What does dance mean to you? Words that may come to mind are artistry, passion, dedication, emotion, movement, love, discipline, strength, and creativity—to pick out but a few. The term therapy may not be what you immediately think of, but since time immemorial, dance has been used as a powerful healing process in many communities across the world. 

Over time, dance therapy has emerged as a specific therapeutic tool. Here we explore how and why dance therapy is a promising approach for people who have suffered from and survived trauma. 

Dance therapy (also called movement therapy, dance/movement therapy, or dance movement psychotherapy) is the use of body movement and dance to support many physical and mental functions in the body. Recent evidence shows that dance therapy can help manage psychological trauma, improving the symptoms associated with exposure to trauma.¹

Types of trauma

There are many different forms of trauma, and there is no exhaustive list for every trauma that a person could experience.² Trauma can be individual, as a single event (such as a physical attack, rape, or mugging), multiple events (such as repeated sexual assault) or long-term circumstances (such as illness). Particular groups, cultures, or communities can experience trauma. 

Trauma can also have many causes, be it an unavoidable natural disaster (for example, a hurricane or tornado), human technological failure (such as a car accident or train derailment), or intentional human acts (such as terrorism, domestic violence and warfare).

Physical injuries are one of the most common forms of trauma experienced, and although in this article we focus on psychological trauma, the two are closely interwoven. Physical traumas can be associated with psychological distress, as well as specific conditions, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol or substance misuse.²

There are many varying definitions of trauma out there, but some example categories include:

• Physical trauma – the use of force on a victim which inflicts injury
• Childhood trauma – trauma experienced in childhood which can impact on mental health in adulthood 
• Medical trauma – resulting from, for example, a life-threatening illness or invasive surgical procedure, in a medical setting
• Sexual trauma – non-consensual or unwanted sexual acts 
• Family trauma – including intimate partner violence (such as domestic violence) or other distressing family events
• Complicated/traumatic grief – feelings of both grief and trauma following the unexpected death of a loved one
• Disaster-related trauma – the effects of natural disasters and other catastrophic events
• Refugee-related trauma – experienced by those who have been displaced from their home country and the difficulties they face in finding a new home 

Trauma can be:

• Acute (resulting from a single, intensely stressful event such as a car accident or natural disaster)
• Chronic (resulting from ongoing and repeated actions over time, such as physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, or domestic violence)
• Complex (resulting from multiple and prolonged exposures to traumatizing events, such as war, childhood abuse, or sexual assault)³

Impact of trauma on the body

The first point to note is that trauma affects every individual person differently. However, factors such as age, sex, race, and sexual orientation can influence the level and impact of trauma experienced by an individual.^2,3

Overall, trauma can negatively impact an individual’s physical and mental well-being. Biologically, the experience of trauma leads to a cascade of events that activate our stress response. Cortisol (known otherwise as the body’s stress hormone) influences the main system that manages stress, called the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (or HPA) axis.²

Trauma can also lead to sleep disturbance and muscle tension. A common symptom of trauma, even for many months or years after the event, is that the body remains in a state of preparedness in case of impending threat or danger (even if there is none). This is called hyperarousal or hypervigilance. 

All of these are common features of PTSD.²

How dance can help—from surviving to thriving

We can probably all recall a time when we danced the night away and felt uplifted and lightened. Research has found that dance has many positive effects on the brain, including greater neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to change and adapt), particularly in the movement (motor) and hearing (auditory) regions.⁴ Evidence shows that dance training and therapy can influence neural activity, brain structure, and connectivity, and it is particularly beneficial for older people and those with a range of health conditions.⁴

Dance/movement therapy is defined by the American Dance Therapy Association as “the psychotherapeutic use of movement to promote the emotional, social, cognitive, and physical integration of the individual”.⁵ It must be carried out by a qualified instructor who is trained in this form of therapy. Dance therapy can be implemented in hospitals as well as in social and educational settings, and is a useful tool for individuals who struggle to use other therapies that are language-based.¹ 

A 2023 review of the literature on the subject found that dance therapy can have a positive effect on many factors for trauma management. Dance therapy utilizes creative, sensory, cognitive, and body systems which are all known to be good targets for trauma.¹ It can, for example, improve a person’s mental representation of their own body, and enhance their awareness of their own internal state. 

