Biodanza experience PDF

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Summary

This unit aims to explore critical and cultural responses to traumatic experience and death across a range of media or texts from print and broadcast journalism to filmic and literary representation. The unit will focus on how trauma is interpreted, recorded, represented, constructed and produced ac...

Description

My first Biodanza experience Biodanza is a system of personal transformation that uses music, dance and the power of the group. The word Biodanza literally means to dance with life. It seeks to promote the ability to make a holistic link from one’s mind to body. Biodanza was created by Rolando Toro-Araneda in the 1960s, a clinical psychologist from Chile, to help people who were experiencing mental health problems such as depression. When I first arrived at the Student Hall for our Biodanza session, I had no idea what was in store for us. I had never really danced in my life (my drunken attempts do not count), nor had I ever let my body move to its own rhythm, as I would have not known how to hear it. I live very much in my head and have not really ever lived through my body – so I was quite intrigued to see what would happen. After a warm greeting from Ann, Sam and Mila, we immediately got to work as Bob Marley’s Three Little Bird’s burst throughout the room – we all held hands and let the music move our bodies whilst we skipped around simultaneously. Although I felt a little out of my comfort zone at first, I felt very welcomed by everyone and immediately felt as though I was in a safe place once the music started playing and everyone was able to move and dance within the group. With Biodanza, I felt the ground under my feet and the self-security which being grounded brought; the lightness and fluidity in my movement; the fire which burned inside me and gave me passion. I became aware of my sensitivity in relation to others in the dance of Biodanza, and experienced showing care to others and being cared for. Once we had performed a few different Biodanza techniques, such as an activity where we used our hands cover our faces and eventually tore them away, it begun to give me a greater understanding of how someone who may be traumatised would feel. Trauma can be dealt with in many different ways, and dance can help to alleviate these feelings by making us hyper aware of our body or through disassociation. Another activity I was pleasantly surprised with was the closing activity where we were encouraged to connect with others as we’d like – I gave and received a few hugs which was wonderful! Usually I would feel quite uncomfortable in embracing people that I am not too familiar with; however, it was nice to overcome this. Biodanza is an opportunity to express and fulfil your potential, and presents a journey towards health, happiness and pleasure in being alive and towards fundamental well-being. I left the session feeling very happy, content and free, and I would consider partaking in it again....