Exploring Dance Movement Therapy: Healing Through Movement

BRMI Staff

A Bioregulatory Perspective on the Body’s Innate Language

Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) is more than an expressive art and more than a psychotherapeutic intervention—it is a reminder that the body is always speaking, even when words fail.

Long before spoken language emerged, humans communicated through gesture, rhythm, posture, and shared movement.

In many ways, DMT is a return to this primordial intelligence. It recognizes that movement is not merely something we do; it is something we are. Our histories, identities, traumas, joys, and unspoken narratives all live within the body’s tissues, rhythms, and patterns.

As a therapeutic modality, DMT uses the creative process of movement to support emotional, cognitive, physical, and relational healing. But unlike talk therapy, which works primarily with the conscious mind, DMT engages the entire organism—muscles, fascia, breath, gait, and nervous system—to catalyze shifts that often lie beneath language.

Because the bioregulatory perspective views health as a dynamic interplay between body, mind, and environment, DMT resonates beautifully with this approach. It supports internal coherence, restores flow, and rekindles embodied awareness—all necessary conditions for self-regulation and healing.

Modern research is beginning to validate what pioneers intuitively knew: when movement is used intentionally, it becomes medicine.

The Origins and Foundations of Dance Movement Therapy

The roots of DMT can be traced to the mid-20th century, a time when dance was flourishing creatively and psychology was beginning to appreciate the therapeutic value of embodiment. But the lineage stretches further—into indigenous rituals, healing dances, community drumming, and early human gatherings where movement served as both expression and medicine. What distinguishes modern DMT is its synthesis: artistic movement woven with psychotherapeutic theory.

Marian Chace: The Foundational Voice

Marian Chace, widely recognized as the mother of Dance Movement Therapy, began exploring dance as a communicative medium in the 1930s and 1940s. While teaching dance in Washington, D.C., she noticed that her students were less interested in technical skill and more drawn to the sense of emotional release and connection they felt through movement. Her classes organically became therapeutic spaces.

When psychiatrists observed improvements in patients who participated in her sessions, Chace was invited to work at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. There, she developed what would become the foundation of DMT:

• Mirroring to foster emotional attunement

• Rhythmic group movement to build cohesion and safety

• Symbolic gestures that allowed unconscious material to surface

• Movement dialogues bridging internal and external experience

Her approach was revolutionary: she treated the body as a primary vehicle of communication for patients who often could not speak for themselves.

Parallel Lineages: Schoop, Whitehouse, and Jungian Influences

While Chace worked in psychiatric environments, other pioneers were exploring related territory:

• Trudi Schoop, a Swiss dancer, integrated humor, character work, and theatrical improvisation to help patients externalize inner conflicts.

• Mary Whitehouse developed Authentic Movement, a Jungian-influenced method where individuals follow spontaneous impulses while a witness observes without judgment.

These lineages emphasized symbolism, unconscious material, and the expressive intelligence of the body—principles that continue to shape DMT practices today.

By the 1960s, the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) formalized training, ethics, and standards, establishing DMT as a recognized psychotherapeutic discipline.

Core Principles of Dance Movement Therapy

Although techniques vary across practitioners and traditions, several foundational principles define DMT and make it distinct from other somatic therapies.

1. Movement as Communication

Movements—whether broad or subtle—reveal emotional and psychological states. A slumped posture may signal resignation, a stiff neck unresolved fear, or a restless foot unspoken anxiety. DMT treats these signals as meaningful rather than incidental. The therapist “listens” through the eyes, observing:

• tension or ease

• rhythm and pacing

• breath patterns

• gestures and spatial choices

This nonverbal communication can reveal narratives hidden from conscious awareness.

2. The Mind–Body Connection

DMT aligns beautifully with bioregulatory principles: the body and mind are inseparable. Emotions have physical signatures. Chronic stress impacts posture, breath, muscle tone, vagal tone, and overall physiology. When movement patterns shift, mental and emotional patterns often shift as well.

3. Symbolic Expression

Movement frequently expresses what the conscious mind cannot articulate. A gesture of pushing away may indicate a boundary violation; a shrinking posture may symbolize fear; repeated circles may reflect a desire for containment. These symbolic movements create a bridge between somatic memory and cognitive understanding.

4. Attunement and Mirroring

Mirroring is one of the most powerful tools in DMT. The therapist subtly reflects a client’s movement quality—speed, tension, shape—not to copy them, but to communicate: “I see you. I feel you. You’re not alone.”

This attunement regulates the nervous system, strengthens connection, and enhances safety—conditions essential for therapeutic change.

How Dance Movement Therapy Healing Works

A typical DMT session unfolds across three phases, though each therapist may adapt the process to the individual’s needs.

1. Warm-up: Arriving in the Body

The warm-up is not about exercise but transition. It invites clients to shift from daily life into embodied presence. Movements are gentle and grounding:

• breath work

• swaying

• simple foot patterns

• stretching

• awareness of weight and balance

This phase heightens interoception—the awareness of inner sensations—and prepares the nervous system for deeper exploration.

