Dance class to interpret feelings

The study of dance/movement therapy, which uses nonverbal communication, creativity and movement to explore relationships and feelings, will be available next semester.

The course, Introduction to Dance Movement Therapy, will examine a creative form of psychotherapy to help people regain a sense of wholeness, according to Rena Kornblum, who will teach the course in the Dance Program, which hasn’t offered the course since the early 1990s.

Kornblum, a leading expert in dance therapy and violence prevention, will base the course in part on her soon-to-be released book, “Disarming the Playground, Violence Prevention through Movement” (Wood ‘n Barnes). Drawing upon her experience working with children and families dealing with autism, learning disabilities, emotional problems, abuse and more, Kornblum will introduce students to the use of movement in violence prevention, behavior management and the development of social skills. She says the class will be geared toward increasing awareness of the nonverbal aspects of human communication, an area that educators on all levels often overlook.

“While students are taught the rules of grammar, math and science all the way through their schooling, people in our society are left on their own to learn how to read non-verbal cues and how they themselves communicate without words,” she says. “Yet approximately 80 percent of our relationships, whether personal or professional, are determined by body language. This course will offer university students a chance to explore nonverbal communication and how it relates to emotion, relationships and violence prevention. It also will introduce a field, dance/movement therapy, that offers exciting career possibilities.”

Kornblum says she views the course as an opportunity to help people who are generally healthy as well as those dealing with emotional, mental or physical problems. She says that the class — and the practice of dance therapy — should appeal to students in teaching, social work, communication disorders, physical and occupational therapies, and psychology, as well as dance and kinesiology.

Students will learn through lectures, videos and personal movement experiences. Guest speakers from the Hancock Center for Movement Arts and Therapies will introduce students to working with other populations. Students will be able to observe and participate in therapy sessions in Madison public schools.