Multicultural Dance Therapy as a tool for Inclusion, Diversity, Mental and Physical Health (MULTIDAT)
ERASMUS+
KA210-ADU - Small-scale partnerships in adult education
Project title: Multicultural Dance Therapy as a tool for Inclusion, Diversity, Mental and Physical Health (MULTIDAT)
National Agency: Nationale Agentur Bildung für Europa beim Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung
Project code: 2021-2-DE02-KA210-ADU-000050730
Participating organisations: THEATER SCHIESSBÜHNE e.V. (Germany), EN ARMONIA (Greece), ASSOCIATION ACT’DEM (France)
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT
Stress and lack or limited self-esteem, lack of self-confidence, cultural differences and economic barriers cause negative emotions and affect the mental and physical health of adults, particularly adults with fewer opportunities, most of them having difficulties with cultural inclusion and adaptation.
According to the adult education literature, emotions play an integral role in our way of understanding the world, occur at all stages of any learning process and influence the way we learn to a considerable extent.
Art-based experience fosters critical and creative learning which offers to the learners the possibility to be aware of issues which may not be easily comprehended through rational argumentation.
This project aims to provide to adult trainers in psychology (psychotherapy, dance therapy) and in art and culture (dance and theatre) an art-based tool which will help the adult learners to become familiar with different cultures, reduce xenophobia, develop fairness and respect for inclusion and diversity, as well as advance their mental and physical health.
More specifically, a methodology has been created, which includes circular dance movements stemming from traditional and popular dances from all over the world with an emphasis on African, middle-Eastern and South European dances which use circular dance elements often. A lot of psychotherapists and dance therapists have referred to circular dance elements as a therapeutic tool for physical and psychological health. A lot of ancient religions have used circular dance elements for meditation, prayer and therapy. This multicultural art training tool will be used by adult trainers in psychology (psychotherapy, dance therapy) and in art and culture (dance and theatre) in order to help their trainees through the emotions and feelings arising from the learning process to advance their mental and physical health and to become familiar with different cultures, reduce xenophobia and develop fairness and respect for inclusion and diversity.
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT
The objectives of the project were:
- to enhance the ability of adult trainers in art, culture and psychology to develop tolerance, mutual understanding and respect for inclusion and diversity to adult learners, including those with fewer opportunities, by using multicultural art-based methods,
- to enhance the ability of adult trainers in art, culture and psychology to help adult learners, including those with fewer opportunities, to become familiar with different cultures, reduce xenophobia, develop respect for inclusion and diversity and live a psychologically and physiologically healthy life by using as a training tool a multicultural dance therapy methodology.
- to enhance the access of open source art training tools to adult trainers and learners, including those with fewer opportunities, thus reducing disparities and promoting social inclusion.
- to promote equal opportunities and access, inclusion, diversity and fairness across all the stages of the project by involving participants with fewer opportunities in the implementation of the project,
- to reinforce cooperation with partners from other countries,
- to develop environmental consciousness by designing the project activities through an environmentally friendly approach.
OUTCOMES OF THE PROJECT
The outcomes of the project were:
- Providing an art-based training method to adult trainers in art, culture and psychology in order to address the need of adult learners, including those with fewer opportunities, to develop tolerance, mutual understanding and respect for inclusion and diversity.
- Improvement of the capacity of adult trainers in art, culture and psychology to train adults, including adults with fewer opportunities, by using the borderless language of a multicultural dance therapy methodology.
- Promotion of access of open source art training tools to adult trainers and learners, including those with fewer opportunities.
- Promotion of equal opportunities and access, inclusion, diversity and fairness by involving participants with fewer opportunities in the implementation of the project.
- Enhancement of the capacity and professionalism to work at EU level.
- Development of environmental consciousness by designing the project activities through an environmentally friendly approach.
ACTIVITIES OF THE PROJECT
The training activities which were organised during the implementation of the MULTIDAT project are the following:
TA1: Staff training activity
Paris, France, 19/05/2022 – 23/05/2022
Participants: 2 trainers from each participating organisation
The staff training activity TA1 was organised by ACT’DEM in Paris. Two trainers from each partner participated for 5 days.
