American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA)
2000 Century Plaza Suite 108
10632 Little Patuxent Parkway
Columbia, MD 21044
Phone: 410-997-4040
Fax: 410-997-4048
http://www.adta.org
info@adta.org
Christina Devereaux, MA, LCAT, LMHC, ADTR, NCC
Chairperson, Public Relations Committee
American Dance Therapy Association
christina@cd-photo.com
Focus on Dancing for Mental Health during National Dance Week
Columbia, MD – April 25, 2008 – The potential for dance to heal and transform is richly illustrated throughout popular culture. The American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) is drawing attention to the mental health benefits of dance as it joins dance enthusiasts across the nation in recognition of National Dance Week Friday, April 25 through Friday May 4, 2008.
Connections between dance and health surface regularly in news and entertainment programs. Willard Scott noted on the Today Show that centenarian George Dunlop, MD of Worcester, Massachusetts, attributed his longevity to “swimming, dancing, and socializing” (03/30/06). Competitive television reality shows like ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” led to increased enrollment in ballroom dance classes (ABC News, 02/02/06). National Dance Week similarly aims to “heighten the awareness of Dance and its contributions to our culture”. In line with the increased recognition of dance as a therapeutic tool, the American Dance Therapy Association during National Dance Week is reaching out to students and educators of dance, in neighborhoods, studios and universities, inviting them to learn about the field of dance/movement therapy and its ability “to help those in distress through the power of the arts to heal” (Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Statement for the Congressional Record in Recognition of 2003 National Creative Arts Therapy Week).
Dancers, dance educators, and those who wonder if they may benefit from participating in dance/movement therapy as clients or as future practitioners are encouraged during National Dance Week to visit the dance/movement therapy website, www.adta.org or contact the American Dance Therapy Association for more information. Listings of National Dance Week activities are available at www.nationaldanceweek.org. Former Ballerina with the American Ballet Theatre Roni Mahler is the National Education Spokesperson 2008, and Angelina Ballerina the dancing mouse is the Children’s Spokescharacter 2008.
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Dance/Movement Therapy, an Experiential Approach to Treatment, Is Highlighted During Creative Arts Therapy Week
Columbia, MD – March 09, 2008 – America’s recreational activities appear to be less spectator sport, reflecting instead a trend for active engagement. Approaches to therapy, such as dance/movement therapy, also can be active and experiential. To highlight the value of experiential treatments, The American Dance Therapy Association joins The National Coalition of Creative Arts Therapies Associations in announcing the celebration of Creative Arts Therapy Week, Sunday March 9 through Saturday March 15, 2007.
It seems there is a shift in the American mentality away from being a country of “couch potatoes” in favor of more active leisure pursuits.The wildly popular Wii video game consoles have transformed the sedentary endeavor into one encouraging postural shifts and physical gestures. The Wii Remote allows gamers to mimic actions ranging from swinging a sword to conducting an orchestra. The newest generation of video games use add-on controls that simulate sports activities such as surfing or skateboarding, with the gamer actually leaning, jumping, and balancing; while dance pads allow gamers to follow complicated step routines and evaluate their performance. Competitive television reality shows like ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” led to increased enrollment in ballroom dance classes (ABC News, 02/02/06). Nike continues to remind us to “Just do it”. In the spirit of increasing active engagement throughout our lives, the American Dance Therapy Association is promoting the recognition of the physical and mental health benefits of experientially focused therapies such as dance/movement therapy and the other forms of creative arts therapies. Clients can move, dance, act, sing, draw, and write their way to improved functionality by engaging in creative processes.
The aim of Creative Arts Therapy Week is to “recognize the Creative Arts Therapies as a way to help those in distress through the power of the arts to heal.” (Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Statement for the Congressional Record in Recognition of 2003 National Creative Arts Therapy Week). “Creative arts therapists are human service professionals who use arts modalities and creative processes for the purpose of ameliorating disability and illness and optimizing health and wellness” (NCCATA). In addition to dance/movement therapy, the creative arts therapies include art therapy, drama therapy, music therapy, poetry therapy, and psychodrama. As part of Creative Arts Therapy week, dance/movement therapists across the country are offering workshops and seminars highlighting the efficacy of dance/movement therapy.
Those who wonder if they may benefit from participating in dance/movement therapy as clients or as future practitioners are encouraged during Creative Arts Therapy week to visit the American Dance Therapy Association’s website, www.adta.org
Mayor Bloomberg Proclaims Week of the September 23-30th Dance Therapy Week in New York!
Columbia, MD – (August 31, 2007). The American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) announces this year’s conference Dance/Movement Therapy: New Currents, New Bridges at the New York Marriot at the Brooklyn Bridge in Brooklyn, NY, September 27-30, 2007 the same week that is declared by Mayor Bloomberg as “Dance Therapy Week in New York.” Hundreds of professionals from all across the globe are expected to gather to attend this event which aims to heighten awareness of dance as a form of psychotherapy which has been proven to be useful in addressing a range of psychological and psychosocial issues. The ADTA has supported thousands of professionals in the field of dance/movement therapy and its ability “to help those in distress through the power of the arts to heal” (Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Statement for the Congressional Record in Recognition of 2003 National Creative Arts Therapy Week).
