My Embodied Bicultural Experience and Dance/Movement Therapy
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Authors
Perez, Anisabel
Issue Date
2021-05-01
Type
thesis_open
Language
Keywords
Bi-cultural , dance/movement therapy , empathy , emotions , Nicaragua , Anisabel , Arts and Humanities
Dance
Dance Movement Therapy
Ethnic Studies
Indigenous Studies
Latina/o Studies
Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies
Alternative Title
Dance/Movement Therapy Theses
Abstract
Culture is in the everyday. It is embodied in the way people walk, sit, stand, eat, wash, breathe, and otherwise comport their bodies as they go through daily life (Cohen & Leung, 2009). Culture is multifaceted and embedded and embodied within identity. Ignoring emotions and body signals is detrimental to mental and physical health. It is possible for an individual to have a sense of belonging in two cultures without compromising their sense of cultural identity (Kim, 2002). Biculturalism allows culture to be a choice rather than something that requires purging old practices and beliefs from the self for individuals to survive (Kim, 2002). Verheggen and Voestermans (2013) offered that integration of another’s culture is achieved by embodied engagement rather than by mere instruction. However, there are limitations that need to be addressed such as inherent biases. Not attending to subconscious and inherent biases, endangers the ability to have empathy, and to be in authentic relationship with others, and has implications for the dance/movement therapist’s multicultural competency in dance/movement therapy as well. This thesis explores the embodied experience of being bi-cultural and how that experience could inform the practice of DMT to better meet the possible needs of bi-cultural clients.
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