Before this activity, the three partners did research on traditional and popular dances from all over the world which use circular dance movements. In this research, emphasis was given on African, Latin American, Middle-Eastern and South European dances which use circular dance elements often.
In the end of this research, each partner created a choreography including circular dance movements stemming from these traditional and popular dances.
In this staff training activity (TA1), the staff of the partners trained each other by demonstrating the choreographies that they had created.
After selecting the most interesting circular movements, the partners created a multicultural dance methodology which includes the selected circular dance movements.
This methodology became a training tool which will be used by adult trainers in psychology (psychotherapy, dance therapy) and in art and culture (dance and theatre) in order to help their trainees, through the emotions and feelings arising from the learning process, to advance their mental and physical health and to become familiar with different cultures, reduce xenophobia and develop fairness and respect for inclusion and diversity.
The results of this activity were:
- enhancement of the ability of adult trainers in art, culture and psychology to develop tolerance, mutual understanding and respect for inclusion and diversity to adult learners, including those with fewer opportunities, by using multicultural art-based methods,
- enhancement of the ability of adult trainers in art, culture and psychology to help adult learners, including those with fewer opportunities, to become familiar with different cultures, reduce xenophobia, develop respect for inclusion and diversity and live a psychologically and physiologically healthy life by using as a training tool a multicultural dance therapy methodology,
- enhancement of the access of open source art training tools to adult trainers and learners, including those with fewer opportunities, thus reducing disparities and promoting social inclusion,
- reinforcement of cooperation with partners from other countries.
Pictures from this activity:
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TA2: Blended training activity
Skiathos, Greece, 10/08/2022 – 19/08/2022
Participants: 24 adult trainers in art, culture and psychology (including 12 with fewer opportunities and 6 staff members (2 from each participating organisation)
In this activity, 24 adult trainers in art, culture and psychology (including 12 with fewer opportunities) and 6 staff members (2 from each partner) participated for 10 days. The 24 adult trainers were selected by an open call. Eight (8) were selected by EN ARMONIA (including 4 with fewer opportunities), 8 by THEATER SCHIESSBÜHNE (including 4 with fewer opportunities) and 8 by ASSOCIATION ACT’DEM (including 4 with fewer opportunities).
The criteria for the selection of the 24 adult trainers were the following:
- to be adult trainers in art, culture and psychology,
- expression of interest in training adults, including adults with fewer opportunities, to become familiar with different cultures and develop fairness and respect for inclusion and diversity,
- good communication in English,
- permission to travel around Europe,
- interest in sharing and promoting the results of the project,
- gender balance.
The results of this activity were:
- enhancement of the ability of adult trainers in art, culture and psychology to develop tolerance, mutual understanding and respect for inclusion and diversity to adult learners, including those with fewer opportunities, by using multicultural art-based methods,
- enhancement of the ability of adult trainers in art, culture and psychology to help adult learners, including those with fewer opportunities, to become familiar with different cultures, reduce xenophobia, develop respect for inclusion and diversity and live a psychologically and physiologically healthy life by using as a training tool a multicultural dance therapy methodology,
- enhancement of the access of open source art training tools to adult trainers and learners, including those with fewer opportunities, thus reducing disparities and promoting social inclusion,
- promotion of equal opportunities and access, inclusion, diversity and fairness during this activity by involving participants with fewer opportunities in the implementation of this activity,
- reinforced cooperation with partners from other countries,
- development of environmental consciousness by designing the project activities through an environmentally friendly approach.
Pictures from this activity:
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A video from this activity:
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TA3: Sharing and promotion conference
Düsseldorf, Germany, 28/01/2023
Conference lecturers: staff members from THEATER SCHIESSBÜHNE
Participants: adult trainers in art, culture and psychology, including those with fewer opportunities, representatives of EN ARMONIA and ASSOCIATION ACT’DEM, representatives of German, Greek and French cultural and humanistic organisations
Activity TA3 was a sharing and promotion conference, organised by THEATER SCHIESSBÜHNE in Düsseldorf for one day. In this activity, staff members of THEATER SCHIESSBÜHNE were conference lecturers. Representatives of EN ARMONIA and ACT’DEM participated in this conference.
