Beatrice Lucas

Keywords: Dance Therapy, landscape, transpersonal framework, horizontal plane, vertical plane, aboriginal psyche, reconciliation, belonging

Page #: 58

This paper explores the significance of landscape for the creation of authentic dances and how its shapes, forms and spiritual associations relate to the dancers identity and create meaning. The vertical and the horizontal dimensions are explored both within the dance process and within a transpersonal framework. Possibilities for ‘cross-fertilisation’ between dance therapy and Aboriginal dance is considered, taking into account research findings, psychocultural and ecological thought and insights by Aboriginal elders.

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Keywords
dance movement therapy, therapist, self-nurture, nature dance, landscape.

Page #: 200

This paper is about a recent personal experience, when after many years in autism education, I felt the need to nurture my own dance. I attended an eight day workshop entitled ‘Nature Dances’, as dance and landscapes has been a topic of interest for me for a number of years. This is therefore a subjective and autobiographical account based on reflections recorded in photos and a journal, and inspired by literary quotes. An account of the structure and intent of the workshop is followed by an exploration of the factors that made this wilderness dance experience so valuable for me. It illustrates the way dance as everyday art can be healing and possibly enhanced when taken outdoors.