Date of Award
8-10-2018
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Art in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling (MA)
Department
Creative Arts Therapies
First Advisor
Susan Imus
Second Advisor
Laura Downey
Third Advisor
Aisha Bell
Keywords
dance movement therapy, dance, identity, case record review
Abstract
This thesis is a self-reflective exploration of an ongoing investigation into my professional identity development using a case record review. The purpose of this review was to gain a better understanding of how my knowledge of dance/movement therapy influenced my facilitation of a dance class for students with special needs. This process took place through the teaching of a community dance class for students with special needs called Friday Night Dance Party (FNDP). This review utilized historical data in the form of a reflection sheet, art making, and stream of consciousness journaling completed after each class. Upon the completion of data collection, theme analysis resulted in the following themes: staying grounded within my own body through the use of breath, offering flexible class structure with choice in the dance classroom, use of my informed intuition, and improvisation. A dance performance illustrating my use of the frameworks of dance/movement therapy and dance education, in the creation of a dance class for special needs students was presented at the Columbia College Chicago Department of Creative Arts Therapies’ Annual Student and Faculty Benefit Concert in July 2017. 77 pages.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Shrewsbury, Shauna D., "Many Truths: A Case Record Review of How Teaching a Dance Class for Students with Special Needs Shaped My Professional Identity" (2018). Creative Arts Therapies Theses. 107.
https://digitalcommons.colum.edu/theses_dmt/107