Dance as a therapy

Dance requires the mind, body and spirit to be interconnected and this has a therapeutic effect on a person. Dance therapy brings out the inner emotions and feelings of an individual and helps one adopt a positive outlook towards life. Dancing helps increase endorphins in the body, which helps release anger, stress, and tension and helps promote rejuvenation and well-being. Dance has been used as a therapy even for those who are physically and mentally differently abled. It helps them come out of their ‘cocoon’. Dancing increases the lung function, helps improve the heart, and has positive effects on the musculoskeletal system.

Folk Dances are performed by the local people unlike the classical dances. They are performed during festivals, harvest season, ceremonies etc. They initiate unity and create a sense of belongingness to a community. Folk dance is also accompanied with folk music and folklore and traditions. These are essential to the identity of a tribe.

Folk dances like Bhangra need good health and stamina. Tera Taali from Rajasthan needs coordination and balance. Rouf Kashmiri Dance requires grace and precision. Every dance has its own style and health benefits.

In India, today, dance therapy is a recognized concept and helps in healing and creating inner awareness.

Indian folk dances have a rich history indicating that from the very beginnings these dances are aimed at the betterment of health of dancers. In many instances the dances are compared to Yogis as a form of physical and mental exercise. The Folk dances are a form of communication that brings out the innermost feelings and at the same time depicts the cultural aspects of the particular community.

Every Indian folk dance has its own style and is related to healing health problems. The overall physical well being and capacity of good health is of prime importance for all kinds of folk dances. A long time practice of a particular dance form may cause physical effect to the dancer. For eg; the powerful dance form Punjabi Bhangra needs good health and proper body movements, gair and geendad are rajasthani folk dances with military precision, karagram of Tamil Nadu needs proper body balance. Any unfit posture in there can cause hazards to the dancers, but practice of these dances gives good physical health, strength, power and mental support to the dancer.

Dance as a medicine can be used as a tool to unwind our lives, it shakes up any confusion, ignites our spirits and reconnects us to the flow of body energy again. Dance has been recognized as a therapeutic and is used as a means of therapy. In the U.S it is called as DMT (Dance Movement Therapy), which uses dance to support intellectual, emotional, and motor functions of the body. Through this, a therapist uses movement to help client achieve emotional, cognitive, physical and social integration. The common benefits seen through this are stress reduction and mood management.

Dance is an active, non-competitive form of exercise having potential positive effects for physical health as well as mental and emotional wellbeing. Dance therapy is based on the idea that body and mind are co-relational. The therapeutic approaches with various forms of Indian dances are a new entrant to dance literature worldwide.