The Occupation of Dance and its Potential Effects on Trauma

Trauma is a complex phenomenon. Because of its subjective nature, it can be defined in a variety of ways depending on the health care provider being asked. Though there are various forms of trauma, most definitions are comprised of components that establish its broad understanding of an emotional response to a disturbing incident. Trauma is a subjective experience and can occur in any setting, to any person. How trauma is stored in the body is less subjective though, with most experts understanding it not only lives in the brain, but also in the very cells affecting health and wellness on a daily basis (Sherin & Nemeroff, 2011; van der Kolk, 2014). Movement and expressive arts have long been known to connect the mind with the body and have been used to promote health by decreasing signs and symptoms of anxiety, depression, body image issues, and mood imbalances for years (Koch et al., 2013). This paper aims to increase the reader's understanding of the history of trauma, movement therapy, and the link between the occupation of dance and its potential healing effects.