JOY IN MOVEMENT: POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY & DANCE

    FREE WORKSHOP PRESENTED AS PART OF SCOTIABANK DANCE CENTRE OPEN HOUSE 2019 ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2019   

This workshop focused on how we dance before we even make the first move – what we believe about dance, what we think about our bodies moving through space. Participants were be guided through exercises aimed at connecting with dance from a body-positive framework of curiosity, expression, and joy. Exercises included self-reflection activities, dance improvisation, and structured movement exercises, integrating a mindfulness-focused approach to physical sensations, thoughts, and emotions. Facilitators: Dr. Alina Sotskova (psychologist and Artistic Director); Rachael Prince (dance artist and educator, former Ballet BC dancer). We had almost 40 participants! Thank you to all who came to the workshop – we look forward to doing more workshops like this in the future.

We plan to develop more workshops like this that integrate psychology and dance to create a developing confidence in movement and dance, supportive atmosphere in a dance space, joy-based sharing of dance and movement practices, and more! This is part of Voirelia’s Dancing with a Healthy Mindset initiative – a community program for raising awareness about mental health in dance, and a program that brings psychological, evidence-supported tools to dance practices with the goal of making dance safe, fun, and a vehicle for human connection.

Some photos from the workshop:

 

More about the Open House here: https://www.thedancecentre.ca/events/current_season

Note: this workshop did not provide counselling or psychotherapy services. Rather, the workshop uses principles of positive psychology and dance education to encourage participants to connect to fulfilling dance experiences. 

 

About the facilitators: This workshop was co-facilitated by Alina Sotskova and Rachael Prince. Dr. Alina Sotskova is a Psychologist and Artistic Director, Choreographer, and Dancer with Voirelia: Dance, Psychology, and Philosophy Hub. Rachael Prince is a Dance Artist and Dance Educator. After 12 years of working as a Dance Artist with Ballet BC, Rachael is working on new endeavors as a dance professional and has a taught and mentored dancers in many different settings.

 

Our facilitators and other Dancing with a Healthy Mindset team members enjoying the positive vibes and dancing after the workshop: