FORWARD

This book is about "How to..." but it's not about making money, the number one theme of most e-books. It 's about improving the Health and Wellbeing of your special needs child through Dance.

This manual is absolutely unique. It really is the only one of its kind! It is written to encourage and to help the parents and carers of children with special needs to set up their own Dance Movement therapy groups. No other professional Dance Movement therapist has suggested that this is possible.

Yes, I know - there are books on Dance Movement for the use of teachers in schools. But this is often using dance only to reinforce lesson work. This is a good thing but I offer MUCH more. It is also true that increasing numbers of dance schools welcome the child with special needs. Again this is a good thing but what is practiced is not necessarily Dance Movement Therapy. The dancing is usually geared towards the able-bodied ;majority with little or no adaptations for the child with special needs. The special needs children strive to reach often unobtainable standards. THIS DOES NOT ENCOURAGE THE CHILDREN TO ENJOY DANCE. My method is fun and totally in involves everyone in a relaxed atmosphere. This increases the children's feelings of self-worth and confidence to try new things. It is also good exercise which increases lung capacity, flexibility and improves posture.

Following my suggestions you can unlock the fountain of natural, joyous, spontaneous dance within your child. Movement which comes from deep within a person is a true expression of themselves. These movements truly express the person whois dancing and are never, ever ugly. Such dance strengthens the Mind,Body,Spirit connection. You will get to learn new things about your child and to deepen the bonds between you. You will be helping your child to realize his or her full potential. This manual has been written because I believe from the bottom of my heart that the parents of children with special needs can be taught to help their child through Dance Movement therapy.

Dance Movement therapy is gaining acceptance in general, but in many parts of the world is unobtainable, and in others expensive and hard to find. My suggestions can be made relevant to any culture in the world.

I hope that this manual will give you the confidence and know-how to start your own Dance Movement Therapy group.

STEP 1

HOW PARENTS CAN HELP THEIR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD USING DANCE MOVEMENT THERAPY

Now that I've told you something about myself I want to get right back to the purpose of this manual. I've already stated with total conviction that I think parents can become Dance Movement teachers to their children with special needs.Why do I believe this?Let me ask you some questions first:-

Do you desperately want to help your child who has special needs?

Are you looking for a method to calm/stimulate him or her?

Are you looking for a method to have a very deep level of communication with him or her?

Are you looking for ways to have fun and explore the potential of your child?

Are you looking for ways to help your child to integrate socially?

Are you looking for a way to improve your child's posture and co-ordination?

Are you looking for ways to give your child confidence and a feeling of self-worth?

If your answer to these questions is "Yes" then this manual is most definitely for you!

I really want to reassure you that you do NOT need to be a professionally trained dancer to be a successful Dance Movement Therapist. It is important though that you find enjoyment in dance. What is essential is to be able to recognize and understand the power od dance movement. To go from movement to dance is a smaller step than you might imagine. AND I intend to give you lots of tips as to how to do this.

Nearly all of us, even the most profoundly disabled, are often capable of a level of dance. You can dance using only your fingers and/or toes. All of us have an inbuilt ability to dance though clearly some people have greater talent than others.

ONE WORD OF WARNING! DO NOT EVER MANIPULATE A CHILD INTO A POSITION. These are not physiotherapy sessions, nor gymnastic sessions, nor formal dance lessons. These sessions are about self-expression through Dance Movement.

Also please be clear that Dance Movement Therapy is not necessarily going to be a cure in the medical sense but it can bring bout both physical and psychological improvement.

I implore you not to be frightened and put off by the idea of dance. You can move! I'll show you how to turn simple everyday movement into dance. Dance Movement Therapy is a wide ranging term and it can even lead into very physical games. Great emphasis is being laid on the fact that parents are capable of conducting Dance Movement sessions with their children who have special needs. This really is true in the main.You will take to Dance Movement therapy like a duck to water if:-

You are open to new ideas

You have confidence in yourself

You are sociable and outgoing

You are intuitive

You enjoy music

You enjoy physical activity

You do not expect results overnight

IF

You are very introverted

Other peoples opinions are paramount in your life

You are unable to be yourself

You have difficulty communicating your thoughts and feelings

You are uncomfortable with physical contact

You are very conservative in your outlook

You have difficulty being spontaneous

then you may find things a little more difficult at the beginning. Just because someone is not immediately brilliant at something does not mean that the person is not deriving benefit from what they are doing. -You will receive great personal benefit from the sessions.

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EXPERT REFERENCES

I highly recommend "Dance to Health" by Dzagbe Cudjoe especially for children with disabilities. She easily shows parents how to use simple movements to enjoyable music to help these children form appropriate brain connections. In particular, the vestibular, proprioceptive, visual, and auditory systems are significantly enhanced through dance movement therapy. Also, the interaction between the parent and the child and between a group and the child during dance improves social and communication skills. "Dance to Health" is a necessary asset for anyone interested in a fun yet effective therapy for pediatric disabilities.

Valerie L. Richey, MD, ND The Healthy Path, LLCwww.The-Healthy-Path.orgwww.Autism-in-the-Christian-Home.com

Dr Judith Lynne Hanna Senior Research Scholar at the University of Maryland writes: "To dance is human and through history humans have used dance to communicate, to heal, to enjoy. Cudjoe's manual for parents to help their children through dance is a welcome gift to be cherished and used. Trying Dance Movement Therapy at home or forming groups that meet outside is feasible for any parent. Dance Movement experience is not needed. Cudjoe's rich experience and sensitivity in working with children with special needs shines throughout the valuable manual. As she explains the benefits of dance movement therapy and guides the reader, she wisely urges individualizing dance movement activity to fit one's child's own situation".

Judith Lynne Hanna, Ph.D. is author of Dancing for Health: Conquering and Preventing Stress (AltaMira Press,2006) and Partnering Dance and Education (Human Kinetics Press, 1999) as well as other books and hundreds of articles. She was keynote speaker at the American Dance Therapy Association Meeting and serves on its journal's editorial board.

HERE'S WHAT ONE OF THE TEACHERS AT A SCHOOL WHERE I TAUGHT DANCE MOVEMENT HAS WRITTEN:-

"The group taking part in Mrs Cudjoe-Calvocoressi's sessions was of very mixed ability - ranging from wheelchair bound PMLD pupils and children with behaviour difficulties to much more able, mobile pupils. All of them gained a great deal from the sessions, enjoying being involved, with many of them gradually moving well to the music; and improvising for themselves. They looked forward to Mrs Cudjoe-Calvocoressi's visits and these sessions led to further work in art from some of them. They also enjoyed being involved in making a video of the dancing.

I, personally, thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the sessions - finding them an enjoyable means of exercising, therapeutic and creative; as well as a good learning experience."

WENDY SAWYERS, HEAD of UNIT, CHESTNUT LODGE, RADSTOCK, ENGLAND