Dance/Movement Therapy and Violence Prevention in Schools and Communities

Nancy Beardall, PhD, BC-DMT, LMHC, CMA, is associate professor, Distinguished Faculty at Lesley University and former director of the DMT program. Dr. Beardall’s school-based work has focused on wellness and violence prevention programs and has been the recipient of grants and awards.Wendy Allen, PhD, BC-DMT, LPC, is associate professor and director of Dance/Movement Therapy at Lesley University, Dr. Allen led an arts-based program for marginalized youth and co-created the “Pathways to Self-Discovery” curriculum with Project Self Discovery and Cleo Parker Robinson Dance.Nalini Prakash, PhD, BC-DMT, CMA, is director of the Dance/Movement Therapy and Counselling program at Drexel University. Her clinical expertise in forensic mental health and social justice-oriented research earned her the National Endowment for the Arts and Marian Chace Foundation grants for her dissertation, including Drexel’s Outstanding Dissertation Award.

"Dance/movement therapy today is advancing new ways of addressing widespread traumatic distress in myriad ways. This timely new anthology, examining a range of pivotal issues related to violence and its prevention and healing in schools and other community settings, should help awaken the reader to a breadth of relevant, replicable approaches for embodying justice and peace."David Alan Harris, BC-DMT, formerly an American Journal of Dance Therapy co-editor, has devoted his DMT career to fostering recovery among survivors of war and organized violence."This book is an important step in understanding what dance movement therapy can do to strengthen our school communities. I've seen the power of these ideas in action, they are life-changing and healing."Albert Cho High school history and social science teacher, former co-advisor to Mentors in Violence Prevention "This book provides so much insight, wisdom and perspective on what can be done to prevent violence, support resilience, and foster cultural responsiveness. I am grateful for this body of work and look forward to seeing these strategies implemented in homes, schools, and communities."Cdr Laurie Jones, USPHS (Ret), R-DMT"I’m so enthusiastic to use this book as a valuable resource and guide, highlighting the in-depth knowledge of each of the contributor’s innovative and diverse Dance/Movement Therapy and Violence Prevention approaches within schools and communities. The strength of this book draws on the decades and long-lasting impact of their foundational Dance/Movement Therapy work in violence prevention providing highly relevant and practical embodied cultural relational tools for mental health counselors, educators, art therapies, and community leaders."Lynn Koshland, MA, BC-DMT, LCSW, MALS, Creator of: PEACE through Dance/Movement Therapy Prevention Program in elementary schools"This book is a timely and powerful resource that addresses the urgent need for healing, inclusion, and safety for youth in today’s divided world. The importance of keeping our youth safe by teaching them conflict resolution techniques is always paramount, but it has never been as necessary as now. The books’ practical, body-based strategies for anyone committed to creating peaceful and connected communities for children and adolescents are essential in today’s world. It should be required reading for all educators, therapists, and community leaders."Catriona Baker is an associate professor of animation at Lesley University"Wise, grounded, and inspiring, this collection shows how dance/movement therapy can turn conflict into collaboration—bringing together diverse voices, practical strategies with a rare mix of rigor and heart! Courageous, caring, and restorative, it meets the urgency of our moment with proven, body-based tools that honor students’ identities, strengthen school climate, and offer hope. A true treasure; highly recommended!"Tina Stromsted, PhD, MFT, BC-DMT, SEP, Jungian analyst, Dance/Movement psychotherapist, and author of Soul’s Body: Active Imagination, Authentic Movement, and Embodiment in Psychotherapy"This new work is a remarkable resource to guide and help integrate mind, heart, body, group, and cultural identity toward understanding and progressing together. In our demanding time, this book offers insight in guiding our capacities toward constructive mutual understanding, care, collaboration and eventually peace in ourselves and our many communities. We need it now."Malcolm L. Astley, Ed.D, Lauren Dunn Astley Memorial Fund promoting healthy relationships, the arts and community service

• 1. Embodied Violence Prevention and Peaceable Schools 2. Talk 2 the Hand, Conflict Resolution Process 3. Harmonizing Communities: Exploring the Impact of Dance/Movement Therapy on Empathy and School Violence in Ethnic Bullying 4. I See You, I Lead You: Modeling a Trauma-Informed Approach to Transformational Leadership and Followership in Elementary Schools through Creativity and Dance/Movement Therapy Approaches 5. Disarming the Playground: Violence Prevention through Movement Using the Body as well as the Mind to Create Peace 6. One Body to Another: Cultivating Victim Empathy with Incarcerated Youth 7. Living Legacies: A Concise History of Native American Peoples and U.S. Indian Policy for School-Based Mental-Health Practitioners 8. Movement, Heartbeat, and Story: Culture-Centered Pathways to Violence Prevention in Indigenous School Communities 9. Leading with the Heart: Grief Work in the Schools and in the Community 10. Unlocking Ubuntu, the Arts, and Violence Prevention in Education