Is it Expensive to Integrate Dance Therapy into School Systems?

Many people believe that it would be expensive to integrate dance therapy into special education programs. However, creative dance movement techniques can be taught to teachers. Colla J. Mac Donald’s article “Creative Dance in Elementary Schools: A Theoretical and Practical Justification” discussed the effect of six creative dance workshops on the attitudes of elementary school teachers and their practice of creative dance. The study showed that when all eight teachers integrated creative dance into their classrooms after the workshops, both students and teachers enjoyed class time much more (Mac Donald). While many believe that school time should focus more on the content that needs to be learned instead of creative dance, dance is a method that teachers can use to impart content and is one that children enjoy. It is a way for teachers to get children to interact with each other and to be enthusiastic about what they are learning. In essence, the children are learning the material being taught better with dance movement than they would sitting at a desk.