THE BENEFITS OF DANCE THERAPY TO STUDENTS IN PARTICULAR, AND HOW CAN IT BE USED TO COUNTER STRESS
DANCE has been one of the most graceful mediums of self-expression since time immemorial. When this art form transcends beyond the platform of entertainment and relieves physical worries it evolves into therapy.
To this end, Shristi Centre of Performing Arts & Institute of Dance Therapy, Bangalore, has introduced a certificate course in dance therapy, which is the first of its kind in India. Subjects included in this course, of six months duration, include basics of classical and folk dance forms, music, anatomy and physiology and physiotherapy. A V Satyanarayana, its director, says: “Dance movements are used as a psychotherapeutic process. Since the body, mind and spirit are connected in dance it promotes the emotional and physical integration of a person.”
Explaining the need for dance therapy, he says: “Most of us, including students, hardly get any time for physical work-outs due to our busy schedules and consequently face problems like spondylities and others. Dance therapy can be an effective remedy here. It brings out the inner feelings of a person and helps develop a healthy personality.”
Dance therapy is a powerful means to counter stress as it integrates body, mind and emotions, feels Satyanarayana. He adds: “When emotions are invoked, it releases stress to a great extent. Dance therapy is beneficial for students as it increases their grasping power, concentration and decision-making skills and creates an awareness about time, sense and stage manners.” Speaking on the relevance of this therapy for students in the context of today's stress ridden scenario, he says: “Dance therapy should be introduced as a curriculum in schools and colleges, because dance keeps students mentally, emotionally and physically strong. A weak negative attitude and mental imbalance is what explains most of the suicide cases amongst students. And this is something which can be corrected through dance therapy.” He opines, “I strongly feel that it should be made a subject for undergraduate, postgraduate and even PhD studies.”
DANCE THERAPY IN INDIA
It is the first time in India that an innovation of dance therapy based on Indian classical and folk dance forms is being used to control diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, depression, and obesity, claims Satyanarayana. “This therapy can also heal people with special needs, especially the autism hypo, hyper active and depressed people,” he adds.
A dance therapist is of a special category and includes people who are already in the field of physical exercise — an aerobic-trainer, a yoga-master, a gym-trainer or even a swimming-master, to name a few. “He takes the participant to a different world of imagination, visualisation and emotion with appropriate and relevant soothing music and meaningful movements. In addition to having knowledge of dance forms and knowledge of using the techniques of dance movements and gestures as therapy, a dance therapist should be very careful about its do’s and dont’s,” he cautions.
The demand for dance therapists in India is very skewed compared to western countries, even though our dance forms are very rich, graceful and vibrant, feels Satyanarayana. He adds: “I wish that the government, corporates and philanthropists come forward to help promote our traditional and rich art form as a therapy.”
For more, www.dancetherapyindia.com
Sunil Sharma
Moderator
