Dance therapy and the public school: The development of social and emotional skills of high school students in Greece

Publication date: July 2018Source: The Arts in Psychotherapy, Volume 59Author(s): Efthimia PanagiotopoulouAbstractThe article stresses the significance of dance therapy in the school environment. It is based on a research conducted in two Greek public schools, although dance therapy is not yet used in the Greek education system. However, the revised school curriculum gives the opportunity for dance therapy practice. The aim of the research was to ascertain whether dance therapy could contribute to the development of the students’ social and emotional skills. The 23 participants were 16–17 years old and were divided in groups: the experimental group which consisted of 11 students and the control group which consisted of 12. Data showed that dance therapy practice enables students to develop their potential and overcome their personal difficulties. The research, both quantitative and qualitative, was conducted with the permission of the Ministry of Education, Research, and Religious Affairs, while both the students and their parents also gave their consent.
Source: Arts in Psychotherapy - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research