What is Dance Movement Therapy (DMT)?
DMT is defined by the European Association Dance Movement Therapy (EADMT) as ‘the therapeutic use of movement to further the emotional, cognitive, physical, spiritual and social integration of the individual.
“It takes courage to stand where we stand simply as we stand”.
Bani Shorter Jungian Analyst ‘Border People’ 1982
As Dance Movement Therapists (DMTs) we are all border-people and we work in liminal spaces, on edges, on borders and with people of all ages and cultures in transition from illness to wellness. The numbers of people crossing inner and outer national borders at this time are quite unprecedented, giving many opportunities for us to rise to these new challenges in skilled, embodied and psychotherapeutically informed ways. This stimulating conference in the heart of Athens, will address both the inner and outer border crossings that we do in ourselves and with others in the course of our therapeutic work on a variety of themes. It will also offer an opportunity to share and celebrate some of the most innovative and important DMT work going on throughout Europe and globally, at a time of profound change and also opportunity.
It is significant that this year’s conference is so close to the migration routes used by refugees and asylum seekers fleeing torture, war and ethnic cleansing. It is also of great significance that ΦΙΛΟΞΕΝΙΑ in traditional Greek culture is about taking action by ‘being a friend to the stranger’. Might this idea also be true of the DMT as friend to the stranger, working with and through trauma, up-rooting, identity-loss and trans-cultural issues in DMT? What are the underlying issues of theory and practice that inform work in this area? What are the outcomes or results? To what extent is this work extending, developing and also challenging us as DMTs? How might further work in this area grow and develop? These questions inform this theme which is designed to open up dialogue and give a platform in our community about issues of major societal concern.
As DMTs we are all border people meaning that we work in liminal spaces, on edges, at borders and with people of all ages and cultures in transition from illness to wellness. This theme takes a seminal work by Jungian Analyst B. Shorter (1982) as its inspiration, which highlighted the importance of a border as not only a place of transition, but also a place where you are investigated by way of your passport or your identity, and that existing permanently on borders is not healthy, as there exists a ‘no man’s land’ in that place. A place that is neither here nor there, that exists paradoxically both in and out of time. We as DMTs work in this territory, in the space between the ‘known’ and the ‘not yet known’, we work in the present moment with the person in the context of the ‘therapeutic relationship’ (Chaiklin & Schmais, 1986). This theme also includes transitions in life, coming to terms with a different sense of who we are becoming, whether caused by illness, by disability, by ageing and/or a mental health problem. In addition, there are also major societal concerns such as oncology, neuro-degeneration (including dementia syndrome and parkinson’s), psychiatric and substance abuse issues and medically unexplained symptoms.
Technology today in video and digital form makes it feasible to cross the border from working in real to virtual/cyberspace. Immediately a question arises about how technology contradicts or not one of the pillars of DMT, which is embodiment: the teaching of, bringing awareness to, assessing body language? Is it a contradiction to use technology in our profession or where does it function and work well and in what particular areas? Importantly, what effect has it produced? We create and use webinars and learning for training, clinical practice and in giving or receiving supervision. The skills knowledge and experience we apply in our work, puts us in a unique position in relation to “psyche” and the ‘therapeutic relationship’ (Chaiklin & Schmais, 1986) whether in real or virtual form. How does the use of cyberspace help us navigate border crossings? What are the ethical issues which arise, and how do we work with them in these liminal and in-between spaces?
References:
Shorter, B (1982) ‘Border People’, The Guild of Pastoral Psychology, Guild Papers, Lecture No: 211
Chaiklin, S, and C. Schmais, eds. (1986) ‘The Chace Approach to Dance Therapy’, in Bernstein, P., ed. Eight Theoretical Approaches in Dance-Movement Therapy, Dubuque, USA: Kendall/Hunt
Beardall, N. et al (2016) Creating the online body: Educating dance/movement therapists using a low-residency model. American Journal of Dance Therapy, 38(2), 407-428
EADMT Board: Vincenzo Puxeddu President, Imke Fiedler Secretary, Shirley Mawer Treasurer, Julia Morozova Communications & PR
Coordinator: Julia Morozova
Members: Amanda Kougioufa (GADT), Marcia Plevin, Dr Richard Coaten & Rosa Maria Rodriguez-Jimenes
Co-ordinator: Rosa Maria Rodriguez-Jimenez, Universidad Europea di Madrid, Rosemarie Samaritter
Greek Association of Dance Therapy (GADT)
GADT Board: Zoe Chatzidaki President, Amanda Kougioufa Vice President, Erasmia Perdiou Treasurer, Tonia Dakou Secretary General, Ioanna Koutiva Deputy Secretary General
Coordinator: Amanda Kougioufa
Members: Tonia Dakou, Eleni Tzikou & Volunteers: Evropi Stavropoulou, Natasa Smyrli,Andrianna Avdi, Afroditi Ntrismpioti,Konstantia Stavrou, Lila Theologia Pitta, Marilena Karetta, Maria- Anna Vlachou,Myrto Vagianu Zarokosta,Stella Kolyvopoulou
Nina Alcalay, Theodora Thatcher, Alexia Margariti, Amanda Kougioufa, Adda Paizi, Elli Kita, Georgia Aroni, Shirley Mawer, Imke Fiedler, Julia Morozova, Vincenzo Puxeddu, Marcia Plevin, Richard Coaten, Rosa Maria Rodriguez, Suzi Tortora
CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS CLOSED
The conference aims to promote communication and diversification of ideas and practice between the Dance Movement Therapy community and other disciplines in order to learn and grow from mutual exchange.