Neuroscientific research also shows that dance can enhance something called the ‘action observation network', which is the brain’s ability to engage when we observe other people’s actions. It is closely linked to empathy and social connectedness – key protective factors in trauma.⁴

For a more comprehensive look at the benefits of dance, see the section below on Dance therapy benefits. 

Dance therapy techniques

Dance therapy involves several non-verbal actions and behaviors, emotional expression, and the use of body language. Some of the interventions and techniques used by dance movement therapists include:^6,7

• Mirroring techniques – as the name suggests, the therapist imitates the individual’s movements as well as their emotions and intentions. This helps build empathy and emotional understanding between the therapist and the client 
• Jumping rhythms—vertical movement is particularly helpful in alleviating symptoms of depression
• Movement metaphors – or a physical metaphors, are where the individual physically demonstrates an experience, challenge, or achievement through movement

Dance therapy benefits 

In the table below, we summarise some of the key benefits found in dance therapy from research so far. The evidence base shows these promising findings, but in most cases, further research is needed to cement our understanding of the benefits of dance therapy. Please note that this table is not exhaustive.

Building resilience

“The use of arts and particularly dance/movement, builds resilience at the body level.” – Serlin, 2020.⁸

Dance therapy has been described as a ‘Whole Person Approach’ to helping trauma survivors build resilience.⁸ But before we go any further, let’s take a look at what these terms actually mean:

• A ‘Whole Person Approach’ is an approach to recovery. It refers to bringing together body, mind, and spirit in an integrated and holistic way. It seeks to understand the many factors that could influence a person’s health and well-being. For example, the emotional, physical, environmental, spiritual, financial, cultural, and relational aspects of the person and the life. There are many different iterations of this approach, but overall, its application can improve quality of life
• Resilience is the ability to effectively adapt to and cope with particularly challenging experiences, stresses or traumas, adversities, or uncertainties. Many factors can influence how well someone can adapt and cope - for instance, their beliefs, sense of meaning and purpose, relationships and networks of support, and environment.⁸ There are many forms of resilience – including physical or kinaesthetic, psychological, social, an existential⁸

One of the areas of the whole- approach in psychotherapy is the use of movement including dance movement therapy, to help release stress and enable recovery. 

Specific populations 

Dance therapy has been researched in specific populations that have suffered from particular forms of trauma. Let’s take a closer look at some examples:

• Intimate partner violence and PTSD survivors:⁹ In one study, it was found that females who had survived intimate partner violence had fewer symptoms of PTSD and psychological distress following 12 sessions of virtual dance/movement. On their journeys, they built awareness of their own bodies, developed new ways of expression and self-care, and felt part of a community
• Childhood sexual abuse:
  • Female survivors of child sexual abuse who have undergone dance therapy have stated they feel a ‘permission to play’, reconnection with their bodies, more freedom, and a greater sense of spontaneity¹⁰
  • In a Chinese study of childhood sexual abuse survivors, dance movement therapy helped participants gain a better awareness of their personal boundaries, improved their relationships with others, and helped them gain hope for the future¹¹
• Asylum seekers and refugees:
  • Female asylum seekers and refugees who participated in dance/movement therapy felt stress alleviation, better body awareness, and a sense of connection with their group. They felt a safe space was provided for self-expression and to address their traumas and vulnerabilities¹²
  • Another study found that elements of safety, embodiment, metaphor, and ritual within the dance therapy program were important. Refugees reported a greater sense of being in the ‘here and now’, better body awareness, and improved physical health and. emotion¹³

These are just a few examples of research being carried out in this field. The evidence supporting dance therapy in the management and treatment of trauma in adults is still fairly limited, and further research is needed with more robust protocols, more diverse populations, and over longer periods.¹

It is also interesting to note that many important factors can influence how effective the therapy is, for example, the setting, intensity, and frequency of classes, and the skills/training level of the therapist. To what extent different forms of dance therapy and different therapy programs help treat varying forms of trauma is also in its infancy from a research perspective. This is a fascinating area for future research and one that could positively impact many lives.

Summary

There are many types of trauma and they are each experienced uniquely by the person. Dance has long been used as a tool for healing and connecting, and dance therapy is a promising intervention for helping trauma survivors. Dance therapy yields many benefits, including a stronger awareness of one’s own body, more resilience, and a heightened sense of connection with others.

It can also alleviate stress and allow emotions to be expressed and more processed more freely and processed. Research in this area already highlights the beneficial nature of this therapy form in some survivor groups, but more robust research is needed going forward.