ILENE SERLIN, PhD, ADTR
Nonverbal communication and the arts can reach across cultures in ways that sometimes words cannot. The theme of the arts in psychology at the 2014 American Psychological Association allowed us to bring together members of APA’s Council of Representatives with the president of the American Dance Therapy Association, in conjunction with the choir from APA’s Council of Representatives, to open the conference.
Movement choirs were developed by Rudolf von Laban in the early 1900s as a way of bringing together large groups of people to harmonize around a particular theme.The ritualized and repeated movements created patterns in space that corresponded to chords in music. When practiced in a group structure, participants often feel connected nonverbally to each other and in harmony.
Movement Choir of APA
(Video)
Since most APA conferences begin in a large auditorium with a small stage and video projections on a screen, participants may feel overwhelmed or isolated. Standing, stretching and moving at the beginning energized and connected participants, who then felt mobilized to participate in the conference.