Tisch Illumination Fund, the study is the first randomized, controlled study exploring the impact of dance and movement on the mental health and well-being of survivors of intimate partner violence, also known as domestic violence.
It was conducted through a partnership between the New York City-based dance and social justice organization Gibney; Sanctuary for Families, a non-profit organization dedicated to aiding survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking, and related forms of gender violence; and Teachers College, Columbia University, a graduate school of education, health, and psychology.
Move to Move Beyond TM is an evidence-based program that offers the transformative power of movement to survivors of intimate partner violence and their families and provides an environment for positive physical expression and community building.
Core tenets of the program model, such as honoring choice and bodily autonomy, offer survivors somatic tools to support their healing journey:. According to renowned Harvard University trauma expert Judith L. Herman, M. Rebuilding healthy connections, therefore, is an important component of recovery. Allison R. Findings from the study of the Move to Move Beyond TM program model suggest that dance and movement can have a meaningful and effective role in addressing trauma.
These results encourage providing trauma-informed movement workshops for survivors of intimate partner violence as a complementary tool to the essential social services provided by domestic violence agencies. Each group completed questionnaires about PTSD and mental health symptoms, general health, physical activity, and underwent a brief measurement of heart rate variability.
