Dance Movement Therapy with Different Populations during COVID: a Latin American Perspective

IACAET Global Webinar series ​

Date: June 5, 2022

Time: 9:00 - 11:00 AM New York / 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Buenos Aires/ 2:00 - 4:00 PM Spain

Location: Zoom

Language: English

This global webinar will present the work of seven leading dance movement therapists from Latin America who have been collaborating and supporting each others' work for many years. The presenters will cover different 'life stages' and demonstrate how dance movement therapy (DMT) is integral and forms a framework for theoretical and practical applications and interventions- each stage seen through the lens of 'a developmental moment of life'  

The themes included are: 

* Embodied, enactive relational DMT 

* Birth trauma and good enough birth. DMT interventions

* Online DMT interventions with high-risk mothers who are pregnant  

* Lived experiences of adolescents through pandemic times in DMT setting 

* Resources and outcomes working with adult patients with severe psychiatric disorders, in online DMT practice, within pandemic context

* Self-care in the ageing processes in middle-aged people 

* Beliefs about ageing in DMT professionals' minds  

The presenters will also share about their process working as a 'supportive study group' for each other. Insights gleaned will be presented as they reflect about the need for working together and being present throughout COVID and through online experience. This type of mutual support led to systematization and discovery of beliefs and co-constructing a rich exchange of meaning, understanding and experience as dance movement therapists. 

"During this process we became aware that each of us was covering a different moment of life and we began to conceptualize our work as an evolutionary process in which DMT is central for growth and intervention."

The presenters frame their work as being in progress and believe that this way of working is always 'in process'. Dancing and Being together maintains life vitality and health. The emergence of an identity as Latin-American dance movement therapists will be shared during this global webinar.                                                                

'As dance movement therapists we know that we learn by moving, that is why we will include brief experiential moments in the presentation.

Language: English and also some Spanish with English translation.

Attendees will experience interventions and reflections about Dance Movement Therapy with different populations;

Attendees will have the opportunity to reflect about development from birth to ageing;

Attendees will learn about the Enactive Embodied approach as a foundation for our work;

Attendees will have the opportunity to highlight the power of movement in therapy.