The setting, at the mouth of the Brooklyn Bridge, also sometimes called “the miracle bridge,” symbolizes the integration of movement with healing and possibility. History calls this structure simply an engineering miracle since the builder Washington Roebling, who had been severely injured in a tragic accident could only move one finger. For 13 years, he tapped out his instructions to build the bridge with one finger until the spectacular bridge was finally completed. This non-verbal miracle is a fitting and a living symbol of the creative connections made daily by dance/movement therapists all over the globe.
The conference begins Thursday evening following pre-conference seminars on the steps of Brooklyn Borough Hall, as a site specific community-based dance and movement choir choreographed by nationally acclaimed Marylee Hardenbergh will bring the Hall alive! This is immediately followed with a National Film Debut created by the New York State Chapter of the ADTA Moving Stories: Portraits of Dance/Movement Therapy and dance performances by Marie Carstens and the Duncan Dance Collective. The weekend is filled with concurrent seminars, lectures, panel presentations, and a research poster session, all exploring various topics including violence prevention through movement, non-verbal approaches in addressing trauma, neuroscience research trends, population specific focus, and therapeutic methods. The 13th annual international panel presentation with renowned speakers from over 15 countries will highlight Dance Therapy with Children throughout the World. The Marian Chace Foundation will honor accomplished Dance/movement therapist, and educator, Dr. Marcia Leventhal, on Friday evening. Oscar Nominated actress, Libby Skala will perform a one-woman show A Time to Dance offering glimpses into the life of dance therapy pioneer Elizabeth Polk (Skala’s Aunt). The conference will conclude Sunday morning with a movement choir promising to magically weave together events of the conference and honor specific ADTA members.
With television offering a virtual dance fest these days, now is the time to increase the public’s awareness of the pioneering professionals of dance/movement therapy and their in-depth understanding of how the body and mind interact in health and in illness, and how dance provides symbolic expression and transformation that improves functioning for individuals with emotional, behavioral, medical, and physical conditions.
The conference is open to the public. Participants may attend 1 day or all 3 days. Pre-registration is not necessary. Continuing Education Units are available. Mental health professionals, creative arts therapists, dancers, dance educators, and those who wonder about the use of dance therapy are encouraged to visit the ADTA website, www.adta.org or contact info@adta.org for more information. Members of the Press are encouraged to contact PR Chairperson, Christina Devereaux.
Dance/Movement Therapy, an Experiential Approach to Treatment, Is Highlighted During National Dance Week
Columbia, MD – April 12, 2007 – America’s recreational activities appear to reflect a new trend for active engagement. Dance/movement therapy is an active and experiential psychotherapy approach valuable in promoting health across the lifespan. To highlight the value of experiential treatments, The American Dance Therapy Association joins the joins The Coalition for National Dance Week in announcing the twenty-sixth celebration of National Dance Week, Friday April 20 through Sunday April 30, 2007.
Americans are increasingly beginning to favor more active leisure pursuits. Technology is having some influence on the trend, for example, the wildly popular Wii video game consoles have transformed a formerly sedentary endeavor into one encouraging postural shifts and physical gestures. The Wii Remote allows gamers to mimic actions ranging from swinging a sword to conducting an orchestra, and the newest generation of video games uses add-on controls that simulate sports activities such as surfing or skateboarding, with the gamer actually leaning, jumping, and balancing. Competitive television reality shows like ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” led to increased enrollment in ballroom dance classes (ABC News, 02/02/06), and commercials such as Nike’s “Just do it” campaign, champion physical pursuits. In the spirit of increasing active engagement throughout our lives, the American Dance Therapy Association is promoting recognition of the physical and mental health benefits of the experientially focused dance/movement therapy. National Dance Week notes that “Dance is good for the mind, body and spirit”. To help promote awareness of dance as an active, engaging therapeutic tool, the American Dance Therapy Association during National Dance Week is reaching out to students and educators of dance, in neighborhoods, studios and universities, inviting them to learn about the field of dance/movement therapy and its ability “to help those in distress through the power of the arts to heal” (Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Statement for the Congressional Record in Recognition of 2003 National Creative Arts Therapy Week).
The mission of National Dance Week is to “encourage the growth and development of Dance in America by raising the public consciousness to the values, importance and contributions of Dance to our daily lives and culture.” Dancers, dance educators, and those who wonder if they may benefit from participating in dance/movement therapy as clients or as future practitioners are encouraged during National Dance Week to visit the dance/movement therapy website, www.adta.org or contact the American Dance Therapy Association for more information. Listings of National Dance Week activities are available at http://nationaldanceweek.org. John O’Hurley and Charlotte Jorgensen, Champions of the inaugural season of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars”, are the National Celebrity Spokespersons 2007, and teacher/performer David Howard is the National Education Spokesperson 2007.
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