Circle Dance as an embodied healing experience: meaning, relation and the sustainability of life
This study examines Circle Dance as an embodied healing practice within the Chacian tradition of Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP). Using a literature-based qualitative synthesis, it analyses experiential accounts that identify circular formation and collective rhythm as core conditions and conceptualise healing as a transformation of lived experience rather than a clinical outcome. The findings show that healing emerges through bodily sensibility, co-regulation and relational attunement, reorganising meaning, relationships and shared temporality. This study contributes a conceptual framework that reframes healing as a relational and embodied process, extending DMP discourse beyond symptom-centred models.
Authors
- Alam Han
- Mi-Suk Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0356-2194)
- Seulki Kim
- Hyesook Ha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0922-2804)
- Hyein Kang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4472-384X)
Institutions
- Kookmin University (KR)
- Sungshin Women's University (KR)
- Moscow State Institute of Culture (RU)
- Institute of Art (PL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Body Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy
- Published
- 2026-06-19
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1080/17432979.2026.2689941
- Primary Topic
- Diversity and Impact of Dance
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00