Dance Into the Unknown. a Heuristic Inquiry

Dance into the unknown. A heuristic inquiry. Jane Christophers A dissertation submitted to Auckland University of Technology in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Psychotherapy Department of Psychotherapy Auckland University of Technology Supervisor: Dr Margot Solomon 2019 i Table of Contents Table of Contents ............................................................................................................... i List of Figures .................................................................................................................. iii Attestation of authorship .................................................................................................. iv Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... v Abstract ............................................................................................................................ vi Chapter One: Introduction................................................................................................. 1 Dancing in the bush .................................................................................................................. 1 Salire – To leap ......................................................................................................................... 2 Dance and movement ................................................................................................................ 2 5Rhythms dance – Inviting spirit .............................................................................................. 2 Psychotherapy training – Inner tensions ................................................................................... 3 Mind-body split ......................................................................................................................... 4 Open Floor dance – Presence and embodiment ........................................................................ 4 My question .............................................................................................................................. 5 Aim of the study ........................................................................................................................ 5 Significance of the study ........................................................................................................... 5 Overview ................................................................................................................................... 6 Chapter Two: Methodology and Method .......................................................................... 7 Heuristic methodology .............................................................................................................. 7 Philosophical foundations ......................................................................................................... 7 Heuristic concepts, psychotherapy, and dance .......................................................................... 9 The exploration process – Rhythms and cycles ...................................................................... 10 Initial engagement ................................................................................................................... 11 Immersion ............................................................................................................................... 11 Incubation ............................................................................................................................... 13 Illumination ............................................................................................................................. 14 Explication .............................................................................................................................. 15 Creative synthesis ................................................................................................................... 16 Validity and limitations ........................................................................................................... 16 Summary ................................................................................................................................. 18 Chapter Three: Literature View ...................................................................................... 19 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 19 Dance, movement, and history ................................................................................................ 19 Dance/movement as a body process ....................................................................................... 21 Dance/movement as a developmental process ........................................................................ 23 Dance/movement as a creative process ................................................................................... 25 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 26 Chapter Four: My Journey – Dance into the unknown ................................................... 28 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 28 Stepping out of the closet ........................................................................................................ 28 Moving and not moving .......................................................................................................... 30 Making space for myself ......................................................................................................... 32 Leaps and bounds .................................................................................................................... 34 Here I am................................................................................................................................. 37 Meeting my edges ................................................................................................................... 40 I am not an island .................................................................................................................... 43 ii Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 45 Chapter Five: Discussion ................................................................................................ 46 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 46 Summary of findings ............................................................................................................... 46 Movement, shame and oppression .......................................................................................... 47 Movement and the mind-body ................................................................................................ 48 Movement, the unconscious and early experience .................................................................. 50 Movement, creativity, and play ............................................................................................... 52 General implications for psychotherapy ................................................................................. 54 Limitations .............................................................................................................................. 55 Future research ........................................................................................................................ 57 Conclusion and creative synthesis .......................................................................................... 58 References ...................................................................................................................... 60 iii List of Figures Figure 1: Good girl .......................................................................................................... 2 8 Figure 2: Shame .............................................................................................................. 2 9 Figure 3. Caged dancer ................................................................................................... 31 Figure 4: Expansion ........................................................................................................ 34 Figure 5: Bird woman ..................................................................................................... 35 Figure 6: Lump in my throat ........................................................................................... 38 Figure 7: Distress ............................................................................................................ 40 Figure 8. Trust ................................................................................................................. 59 iv Attestation of authorship I hereby declare that this submission is my own work, and that to the best of my knowledge and belief it contains no material previously published or written by another person (except where explicitly defined in the acknowledgements), nor material which, to a substantial extent, has been submitted for the award of any other degree or diploma of a university or other institution

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