Contemporary Dance as a Resource to Support Battered Migrant Women

Abstract

Contemporary Dance as a Resource to Support Battered Migrant Women

The present study analyzes the affective-emotional and psychological state of a group of women victims of male violence living in a shelter home, and discusses the potential of contemporary dance as a resource for their recovery. The participants were 10 migrant women from Latin America, Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia, aged between 18 and 42 years, for whom a dance-based intervention plan was designed, implemented and assessed. After implementation, changes were observed at the cognitive (emotional management), affective (strengthening of self-concept and decrease of anxiety), and behavioral levels (gains in assertiveness and coping with problems), which contributed to improving their general well-being. The program is presented as a useful resource to help abused women and other vulnerable groups with the necessary adaptations.