A Dancer`s Life
By: Leeanna Currie
Job Description
A dance therapist plans, organizes and leads dance and body movement activites to improve patients` mental outlooks and physical well-beings. They are always observing and evaluating the patients mental and physical diabilities to determine body and dance treatment. Also, dance therapists confer with patients and their medical personnal to develo dance therapy program. They conduct individual and group dance sessions to improve the patients mental and physical well-beings. However, they make changes in the patients program based on the progress the patient is producing. Finally, dance therapists atten and participates in professional conferences and workshops to enhance efficiency and knowledge.
Where can you get the education/experience?
Education:Dance therapists are required to have a Master`s degree, which means 2 years of graduate level aducation after completing a 4-year college degree. Some of the undergraduate edcations are a liberal arts background, plus extensive dance training and experience according to the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA).Experience:Dance therapists should be passionate about working with people of all ages and of course love dance. Also, all medical professionals, wanting to help others, heal the sick, and possessing the patience to deal with many different types of people with speical needs are key characteristics as well.
Salary
For a dance therapist the salart dependings on how many hours you work, how long you have been working and how many patients. The annual salary for a dance therapist is between the range of 50,000 and 70,000 dollars.
Famous Canadian in the dance therapy field
A famous Canadian that is involved in this field is Simona Orinkska. Simona Orinska lived in Ergli, Latvia. She was born on August 18, 1978. Simona is a private dance therapist under the supervision of Medicine Association. However, before Simona was a dance therapist she is a multidisciplinary artist. She is a contemporary dancer, poet, director and choreographer of many air projects. She is also the only butoh artist in Latvia. Now Simona is one of the members in the Board of Directiors of the Association.