2. Exploration: The Expressive Core

Once grounded, clients move into expressive or improvisational movement. This might involve:

• guided imagery

• spontaneous gestures

• movement metaphors (“show me what resilience feels like”)

• interacting with music or silence

• using props like scarves, balls, or ribbons

• exploring spatial relationships (near, far, open, closed)

Improvisation is central because it bypasses the analytic mind. The body speaks freely, often revealing insights that surprise the mover.

3. Processing and Reflection: Making Meaning

After moving, clients engage in reflection through words, art, journaling, or stillness. This verbal integration consolidates the therapeutic insights:

• What emotions emerged?

• What symbols appeared?

• Where did the body feel tense or free?

• What memories surfaced?

• What new movement felt empowering?

This phase weaves together somatic and cognitive awareness, strengthening the learning and supporting long-term change.

The Role of the Dance Movement Therapist

A Dance Movement Therapist blends the skills of:

• psychotherapist

• somatic educator

• movement analyst

• empathic witness

Their job is not to choreograph movement but to attune to the client’s internal world as expressed through the body.

Therapists observe:

• posture

• gestures

• flow and rhythm

• breath patterns

• developmental movement motifs

• movement qualities (as described in Laban Movement Analysis)

They then respond through:

Mirroring - Reflecting the client's movement to validate their emotional experience.

Grounding Techniques - Helping clients stabilize through weighted movements, strong stance, or rhythmic repetition.

Symbolic Movement Exploration - Inviting clients to explore movements that represent emotions, relational patterns, or desired states.

Shaping New Patterns - Introducing variations—slowing, expanding, shrinking, smoothing—that create new neural pathways and emotional possibilities.

Benefits of Dance Movement Therapy

Research continues to affirm what practitioners observe daily: DMT has profound, multidimensional benefits. Below are key areas supported by evidence and clinical experience.

1. Emotional Expression and Release

Many people live with emotions they cannot name—or dare not speak. The body becomes the container for these unexpressed feelings.

DMT offers a safe arena for emotional release. Through movement, individuals may cry, laugh, tremble, reach, twist, or collapse—not as performance, but as embodied truth. This release:

• drains accumulated tension

• provides catharsis

• reconnects clients with their emotional core

• allows buried material to rise gently to consciousness

For individuals processing trauma, grief, shame, or anxiety, movement serves as a bridge to healing when words are insufficient.

2. Reduction of Anxiety, Depression, and Stress

Movement regulates the autonomic nervous system. Rhythmic movement, in particular, supports vagal tone and parasympathetic activation.

DMT has been shown to:

• lower cortisol

• increase endorphins and dopamine

• elevate mood

• reduce rumination

• support emotional resilience

Many clients report that DMT feels like “breathing with the whole body”—a full-body exhale that restores lightness and clarity.

3. Increased Body Awareness and Self-Acceptance

Through guided exploration, clients learn to sense tension, pleasure, constriction, and flow within their bodies. Over time, this deepens:

• interoception

• proprioception

• self-compassion

• positive body image

For individuals who have lived disconnected from their bodies due to trauma, illness, shame, or chronic stress, this reconnection is profoundly healing. It shifts the internal narrative from criticism to curiosity—from “my body is a problem” to “my body is my ally.”

4. Improved Social Skills and Empathy

Group DMT sessions foster connection through shared rhythm, gesture, and collective expression. Human beings are wired for synchrony; when people move together, their nervous systems naturally attune.

Benefits include:

• increased empathy

• improved nonverbal communication

• enhanced relational confidence

• strengthened ability to co-regulate

Kinesthetic empathy—the ability to feel another’s experience through movement—is a hallmark of DMT and a cornerstone of its therapeutic power.

5. Trauma Processing and Integration

Because trauma is stored in the body, somatic therapies like DMT are uniquely effective. Movement allows clients to access pre-verbal memories and sensations without being overwhelmed by cognitive analysis.

DMT supports trauma healing by:

• creating a safe container for embodied expression

• regulating hyper- or hypo-arousal

• allowing symbolic reenactment in a controlled way

• helping clients rewrite bodily memories

• restoring agency through choice and movement

Trauma often disrupts flow; DMT restores it.

6. Enhanced Cognitive Function and Motor Skills

DMT supports neuroplasticity through patterned, rhythmic, and expressive movement. Research shows improvements in:

• balance

• coordination

• executive function

• spatial awareness

• memory

• gait quality

Populations that benefit include individuals with Parkinson’s disease, stroke recovery, dementia, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, and developmental delays.

7. Fostering Creativity and Playfulness

One of the most overlooked benefits of DMT is its reawakening of creativity. In a culture that often prioritizes productivity, DMT invites play:

• imagining new movement possibilities

• exploring different rhythms

• experimenting with space and shape

• rediscovering spontaneity

Play is not frivolous—it is a profound regulator of the nervous system and a core pillar of resilience.

Applications of Dance Movement Therapy

The versatility of DMT allows it to be adapted across many settings. Below are common applications.

