Practicing wellbeing through dance. Creative communities, empathetic relationships and healing processes

Abstract

Good health and wellbeing are among the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals. However, the last two years have seen a reduction in the wellbeing of numerous individuals and communities. Deepening terms such as wellbeing, social capital and cultural welfare, this thesis thus aims at examining the crucial role of the performing arts (and especially of dance) in stimulating physical, cognitive and creative processes to promote individuals and groups wellbeing. Three case studies are analyzed. The first concerns the city of Bassano del Grappa, considered a "system" where the constant dialogue between artists, institutions and local citizens fosters social capital and promotes a diffused wellbeing. The second case is about the research project "Practicing Empathy" by the Israeli choreographer Yasmeen Godder who questions empathy to understand and communicate the other's moods, emotions, and feelings. The third case concerns the therapeutic project by the dance/movement therapist Maralia Reca with people who survived torture during the military dictatorship in Argentina between 1976 and 1983. In this case, dance/movement therapy has been used as a healing ritual to promote the recovery of people exposed to traumatic experiences.