Dancing has been a means of expression for so long, with hundreds of distinct styles. There are numerous reasons to dance: to celebrate special occasions, to express our emotions, or simply to have fun. Dancing has several advantages beyond being a pleasant pastime – it also helps you stay in shape. As such, dancing becomes a very tempting activity to do because of its benefits.
However, that is not all. Raising awareness about important topics such as mental health is also a reason that dance is such a critical part of self-expression to individuals. What better way to bring people together and spread awareness about the stigma surrounding mental health and borderline personality disorder?
Dance Drama Productions
Recently, in the United Arab Emirates, a talented group of individuals took a traditional and classical Indian dance form called Kathak and performed a phenomenal production about de-stigmatizing mental health through exploring the complexities of borderline personality disorder.
The performance of Anekā – Identities Dancing Within was a revolutionary product of very talented women that took to the stage to raise awareness about mental health through dance. While there is evidence that the physical movement of dance produces positive mental health effects, there is also evidence to prove that dancing with others helps you feel a sense of connectedness, often leading to an increase in social activity.
That is exactly what this dance drama production achieved as it brought together a community that did not need to understand the complexity of the dance form because instead, they could appreciate the message being conveyed by the performers. This was a critical milestone as mental health was being openly discussed with a large audience present, hence raising awareness through the theatre community in the United Arab Emirates.
Never did I think that, one day, dance could be just as much a part of our voices as much as our vocal chords are. Nor did I imagine that dance would become one of the ways people could share their experiences about having very personal and deep struggles with mental health.
Dance Activism
Dance routines can often have storylines and messages. Dancing stirs up emotions, so this makes the dance stage a perfect place to bring the experiences of people into the forefront. Often, the stage is a place where performers take on the special duty of being the voice for those who do not have one or had their voice taken away from them.
Teaching dances from different cultures can also be a great way to encourage empathy for people that are not like ourselves. This is because dance can provide insight into the struggles, celebrations, and everyday life of a group of people. When we physically embody the everyday experience of someone, it can be easier to understand that person and maybe even relate to them. Therefore, dance is a quintessential example of awareness that can be raised for important mental health issues while bringing a community together.