Beyond words: exploring communication and expression through therapeutic dance with children with special educational needs

Goodgame, J. and Groom, B. (2007) Beyond words: exploring communication and expression through therapeutic dance with children with special educational needs. Workshop presented to: Learning Conference 2007: 14th International Conference on Learning, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26-29 June 2007. (Unpublished)

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Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Workshop)
Abstract:	This session explores the therapeutic use of movement and dance with students with a range of communication, social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. It asks - can dance and movement offer a creative and dynamic form for expression, beyond the boundaries of culture and language, for those young people who often struggle to communicate and express with words? It is based on an experimental research project undertaken by the author in schools in the United Kingdom, Estonia and Finland. It seeks to explore whether there is a common language of expression beyond words that can be utilized to engage young people in exploring issues related to their personal and social development. Each session in this project began with step-step interactive activities and movement exercises that aimed to gradually build confidence and assurance. All of the sessions involved circle and group games, trust building exercises and creative activities for the safe expression of feelings. Young people were encouraged to work co-operatively, within the whole group, individually, in pairs and small groups. Over the course of the sessions activities gradually involve work on issues related to the participant’s lives, building social and interpersonal skills, developing aspects of emotional competence and raising self-esteem . The research project indicates that dance as a means of expression can find common ground beyond language and culture. Therapeutic dance and movement activities with young people experiencing difficulties with expression and communication may provide a dynamic format for them to experiment creatively around a range of issues related to their personal lives. It may also provide a physical release for their anxieties and frustrations and help them deal more effectively with emotions they can not always put words to, or find explanations for.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Special educational needs, therapeutic dance and movement, expressing emotional needs, communication difficulties, self-esteem
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC435 Psychiatry > RC475 Therapeutics. Psychotherapy > RC489 Arts therapy L Education > LC Special aspects of Education > LC3950 Exceptional children and youth. Special education > LC4801 Emotional and behavioral disorders L Education > LC Special aspects of Education > LC3950 Exceptional children and youth. Special education > LC4001 Children and youth with disabilities. Learning disabled children and youth
Creators:	Goodgame, Jenna and Groom, Barry
Projects:	http://l07.cgpublisher.com/proposals/571/index_html
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes:	University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Education & Humanities > Special Education Needs and Inclusion Faculties > Faculty of Education & Humanities > Special Education Needs and Inclusion
Date:	June 2007
Date Type:	Presentation
Event Title:	Learning Conference 2007: 14th International Conference on Learning
Event Dates:	26-29 June 2007
Event Location:	University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Event Type:	Conference
Language:	English
Status:	Unpublished
Refereed:	No
URI:	http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/5354

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