Community dance to promote well-being through body expression at the “Els Estels” Shelter for Boys, Girls and Adolescents

The “Els Estels” Reception Residence for Boys, Girls and Adolescents, owned by the Generalitat Valenciana, managed and directed by the Health and Community Foundation (FSC), has organized the “Community Dance” workshop. The activity took place in the service’s outdoor patio, a large, landscaped area that has a floor suitable for practicing it, with a rubber coating. Over the course of 5 sessions, each lasting 60 minutes, the participating children and adolescents (about 8 per session) have benefited from this activity that promotes mental, emotional and physical health through movement. conscious and human interaction.

Community dance offers a wide range of benefits for all the people who participate in it, opening up a world of possibilities, in which body expression becomes a means of deep connection with oneself and with others. Through shared movement, creativity, collaboration and mutual respect are encouraged, creating a space where each person can explore and express their identity authentically and without limitations.

The objectives of this activity, which has been coordinated by Juan Alfredo Belda, an FSC volunteer who has a Middle Degree Diploma in Contemporary Dance, dancer and contemporary dance teacher, have been to promote self-expression and self-confidence in the minors; improve your social and emotional skills; promote teamwork and collaboration; stimulate their creativity and imagination, and provide a safe space for their personal development.

The contents of the workshop were the following:

• Exploration of movement: exercises to connect with the body and body expression.
• Group cohesion: exploration and personal knowledge to promote group consolidation.
• Group choreographies: creation and practice of choreographies that promote collaboration and communication.
• Improvisation: activities to stimulate creativity and spontaneity in dance.
• Dance technique: introduction to different physical and motor notions to motivate healthy use of the body and optimize its performance.
• Exploration of materials: through the use of different materials with plastic characteristics, as catalysts for creativity.

According to trainer Juan Alfredo Belda, “as in any group we work with, preferences were observed when interacting. But, it is interesting that, as the workshop progressed, these preferences did not seem to be diluted when approaching the work, promoting an interaction between participants without prejudice, and helping in a more enriching development.”

Likewise, he points out that “a notable change was also observed in the relationship with me as the workshop guide. From a position of certain distrust or caution towards me, the group began to show greater openness and comfort in communication. Not in a sense of devoting himself to work directly but, when it comes to expressing his true difficulties to me. This fact was fundamental to be able to generate methodological adaptations that would help its evolution in the matter at hand.”

It should also be noted that periodic evaluations have been carried out to measure the progress in the skills of the participants, as well as feedback sessions to adjust the program, according to the needs identified throughout the activity.

Without a doubt, this community dance workshop has represented a unique opportunity to promote the emotional, social and physical well-being of the children and adolescents participating in the activity, through art and body expression, from individual and group respect. providing them with tools for their integral development.