Promote social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development
Improve mental health through a healthy body
Increase self-discipline, cooperation, and confidence
Develop cultural understanding
Activities of Dance Therapy:
This is used for self-expression, communication, and group interaction
The teacher needs an understanding of (not a mastery in) energy, weight, time, tension, space, and flow
Children will need an open area to dance in as well as comfortable clothes to move around in. To accommodate this in the classroom, a limited number of children can dance while others engage in a related activity
Ask “what” questions that evoke the children interpretation
Assessment/Accommodations:
Muscle tension and rigid movements can be a sign of stress and emotional triggers by physically getting these out it will help the mental state
Teachers can grade how this technique is working by student’s cooperation and how the class dynamics are before and after
