None
This thesis explores the intricate relationship between dance and trauma, focusing on how embodied practices facilitate psychological recovery. Dominant narratives often prioritise cognitive experiences, limiting our understanding of healing. By employing a qualitative, post-positivist and critical autoethnographic approach, I reflect on my journey through trauma following the Christchurch earthquakes, utilising journal entries from the point of view of my younger self to illustrate the transformative power of movement and dance. The key themes of this research are structure and routine, socialisation, and alleviation of anxious thoughts, demonstrating how engaging with the body challenges conventional notions of recovery. Furthermore, it highlights the complementary role of Dance Movement Therapy in trauma- informed practices, advocating for a holistic approach that recognises the mind-body connection. The findings underscore the necessity of viewing trauma as an embodied experience and propose a shift toward movement-based therapeutic practices that empower individuals through their lived experiences. Ultimately, this research calls for reimagining therapeutic frameworks, emphasising dance's potential to complement current trauma- informed therapies and promote a bottom-up approach to recovery.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22- IMG_4088 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_4082 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_4046 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_3965 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_3949 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_3961 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_3970 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
File Reference: CCL-CE-2013-09-30-EQNZ-2010.JPG Photo taken by G. Coster From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013-02-22-River-of-FlowersDSC_03413.JPG From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_4038 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_4077 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22-IMG_4036 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. Horseshoe Lake, Christchurch. File reference: CCL-2013-02-22-River-of-FlowersDSC_03402.JPG From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Friday 22 February 2013. File reference: CCL-2013 -02-22- IMG_4081 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Shirley Community Centre, Shirley Road, Christchurch. File reference: CCL-2012-05-10-Around-Shirley-May-2012 DSC_02866.JPG From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Latimer Square, Christchurch File reference: CCL-2012-04-06-LatimerSquare-April-2012-DSC_0879.JPG From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Latimer Square, Christchurch File reference: CCL-2012-04-06-LatimerSquare-April-2012-DSC_0884.JPG From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Latimer Square, Christchurch File reference: CCL-2012-04-06-LatimerSquare-April-2012-DSC_0862.JPG From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
NewsTalkZB Building,Latimer Square, Christchurch File reference: CCL-2012-04-06-LatimerSquare-April-2012-DSC_0867.JPG From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Avonhead Park Cemetery Interment Site. Central plinth. Inscription reads: "Etched in our City’s memory, never to be forgotten. The City of Christchurch" in Spanish. File reference: CCL-2012-02-27-AvonheadParkCemeteryIntermentSite-February-2012 DSC_026.JPG From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Avonhead Park Cemetery Interment Site. Central plinth. Inscription reads: "Etched in our City’s memory, never to be forgotten. The City of Christchurch". File reference: CCL-2012-02-27-AvonheadParkCemeteryIntermentSite-February-2012 DSC_027.JPG From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Photos of the old Canterbury Public Library being demolished. File reference: CCL-2011-09-29-librarydemolition06 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
File reference: CCL-2011-08-12-CanterburyPublic Library pre-demolition-033 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
Photos taken in Lyttelton following the February 22 earthquake. File reference: CCL-2011-05-24--Loons-LYP1120500 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries
Photos taken at Gap Filler fair on April 9 following the February 22 earthquake. www.gapfiller.org.nz/ File reference: CCL-2011-04-08-Addington-Gapfiller-003.jpg From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries
Photos taken in Bishopdale Library on April 8 following the February 22 earthquake. File reference: CCL-2011-04-08-Bisopdale-After-The-Earthquake-IMG_0450 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries
Photos taken in Bishopdale Library on April 8 following the February 22 earthquake. File reference: CCL-2011-04-08-Bisopdale-After-The-Earthquake-IMG_0454 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries
Photos taken in Bishopdale Library on April 8 following the February 22 earthquake. File reference: CCL-2011-04-08-Bisopdale-After-The-Earthquake-IMG_0447 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries