University of Melbourne Workshops: Intro to dance therapy and drama therapy - Saturday July 15th

https://www.pacfa.org.au/Portal/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=EXTUNIM23&WebsiteKey=663df354-bb4c-40db-9f44-9f1e672224ed

A/Professor Drew Bird & Dr Ella Dumaresq will guide you through a range of creative exercises with an emphasis on health, wellbeing and social connectivity. Come and explore the therapeutic potential of movement, story, dance, and play and learn more about the Master of Creative Arts Therapies program. Workshops will be inclusive and accessible to all attendees (who must be at least 18 years of age).

Online webinar:Dance therapy in the justice system -Wednesday July 19th

https://www.anzacata.org/event-5286766

Ella discusses findings from her PhD research where she used dance movement therapy (DMT) to engage women navigating the criminal justice system in Victoria. As part of the study, participants were invited to offer feedback, which was analysed using reflexive and interpretative methods of ethnographic data generation. Three themes emerged through the data which were understood to reflect notions of fun, fitness, and relaxation in DMT. In this presentation Ella discusses the value of participatory research as a way of ‘learning with and from’ participants. Ella also articulates the beginnings of a theoretical perspective, described in her doctoral thesis as an “exercisePLUS” perspective: this conceptualisation of practice explores the value of physical fitness and exercise in DMT and connects these elements of practice to existing trauma discourse. It is hoped the ideas presented will contribute toward the further development of community-based research and practice within creative arts therapies.