CONTRIBUTIONS OF DANCE MOVEMENT THERAPY’S ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF LIFE AND HEALTH OF MIGRANTS

Abstract

According to the International Organisation for Migration, in 2015, there were 244 million international migrants in the world, 740 million people have migrated within their own country, 40 million have been displaced and 22 million have registered as refugees. Migrants need integral policies that provide them with work, housing, health and education services in the host countries. Migration conditions could gravely affect health, the quality of life and could make integration in the host country difficult. Migration may trigger stress, anxiety, depression, isolation, difficulties concentrating, irritability and weakening of the immune system. The present paper aims to present the effects of dance movement therapy (DMT) with migrants. The results obtained in the work with three groups of migrants from Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe are presented. 48 people (6 men and 42 female) participated in a total of 48 sessions, which had an average duration of one and a half hours. Participants aged over 18 years who had an interest in being part of a movement group in order to enhance their wellbeing and to foster their community integration were invited. Two surveys and a semi-structured interview were carried out in order to evaluate the impact of the sessions. The experience obtained agrees with the existing related literature that DMT presents an effective approach in the treatment of migrants, helping to enhance trust and integration, increasing body awareness, strengthening grounding and the sense of belonging, reducing distress and anxiety, and promoting creativity and spontaneity.