Achieving therapeutic goals through dance!
Benefits of dance
The use of dance as a therapeutic intervention is an emerging and promising area within rehabilitation sciences. Beyond its well-known physical benefits, growing evidence supports dance as a powerful tool for enhancing social, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral functioning. Research suggests that dance can offer unique therapeutic advantages that may not be fully addressed through traditional therapy alone (Scharoun, Reinders, Bryden, & Fletcher, 2014; Lopez-Ortiz et al., 2012).
For example, dance has been shown to enhance self-awareness and improve social communication skills, such as empathy and emotional expression (Scharoun et al., 2014). Specific forms of dance, like ballet, emphasize flexibility, strength, postural control, and motor coordination—key therapeutic targets for children with cerebral palsy (Lopez-Ortiz et al., 2012).
Additionally, dance can support both physical and psychosocial development in children with Down Syndrome, contributing to improvements in coordination, strength, endurance, and motor skills, while also boosting self-esteem and self-confidence (Becker & Drusing, 2010).
Overall, dance as a therapeutic medium promotes emotional, cognitive, physical, and social integration, aligning with the holistic goals of rehabilitation (American Dance Therapy Association, 2009).
