Dance As A Healing Technology
Beyond art and entertainment, dance is a form of technology, a system for healing, regulating emotions, and connecting the mind and body.
In my personal journey, dance has been many things. As a child, it was my playtime and hobby. I started with ballet classes and it was one of the few social settings my overprotective immigrant mother felt comfortable leaving me at. I really enjoyed it, asking my mom to enroll me next in jazz class and then tap and then eventually all three. As I grew more serious, attending dance classes multiple times a week and rehearsing for competitions, it became my teacher, my social life, my network, and my community. During difficult times, dance was my escape and my sanctuary. Now, it continues to be my medicine, a source of strength, release, and therapy, a constant companion I can always turn to. Through dance, I connect with everything and everyone around me.
When we dance, we activate the nervous system, release stagnant energy, and tap into something primal. Rhythmic movement regulates the heartbeat, deepens the breath, and shifts brain waves, much like meditation. Dance reduces stress hormones like cortisol while increasing serotonin and dopamine, enhancing mood, cognitive function, and overall well-being. Rooted in ancient wisdom, dance is a form of energy work, aligning our body’s rhythms with those of the earth, the music, and the people around us.
Dance is my art and passion. Even when my career didn’t directly involve dance, I continued to lean on the skills and discipline it instilled in me: strength, artistic and cultural awareness, versatility, adaptability, and teamwork.
Beyond its physiological benefits, dance is also storytelling and alchemy. It helps us process grief, express joy, reclaim agency over our bodies, and connect with others beyond words. It’s no wonder that somatic movement therapy has gained popularity alongside ecstatic dance gatherings. Social dance fosters a sense of belonging. Ecstatic dance and free movement provide a space to release emotions that cannot always be spoken. In this way, dance serves as a bridge between self and community, body and spirit, movement and meaning.
In a world that often disconnects us from our physical selves, dance brings us back. Whether in a club, a studio, a festival, or a quiet moment alone, movement is a portal. It reminds us that healing isn’t always found in stillness but in motion.
How has dance been a healing technology in your life?
Let’s keep moving, feeling, and transforming through dance.