https://courseoutline.auckland.ac.nz/dco/course/DANCE/772/1213

DANCE 772 : Dance Therapy, Theory and Practice I

Creative Arts and Industries

2021 Semester One (1213) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Students will develop their knowledge of dance therapy through theoretical and practical approaches to understanding the conceptual and theoretical foundations that underpin concepts of therapy, well-being, therapist/client relationships and clinical health care systems.

Course Overview

Dance has been used for healing throughout human history and this course explores how its healing power has been harnessed and refined into the broad and deep field of contemporary dance movement therapy. The history and development of DMT as a profession are discussed, in both international and local contexts.

Fundamental aspects of dance, including symbolic movement, improvisation, aesthetics, and creativity provide a platform from which to explore and discover the therapeutic process that DMT can offer. Students are encouraged to examine their own body-mind and to investigate the impact of these aspects on themselves first, in preparation for utilising them with future clients. This awareness will be extended through the commencement of a practical placement during the course, where students will observe and participate in DMT and related groups with options in a range of settings.

In this introductory course we will actively explore through movement questions that are fundamental to developing as a dance movement therapist: What are my movement preferences? Who am I in my culture and context? Who am I as an individual? Who am I in relationship with others? How do I move? How do I take in movement, reflect movement, perceive in movement? As we process and develop our own self awareness, we can then shift our attention to witnessing practice – the platform upon which later clinical skills can grow.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Master of Dance Movement Therapy

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate knowledge of dance as a therapeutic modality across cultures and throughout history. (Capability 1.1, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1 and 6.2)
  2. Examine the relationship between your own movement preferences & patterns, your personal history, and your cultural contexts and identities (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 5.3, 6.1 and 6.2)
  3. Examine your personal experience and perspective on how and why dance could be therapeutic and supporting health and wellbeing (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  4. Identify Maori & Pacific healing dance practices, and their relationship to DMT practice. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.3, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  5. Be confident in articulating the development of DMT as a profession out of historical and cultural dance practices. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  6. Discuss key concepts from a range of DMT pioneers in both local and international contexts. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  7. Discuss the role of symbols, imagery and metaphor in dance movement therapy. (Capability 1.1, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 5.3, 6.1 and 6.2)
  8. Understand the use of improvisation, spontaneity and creativity in DMT. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  9. Describe how empathy, attunement and mirroring are fundamental in DMT practices. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.3, 6.1 and 6.2)
  10. Identify key foundational elements of the therapeutic movement relationship including dyadic kinaesthetic co-regulation. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1 and 6.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Reflective Essay: Who am I as a Mover? 20% Individual Coursework
Seminar Presentation: DMT Family Tree 30% Individual Coursework
Preparation and Engagement 20% Individual Coursework
Essay on the Therapeutic Movement Relationship 30% Individual Coursework
4 types 100%
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Reflective Essay: Who am I as a Mover?
Seminar Presentation: DMT Family Tree
Preparation and Engagement
Essay on the Therapeutic Movement Relationship

Teaching & Learning Methods

  • Group lecture
  • Group tutorial
  • Independent research 
  • Interviewing
  • Presentations
  • Dance workshops
  • Practical placement

Workload Expectations

Following university workload guidelines, a standard 15 point course represents approximately 150 hours of study. During a typical week there will be 3 hours of lectures. For the 12 teaching weeks, this totals to 36 hours. Since the course as a whole represents approximately 150 hours of study, that leaves a total of 114 hours across the entire semester for independent study, e.g. reading, reflection, preparing for assessments etc.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs/tutorials/studios to complete components of the course.

The course may include live online events including group discussions/tutorials.

Attendance on campus is not required for the exam.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Health & Safety

Warming up properly is essential; you cannot do a practical class if you are not warm as you are running the risk of injuring yourself. It is your responsibility to warm up sufficiently before class starts, as we expect to be able to start the class on time and not take up valuable class time getting everyone ‘warm up’. Please inform us of any injury or health related circumstances that are relevant to your full participation in the course. If you develop a new injury, or if an old injury surfaces during the course, let us know about it before class, or as soon as it happens in class – if you are unsure about your injury or pain ASK us about it, and ALWAYS seek medical advice from medical professionals.
Please be alert of personal security when rehearsing/practicing – rehearse/practice with a friend if possible.

If there is an accident or injury: 
Ensure members of the classroom are safe.
Contact help, ring Dance Studies Administrator on ext. 88750, University Security on ext. 85000 or if need be an ambulance on 111. For soft tissue injuries (e.g. sprains, sore legs, twisted ankles) remember RICER – Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, Referral. First aid kits are kept in the KMC stereo cupboard and at the Dance Studies Office.
Staff must report all injuries to Dance Studies Administrator. 

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

In the event of unexpected disruption

We undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions, the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. In the event of a disruption, the University and your course coordinators will make every effort to provide you with up to date information via Canvas and the University website.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 03/12/2020 11:26 a.m.