The conference Scientific Committee invites the submission of research papers of excellent quality in all areas related to the sub-themes. Authors with original research are encouraged to submit contributions related to:
We invite DMT researchers and practitioners to present their work and enter into discussion and reflection with colleagues throughout the conference.
Authors are advised to ensure their contribution meets the criteria and guidelines below. All contributions will be submitted to a double-blind review for:
The committee will also take into consideration:
Acceptance for contribution in the programme and assignment to a session are determined solely by the Scientific Committee based on a review of the paper and its subject matter. Decisions of the Scientific Committee are final.
Submitting authors are required to ensure that all listed co-authors have reviewed the abstract, take responsibility for its content and agree with being listed as co-author.
Following the double-blind review, authors of accepted papers will be asked to submit their final version. The Scientific Committee will inform the authors about decision
Please note: by final version is meant – the same proposal, revised version with the names of the authors and corrections recommended by reviewers , NOT the final text of your presentation.
1) Oral Presentation – 20 minutes
The standard format for oral presentations are 20 minutes in length.
2) Poster Presentation – 10 minutes
Poster sessions give participants a chance to network with other delegates who may be interested in similar research or other disciplines.
Content: Title; Author(s); Introduction; Finalities and objectives; Description; Results; Discussion and Conclusions; References
The dimensions of a poster are as standard – 70 x 100 cm or A0 format 84.1 x 118.9 cm
3) Workshop Presentation – 60 to 90 minutes
A workshop is an intensive experiential session lasting 60 to 90 minutes led by an experienced practitioner.
Your proposal should be submitted at with the following:
Personal details (to specify)
Name / Surname / Address / Email / Phone contact / Profession /Place of work or study
Type of contribution
Oral / Poster /Workshop
Title of contribution
Abstract (150 words)
The proposal document in pdf-format should be attached with the following:
The title of contribution. the proposal will undergo double-blind review process, so the names of authors and the names of institutions should NOT be included in this document
Oral and Poster presentation proposals ( max. 800 words) must include: introduction, objectives, methodology, results, conclusions and references (no more than 5 in APA format). Remember that Poster presentation requires a synthesis, so avoid lengthy text and give more importance to graphics, drawings and/or tables to show your results.
Workshop proposals ( max. 800 words) must include: introduction, learning objectives, methodology, structure of the workshop and references. Maximum 5 recent publications or conferences.
Equipment needed: DVD player, amplifier and Iphone cable, Power-point facilities, materials for workshop.
Max. number of participants needed please.
You can register online by filling in one of these registration forms.
Individual Registration Form
Delegate/Deputy Delegate Registration Form
Presenter/Reviewer Registration Form
Student Registration Form
Group Registration Form
GADT Member Registration Form
Individual registration fees
Before June 1, 2018 – 200,00 €
From June 2 to July 30, 2018 – 220,00 €
From July 31, 2018 – 250,00 €
Registration fees for Groups at least 10 pp.(a 10% discount has been applied)
Per person before June 1, 2018 – 180,00 €
Per person from June 2 to July 30, 2018 – 198,00 €
Per person from July 31, 2018 – 225,00 €
Registration fees students (a 15% discount has been applied)
Before June 1, 2018 – 170,00 €
From June 2 to July 30, 2018 – 187,00 €
From July 31, 2018 – 212,00 €
Presenter/reviewer registration fees (a 15% discount has been applied)
Before June 1, 2018 – 170,00 €
From June 2 to July 30, 2018 – 187,00 €
From July 31, 2018 – 212,00 €
Registration fee Members GADT (a 15% discount has been applied)
Before June 1, 2018 – 170,00 €
From June 2, 2018 onwards – 187,00 €
DMT is defined by the European Association Dance Movement Therapy (EADMT) as ‘the therapeutic use of movement to further the emotional, cognitive, physical, spiritual and social integration of the individual.