Therapeutic Arts Consultant
Consulted with diverse health agencies to provide therapeutic arts services from governmental health facilities to community-based organizations.
Introduction
For a year I worked with youth involved in the foster care system teaching dance and movement to promote their mental and physical health. We also engaged in team building workshops which allowed them the space to express their opinions, build their developmentally appropriate friendships and enhance their sense of community support. I have also worked with the actively aging supporting not just mobility through dance movement, but their sense of community and social support.
Details
As a child I engaged in West African and Jazz dance, and then as a young adult I found Zumba and became a Dance Fitness Instructor. With my diverse dance background, combined with my social work practice expertise I then explored and studied to become a Dance Movement Therapist, as a way of utilizing the art and movement to promote the healing process! I have worked in diverse spaces where I channeled my social work and arts background, some of which are Chicago’s Cook County Jail, Youth service agencies, as well as community based organizations.
My Approach
Harnessing my compassion and expertise to engage in rich work with communities, such as young people, justice-involved individuals or women who have experienced significant trauma, has led me on a rich journey. It requires compassion, patience, commitment and love- both a love for service as well as a love for facilitating one’s sense of resilience, agency and self care.
My journey into using the Arts as a pathway to doing this community and healing work has been incredible. I look forward to working more deeply on projects where I explore the ways that true mind/body connectedness can lead to transformation, joy and a deeper sense of peace.
“Your body holds deep wisdom. Trust in it. Learn from it. Nourish it. Watch your life transform and be healthy”
- Belle Bleue
