Dance therapy, or Dance movement therapy (sometimes referred to as choreotherapy), is the psychotherapeutic use of movement (and dance) for emotional, cognitive, social, behavioural and physical conditions.

Dance therapy is based on the premise that the body and mind are interrelated, mental and emotional problems can result in muscle tension and constrained movement patterns compounding the original condition. Conversely the state of the body can affect mental and emotional well being both positively and negatively.

Marion Chace is one of the founders and of modern dance therapy.

Further reading

• Payne, H.L. (2000). Creative Movement and Dance in Groupwork. Oxon:Speechmark
• Chodorow, J. (1991). Dance Therapy and Depth Psychology. London
• Lewis, P. (1984; 1986). Theoretical Approaches in Dance Movement Therapy. Vols I & II, USA: Kendall/Hunt.
• North, M. (1990). Personality Assessment Through Movement. Northcote House.
• Payne, H. (ed). (1992). Dance Movement Therapy: Theory and Practice. Tavistock / Routledge.
• Siegel, E. (1984). Dance Movement Therapy: Mirror of Ourselves: The Psychoanalytic Approach. New York: Human Science Press.
• Stanton-Jones, K. (1992). An Introduction to Dance Movement Therapy in Psychiatry. London: Tavistock/Routledge.

External links

• International Institute for Dance Therapy http://www.dancetherapy.com/
• The Association for Dance Movement Therapy in UK http://www.admt.org.uk/
• Japan Dance Therapy Association http://www.jadta.net/
• American Dance Therapy Association http://www.adta.org/