On World Mental Health Day, choreographer Ashley Lobo talks about how dance can prove to be a healer and is cathartic in its own ways. By Team Viva
As the world grapples with the psychological ramifications of a global pandemic, the significance of World Mental Health Day being observed on October 10 acquires an even deeper subtext. The World Health Organisation (WHO) warned in May itself that we were looking potentially at an epidemic of mental health conditions in the coming months, caused by acute anxiety and a heightened sense of physical and emotional isolation.
Indian-Australian choreographer Ashley Lobo who himself has been adapting to a different creative reality post-COVID-19, believes there is however a way to cope. He says, “Moving the body can almost instantly uplift our mood and energise the body. Movement and dance can play a crucial role in pulling us out of mental and physical ennui and make an enormous difference to our mental health.”
To support his point, he cites the American Dance Therapy Association, which suggests the psychotherapeutic use of movement to improve emotional, cognitive, physical, and social integration. Lobo’s technique, Prana Paint has also been helping his students to connect with their inner self through breath and Yoga-inspired movements, and to find calm and serenity regardless of outward chaos.
Lobo adds, “In the post-COVID world, we can all make creative choices like dance and music to bust stress and boost positivity. It really does not matter if you are a trained dancer or not, everyone has rhythm in them, which can become a doorway to a better state of mind.”
He talks about how dance can prove to be a healer. He says, “Mental health challenges are universal and do not discriminate. Dance however can prove therapeutic for almost anyone. Dance is like Yoga in the respect where mindful movement can become a meditative and healing practice. Whether you decide to take online dance classes or put on music and dance like nobody is watching, you are celebrating your body, your existence, and your life. And soon you will notice how a dance session leaves you feeling more energised and confident than before. You will connect with that part of yourself which now remains unaffected by anxiety and is the source of all your untapped energy and pure potential.”
Dance, he insists, can even prove cathartic for people who find it hard to put their emotions in words and need an emotional outlet. And if you are taking an online class, connecting with others, even though virtually, can reduce the sense of isolation and you get the joy of learning a new skill as a bonus.
He adds, “Once you master a routine, the surge of confidence you feel will flow into other areas of your life. Most importantly, you will learn how to live in the moment rather than worrying about what the future holds. In that sense and many others, dance is truly liberating. I really believe we can all dance our way out of our personal issues into a healthier, sunnier mental space.”