Template:Primarysources Biodanza is a form of dance claimed to have therapeutic value.

Form of Therapy

Participants dance for many hours to music^[1]. There is no set form for the dance. During the dance participants dance alone and also pair up and touch each other.^[2][3] Sessions take place clothed, in swimming costumes (aqua-biodanza) and naked^[4]. Touching all other participants is the main feature of this form of dance.^[5][6]

History

The system was developed in the 1960s by an anthropologist in Chile, Professor Rolando Toro, and there are now schools for teachers all over the world, with regular congresses in Europe and South America.^[7]

Theory

The London Biodanza site says: "The dances connect us with our deepest self, connect us with others, tap into our vital energies, re-awaken our instincts, integrate our yin and yang energies, and give expression to our naturally warm, playful and joyful selves. There are no steps to learn, the movements are very simple and no one has to go beyond their capabilities."^[7]

Training to become a Biodanza practitioner

Anyone can become a biodanza facilitator. Essentially, one must acquire a certain amount of 'flying time' - hundreds of hours of attendance at Biodanza courses proving that it is being taken seriously. It is impossible to fail these courses, other than by laughing and not taking it seriously.

There are seven key skills of a Biodanza Facilitator. These are:

  1. Understanding the theory and methodology of Biodanza and its application
  2. Your own ability to experience vivencia
  3. Your ability to “become the dance” and demonstrate the exercise
  4. Your poetic enunciation (or introduction) of each exercise with imagery, a word, poetry etc.
  5. Your choice of music and understanding of how a piece of music might impact on a group process
  6. Your design of a class on the correct gradient and sequence for the group participants
  7. Your observation and reading of the group and individual reactions to your enunciations, the exercises, the music and the class as a whole.

The Methodology weekends are essential to develop the practical skills to facilitate Biodanza workshops successfully. In these modules, the student learns the basics to design classes from short introductory classes to weekend workshops.

The entry criteria for the Facilitator Training Course are:

   * Completion of the Personal Development Course
   * To demonstrate personal improvement in their lives as a result of the Personal Development Course
   * A clear indication of how and where they wish to expand Biodanza within their lives or communities
   * Regular attendance at a weekly class of Biodanza where such a group is available in their area and a letter of support from their weekly facilitator
   * 80% pass rate on a multiple choice questionnaire based on the theoretical material covered in the Personal Development Course and
   * To undertake an evaluation by the Director of the School of their dance and movement according to the Evaluation Criteria of Movement of Biodanza. [8]

Cult Status

Biodanza is a branded therapy rather than a cult. It does not take the form of a cult^[9], because it does not exercise mind control. However, participants pay the facilitator for the sessions and there are no records of anyone reaching the end of a course of therapy.

References

External links