Michael Jackson is Dead and the World Dances

I grew up during the height of Michael Jackson's solo career, and like most people alive in that time, I literally wore out my Thriller cassette tape. Twice.
I watched his videos over and over again--each time my older sister turning out the lights in hopeful anticipation of scaring the crap out of me during Thriller, and always succeeding--while I studied Michael's choreography with wonder and amazement at *how* he could get his body to move in truly skilled and unique ways. The King of Pop was also the King of Dance.

And now, sadly, he will no longer dance for us. But the whole world seems to be dancing for him. Masses of people all over the world, including New York and San Francisco, are gathering together to grieve, to sing, and especially to dance in remembrance of Michael Jackson.
And this is why I am becoming a dance therapist. Because even if people don't always realize it on a cognitive level, their bodies instinctually want and need to dance. They dance for grievance. They dance for closure and connection. They dance for memory, and honor, and respect, and love. They dance to make sad news a little bit lighter. They dance to heal.

Why do YOU Dance?

The folks at Jacob's Pillow Dance Co have started asking this question, and I would like to ask it, too. So, why do YOU dance?

I dance because it makes me think and connect or care about what I'm thinking. I feel better. I feel more there, alive. I smile and I smile hard and harder. I love the sensation of movement itself. For me, moving has something to do with being free and being honest and being yourself.
- Anonymous

Because it feels good and natural.
- Clare O'Donnell via Facebook

Because it makes me happy - it's the expression of life!
- Tracy Frederickson via Facebook

I dance, because it makes me happy and it's in my blood :)
- Kris Nobles via Facebook

There is no other way to express the things that can only be expressed through dance.
- Kaity Barnes via Facebook

I dance because there is something inside me that wants out - it wants to move and express and be beautiful and feel good.
- Anonymous

Because without it, my soul is incomplete.
- Carla Santia via Facebook

Because my body loves to express stories.
- Frederic Troadec via Facebook

"i don't know what it is, but i need it" ~antonio gades, "carmen"
- Ed Young via Facebook

Because there's no greater feeling in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Miriam Louie Brown via Facebook

Paying it Forward -- with Art!

This week, the staff at the hospital were encouraged to "Pay it Forward." Based on the 2000 movie, everyone was asked to say something they appreciate about a colleague, to promote staff rapport and overall happiness in the workplace. It works!

I witnessed people sharing their gratitude for others regarding specific situations in the past, for being consistently prepared and professional, and for always being friendly and approachable. The day to day grind at the hospital can be challenging. Especially now, in this era of short inpatient stays due to insurance companies and economic crises, there are more acute patients coming in for a shorter period of time, staff shortages, the occasional news of the death of a former patient, and a lot of overall stress. For everyone.

So what can we do? Personally, I believe gratitude is good for the body and mind, and thus, 'paying it forward' and participating in random acts of kindness and art are positive ways we can make the world a better place.

Psychology Today's blog post by Cathy Malchiodi on Random Acts of Art focuses on the importance of sharing creativity:

"Gratitude is a practice of giving thanks, appreciating others, and acknowledging the wonders of life. It's time to make a gratitude adjustment and carry out random acts of art - a commitment to compassion in action through creative imagination.
In Buddhism, a powerful expression of compassion in action is given by the bodhisattva, a person who has dedicated his or her life to the service of others and vowed to ease suffering of others whenever possible. The Dalai Lama points out that taking the bodhisattva vow doesn't force one into a life of service to others, but it does set a life path for offering acts of charity. It can also involve "random acts of kindness," simple actions on behalf of others, often performed anonymously. To me, these are also acts of gratitude -- the belief in both the goodness of others and yourself."

Read the rest of the article here. And share your art with someone today!

Great Blogs on Dance Therapy

I've been doing a lot of research about how to become a dance/movement therapist, but one of the best ways for me to learn is through direct experience.

Here are three great blogs written by dance therapists about the work:

*Somatic Revelations

*Moving Towards Understanding

*Musings of a Dance/Movement Therapist

Happy reading!

Dance Therapy in the UK: BBC Article

Dancing may be a way to tone the body, but it is also a dynamic way to exercise the mind, say health experts. Read the BBC article about Reach4Dance's initiative to bring dance as therapy to the mentally ill.

What exactly is Dance/Movement Therapy again?

Read another interview with a DMT here.

Susan Kleinman and Hope for Anorexia

In March, I had the opportunity to attend a dance/movement therapy workshop with Susan Kleinman, ADTR, on embodiment as a therapist. Ms. Kleinman works with eating disorders at the Renfrew Center in Florida, and has published and presented extensively in this field of work.

Here is an excerpt from one of Kleinman's articles on body image from the Anorexia Hope Blog.