During the preparation phase of this conference, promotional material was created and distributed to the target group of this activity.
THEATER SCHIESSBÜHNE rented an appropriately equipped place and was responsible for the promotion of the conference. Sustainable practices were adopted.
This conference included:
- lectures,
- open discussions,
- presentations of the project results,
- evaluation of the project results and of the impact on the target group participating in the activity through questionnaires.
In this conference, adult trainers in art, culture and psychology, including those with fewer opportunities, and representatives from national and international cultural and humanistic organisations who had shown interest in the content and results of the project were invited.
Through lectures, open discussions and presentations, the results of this sharing and promotion activity were the following:
- enhancement of the ability of adult trainers in art, culture and psychology to develop tolerance, mutual understanding and respect for inclusion and diversity to adult learners, including those with fewer opportunities, by using multicultural art-based methods,
- enhancement of the ability of adult trainers in art, culture and psychology to help adult learners, including those with fewer opportunities, to become familiar with different cultures, reduce xenophobia, develop respect for inclusion and diversity and live a psychologically and physiologically healthy life by using as a training tool a multicultural dance therapy methodology,
- enhancement of the access of open source art training tools to adult trainers and learners, including those with fewer opportunities, thus reducing disparities and promoting social inclusion,
- promotion of equal opportunities and access, inclusion, diversity and fairness during this activity by involving participants with fewer opportunities in the implementation of this activity,
- reinforced cooperation with partners from other countries,
- development of environmental consciousness by designing this project activity through an environmentally friendly approach,
- sharing of the project results.
Pictures from this activity:
Click here to see more pictures
TA4: Sharing and promotion conference
Athens, Greece, 04/02/2023
Conference lecturers: staff members from EN ARMONIA
Participants: adult trainers in art, culture and psychology, including those with fewer opportunities, representatives of THEATER SCHIESSBÜHNE and ASSOCIATION ACT’DEM, representatives of Greek, German and French cultural and humanistic organisations
Activity TA4 was a sharing and promotion conference, organised by EN ARMONIA in Athens for one day. In this activity, staff members of EN ARMONIA were conference lecturers. Representatives of SCHIESSBÜHNE and ACT’DEM participated in this conference.
During the preparation phase of this conference, promotional material was created and distributed to the target group of this activity.
EN ARMONIA rented an appropriately equipped place and was responsible for the promotion of the conference. Sustainable practices were adopted.
This conference included:
- lectures,
- open discussions,
- presentations of the project results,
- evaluation of the project results and of the impact on the target group participating in the activity through questionnaires.
In this conference, adult trainers in art, culture and psychology, including those with fewer opportunities, and representatives from national and international cultural and humanistic organisations who had shown interest in the content and results of the project were invited.
Through lectures, open discussions and presentations, the results of this sharing and promotion activity were the following:
- enhancement of the ability of adult trainers in art, culture and psychology to develop tolerance, mutual understanding and respect for inclusion and diversity to adult learners, including those with fewer opportunities, by using multicultural art-based methods,
- enhancement of the ability of adult trainers in art, culture and psychology to help adult learners, including those with fewer opportunities, to become familiar with different cultures, reduce xenophobia, develop respect for inclusion and diversity and live a psychologically and physiologically healthy life by using as a training tool a multicultural dance therapy methodology,
- enhancement of the access of open source art training tools to adult trainers and learners, including those with fewer opportunities, thus reducing disparities and promoting social inclusion,
- promotion of equal opportunities and access, inclusion, diversity and fairness during this activity by involving participants with fewer opportunities in the implementation of this activity,
- reinforced cooperation with partners from other countries,
- development of environmental consciousness by designing this project activity through an environmentally friendly approach,
- sharing of the project results.
Pictures from this activity:
Click here to see more pictures
RESULTS OF THE PROJECT – DIGITAL HANDBOOK
Click here to see the Handbook
DISCLAIMER
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
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