Workshop with Cecilia Macfarlan

Today's workshop with Cecilia was focused on the difference between Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) and something that is therapeutic. Where is the divide?


DMT

• specific, personal to each client
• Rehabilitative, corrective, problem-solving
• Expression of emotions through physical stimuli
• Use of transitional objects - e.g. puppets, scarves, torches
• The client - therapist - art form triangle

THERAPEUTIC

• Realxing
• De-stressing
• Positive connotations of personal actions
• E.g. massages, music, candles, shopping, stroking pets, going to hairdressers, cleaning and so on!

Instigating movement with Cecilia...

Where is the heart of you today? What colour is it? Does it lead you?

Thoughts and ponderings...

I am an explorer.


I have a need for adventure. A craving. An itch, if you will.


To dance is to discover and explore. It is a journey that continues to surprise and enthral. 

It can take you along rivers of thought and through the dense forests of knowledge.  It can challenge you to the mountainous highs and the deep valley lows of discovery and success.


To share it with others is part of the thrill.

What Lights up?

 What part of your body lights up for you and moves you through space?
 What part of the space you are in lights up and draws you to it?

 An image that helped me during this exercise was the idea of many strings attached to every part of my body. If one of the strings gets pulled then that part of the body follows bringing the rest of you with it! Where am I drawn to? How can I change this, challenge myself?

When I dance... I feel free... I lose all perception of time and space... it is a great feeling of excitement as the full range of movement becomes apparent... I surrender to the comforting pressure of the floor beneath me and the air around me... I am myself...

Exploring the Space - Mind Map