Let’s Talk About: Dance/Movement Therapy with Erica Hornthal

Dance/movement therapy is the use of dance & movement to enhance the mind-body connection,. It helps you to be more aware of your body and enhances your connection with your inner-self. 

“The American Dance Therapy Association defines dance/movement therapy as the psycho-therapeutic use of movement to further the emotional, cognitive, physical and social integration of the individual.”

The American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) was founded in 1966 and it’s first president was Marian Chace who was the modern day pioneer of Dance Therapy, especially during the early 1900s. Today Dance Therapy is a licensed profession in the USA which is regulated by the ADTA. 

Today we have with us American dance therapist- Erica Hornthal who is a practicing Dance Therapist in Chicago, Illinois. Erica is a board-certified dance/movement therapist and licensed clinical professional counselor. She is the founder and CEO of Chicago Dance Therapy and creator of the Dance Therapy Advocates Summit. Her work primarily involves helping people heal through dance & movement. She has impacted many people through her work including people with Alzheimer’s, dementia & more. She has been featured a number of times on media & television as well! ( The Fox 32 Chicago news channel).

Today, we ask her few questions on Dance Therapy. Here they go!

Q. How did you venture into Dance Movement Therapy? Where did you learn about it first?

A. I learned about it in undergraduate school. I was taking Psychology 101 and was on the Dance Major track when a professor brought it to my attention. It married my two passions; dance and helping people. I started researching it online and never looked back.

Q. What are some of your best moments as a Dance Movement Therapist?

A. When you bring a client into his/her body and there is an “aha” moment…a light bulb switches on.  Something clicks and a new awareness is created that was not possible through words alone.

Q. What are some of your most challenging moments?

A. The misconceptions and assumptions made about dance/movement therapy.  It is frustrating that it is not always seen accurately and that its validity and legitimacy gets challenged. We have come a long way, but we still have much further to go.

Q. How do you personally use Dance Movement Therapy in your life?

A. I have learned to not only pay more attention to my body and how it is impacting my mental health, but also to challenge my own movement habits and patterns to increase my own resilience and emotional capacity.

Q. How could people use Dance Movement Therapy in their personal development journey?

A. Anytime you connect to your body, you have the ability to tap into your truest potential. Want to set goals, accomplish tasks, find meaning and purpose?  Start learning how to listen and connect to your body.

Q. How do you think that Dance Movement Therapy can make an impact in this World?

A. One word! Empathy.  The world is hurting right now and I believe that dance/movement therapy can have the most impact by teaching empathy through attunement, mirroring, and connection. When we connect more to the Self we are able to connect to others and our environment.

Q. As a Dance Movement Therapist, what is or could be your superpower to empower people (it can be completely fictional!)?

A. Teleportation.  I wish I could teleport to reach and meet more people in-person (post-pandemic of course.) No more standing in TSA lines at the airport!

Q. As an American Dance Therapist, are you satisfied with the progress your country has been making in the field of Dance Therapy? In which areas (if any) do you think that more work can be done?

A. Yes and no. I am excited about how far the field has come, but there is so much more that I believe needs to happen in terms of exposure, marketing, and visibility.  Also, we only represent the Western approach to DMT.  Our field needs to be collaborating with others somatic approaches as well as paying respect and tribute to indigenous traditions of dance for healing purposes.  There is a reason why so little is known about our field even after 60 years as a professionally recognized field. Things are changing and I am excited to be present for it.

Q. What would you like to say to people who are curious about Dance Movement Therapy and want to attend a Dance Movement Therapy Session?

A. Don’t let the word “dance” fool you.  You have a body and that means you have the greatest resource at your disposal for personal growth and development. I believe that some of the people who benefit the most from DMT are those with little to no body awareness.  It makes such a difference when we can reference the body.

Q. What advice would you give to aspiring Dance Therapists across the globe?

A. Don’t give up! If this is your destiny, then don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. If I hadn’t constantly thought out of the box or tried to push the mold I wouldn’t be in the position I am in today.

Interview By Manasi Anand (Physiotherapist & Dance Movement Therapist) 

We hope you enjoyed this interview with Erica. 

Here are her social media links:

Instagram: @the.therapist.who.moves.you, @chicago_dance_therapy, @dancetherapysummit

Websites: https://www.ericahornthal.com/

http://www.chicagodancetherapy.com/

Facebook: Erica Hornthal Dance Therapist