Mental Health Settings

Supporting individuals with:

• depression

• anxiety

• PTSD

• dissociation

• attachment wounds

• psychosomatic presentations

Medical and Rehabilitation Settings

Used for:

• chronic pain

• cancer support

• neurological rehabilitation

• movement disorders

• autoimmune diseases

Schools and Developmental Programs

Benefits include improved:

• motor skills

• emotional regulation

• social skills

• sensory integration

Elderly Care and Dementia Support

DMT helps older adults maintain:

• cognitive functioning

• mobility

• balance

• emotional engagement

• social participation

Community and Wellness Programs

Ideal for:

• stress reduction

• personal growth

• creative exploration

• mind-body integration

Who Can Benefit from Dance Movement Therapy?

DMT is remarkably inclusive. It is accessible regardless of age, physical ability, or dance experience. Beneficiaries include:

Children and Adolescents

DMT helps young people:

• regulate emotions

• process stress

• build confidence

• strengthen communication

Adults Seeking Emotional Healing

Especially those navigating:

• trauma

• grief

• anxiety

• relationship challenges

Older Adults

Supporting:

• mobility

• memory

• mood

• social engagement

Individuals with Disabilities

Enhances:

• motor coordination

• communication

• sensory integration

• self-expression

DMT’s adaptability makes it one of the most humanistic therapies available—meeting people exactly where they are.

Scientific Evidence Supporting DMT

Growing research continues to validate DMT’s effectiveness. Studies show improvements in:

• quality of life

• body image

• depression and anxiety

• interpersonal functioning

• motor control

• cognitive processing

The meta-analysis by Koch and colleagues (2014) demonstrated significant improvements in psychological well-being across diverse populations. Research on Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and trauma repeatedly highlights DMT’s role in brain plasticity and emotional regulation.

As neuroscience advances, it is increasingly clear that movement is not secondary to psychological healing—it is central.

A Bioregulatory View of DMT: Movement as Internal Ecology

Bioregulatory medicine emphasizes the body’s inherent ability to self-regulate and heal. In this framework, health is fluidity. Imbalance arises when systems become stagnant, rigid, or dysregulated. DMT restores movement—not simply in muscles, but in emotions, energy, breath, and internal rhythms.

From a bioregulatory lens, DMT:

• enhances lymphatic and connective-tissue flow

• supports vagal regulation and heart-rate variability

• harmonizes left-right brain hemispheric activity

• restores the body’s oscillatory rhythms

• frees patterns of stagnation in the fascia

• engages proprioceptive and vestibular systems

When the system reconnects with its innate rhythms, self-healing becomes possible.

Conclusion: Movement as a Path to Wholeness

Dance Movement Therapy invites us to listen—to the quiet tremors of fear, the pulse of longing, the spiral of transformation, the soft opening of joy. It asks us to trust that the body is wise, adaptable, and expressive beyond words. In a world where many feel disconnected—from themselves, from others, from their inner experiences—DMT offers reconnection through embodied presence.

Whether used to support trauma recovery, enhance emotional regulation, promote neuroplasticity, foster creativity, or deepen self-awareness, Dance Movement Therapy is a powerful modality that bridges art and science, expression and psychology, movement and meaning.

In the end, DMT teaches a simple truth: When we move with awareness, we move toward healing.

References

1. Levy, F. J. Dance Movement Therapy: A Healing Art. American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, 1992.

2. Koch, S. C., Kunz, T., Lykou, S., & Cruz, R. “Effects of Dance Movement Therapy and Dance on Health-Related Psychological Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis.” The Arts in Psychotherapy, 41(1), 46–64, 2014.

3. Pylvänäinen, P. “Embodied Expressions: The Role of Dance Movement Therapy in Reducing Anxiety and Enhancing Emotional Regulation.” Body, Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy, 13(1), 45–60, 2018.

4. Meekums, B. Dance Movement Therapy: A Creative Psychotherapeutic Approach. Sage Publications, 2002.

5. Samaritter, R., & Payne, H. “Kinaesthetic Empathy in Therapeutic Relationships: The Power of Nonverbal Connection.” Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 17(2), 114–121, 2013.

6. van der Kolk, B. A. The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Penguin Books, 2014.

7. Hackney, M. E., & Earhart, G. M. “Effects of Dance on Movement Control in Parkinson’s Disease: A Comparison of Argentine Tango and American Ballroom.” Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development, 47(5), 373–381, 2010.

Bioregulatory medicine is a total body (and mind) approach to health and healing that aims to help facilitate and restore natural human biological processes. It is a proven, safe, gentle, highly effective, drugless, and side-effect-free medical model designed to naturally support the body to regulate, adapt, regenerate, and self-heal. BRMI is a non-commercial 501(c)(3) foundation and will expand and flourish with your support. Our goal is to make bioregulatory medicine a household term.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for the direct care of a qualified health practitioner who oversees and provides unique and individualized care. The information provided here is to broaden our different perspectives and should not be construed as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.