SOMATIC DANCE MOVEMENT THERAPY

Somatic Dance Movement Therapy is a dynamic and integrative therapeutic approach that utilises movement and dance to address and heal trauma, promote self-awareness, and restore harmony between mind and body. This therapy offers a profound way to engage with and transform experiences stored in the body, particularly those resulting from trauma.

Trauma often creates a disconnection between the mind and body, leaving individuals feeling fragmented and disconnected from their physical selves. This mind-body split can manifest as chronic tension, disassociation, or difficulty in accessing and expressing emotions. Somatic Dance Movement Therapy seeks to bridge this divide by encouraging clients to reconnect with their bodies through movement.

Central to this therapeutic approach are several foundational frameworks that aid in understanding and addressing trauma through movement: Laban Movement Analysis, Barteneiff Fundamentals, Hanna Somatics, Developmental Movement Patterns, and Basic Neurological Patterns.

Laban Movement Analysis, developed by Rudolf Laban, offers a comprehensive framework for understanding movement. This analysis deconstructs movement into four core elements: Body, Effort, Shape, and Space. By examining these elements, therapists can help clients identify how their movement patterns reflect and affect their emotional and psychological states.

For individuals with trauma, these patterns often reveal underlying issues of fear, control, or restriction. Through Laban’s lens, clients can explore and transform these patterns, facilitating a deeper integration of their mind and body.

Barteneiff Fundamentals, developed by Irmgard Barteneiff, extends Laban’s work by emphasising efficient movement patterns and the integration of mind and body. These fundamentals focus on enhancing body awareness, coordination, and functional movement. For individuals affected by trauma, Barteneiff’s principles provide tools for cultivating a more fluid and integrated movement experience, addressing issues of fragmentation and disconnection.

Hanna Somatics, developed by Thomas Hanna, introduces another crucial dimension to Somatic Dance Movement Therapy. Hanna Somatics emphasises the role of sensory-motor learning in healing the nervous system from trauma. This approach focuses on neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections. Through specific exercises and movements, Hanna Somatics helps clients retrain their nervous systems, reducing chronic muscle tension and reestablishing a sense of bodily control and awareness. This method is particularly effective in addressing the persistent effects of trauma, such as pain and restricted movement, by facilitating a deeper connection between sensory perception and motor function.

Developmental Movement Patterns are foundational movements observed in early childhood that form the basis of our physical and emotional development. Trauma can disrupt these patterns, leading to persistent physical and emotional challenges. Revisiting and re-experiencing these fundamental movements allows clients to reconnect with their early bodily experiences and address the impact of trauma on their development. This process can help restore a sense of safety and fluidity in their movements.

Basic Neurological Patterns relate to the ways our nervous system organises and coordinates movement. Trauma often disrupts these patterns, leading to symptoms such as hypervigilance or dissociation. By understanding and working with these inherent neurological patterns, therapists can guide clients in aligning their movements with their natural rhythms. This alignment supports the integration of traumatic experiences and promotes a more grounded and cohesive sense of self.

By combining these frameworks, Somatic Dance Movement Therapy offers a holistic and embodied approach to trauma healing. It provides a safe space for clients to explore and express their experiences through movement, facilitating a deeper understanding and integration of their mind and body. This therapeutic journey promotes resilience, self-awareness, and a renewed sense of wholeness, empowering individuals to reclaim their physical and emotional well-being.