Dec 1 - Week 16 - Meeting 28 / Final Reflection
1
A Collaborative Class Environment
Christopher Sommese
Throughout this course, I learned more about myself and how movement can support emotional regulation. Since day 1 of class, Professor Jorge made the class very free-flowing, open and enjoyable which allowed me to be myself and learn more. I particularly enjoyed being part of a collaborative class environment where connecting and working with others felt natural and meaningful. I also took a lot away from the videos and questions because I learned so many interesting techniques to release tension, express my feelings and help others who may be struggling with an illness or stress. Another meaningful takeaway was realizing that certain movements can reveal emotions I wasn't fully aware of, and helped me to better understand my internal experiences and how they show up in my body. From start to finish, the course helped me recognize the power of movement as a tool for expression, communication and personal growth.
Because of the course's experiential nature, it did not feel like class-time was dragging; for me, this was an engaging, refreshing learning process. I loved playing with new ways to learn and the sense of unpredictability made me look forward to each class. Later in the semester, I felt that we focused more on writing and less on physical exploration and although I appreciated the reflection, I missed some of the more movement-based activities that were so integral to earlier parts of the year. I loved the final presentations, which brought together techniques we learned throughout the year to design and lead a class ourselves. It was satisfying to see everything brought together in a creative and practical way. Overall, I loved the structure of the class-the theoretical and hands-on movement work complemented each other so nicely.
I want to apply acquired self-regulation strategies, especially the use of movement during stressful situations, in order to support my academic and personal well-being. This course also taught me about the values that exist within different learning styles, and I plan to bring this into my field by being open to teaching or guiding others in different, more embodied ways. In addition, the emphasis on communication and new experiences with individuals who are unfamiliar to me urged me to speak about my feelings more openly and engage with new groups in a confident manner. For my art minor, the class has strengthened my creative confidence and allowed me to think about expression in more innovative, embodied ways. For the logistics job later, this communication tool, teamwork experience, and ability to read other people's nonverbal signs will facilitate my interactions and adaptability within dynamic frameworks. Overall, what I learned in this course will remain with me and, in many ways, shape how I know myself, relate to others, and navigate my personal and professional worlds going forward.
2
More Aware, Grounded, and Open
3
A New Sense of Empathy
Ellie Shroff
From the beginning of this course to the end, I learned so much about the foundations of Dance Movement Therapy and how it connects to different psychological disorders. Because I’ve never been to therapy myself, this class felt like my first real introduction to what happens inside therapeutic sessions and why movement is such an important tool for emotional expression. Learning about the origins, diagnoses, and prognoses of various disorders helped me understand how deeply the mind and body influence each other. I also learned how important early developmental years are, and how much they shape our patterns, reactions, and needs as adults. Overall, the course gave me a new sense of empathy toward others and toward myself when it comes to emotions, boundaries, and mental health.
During the learning process, I felt comfortable most of the time, even though certain topics, especially more intense disorders like schizophrenia, initially made me feel unsure or unfamiliar. What made the class easier to connect with was the experiential nature of DMT. Watching videos, answering reflective questions, and taking notes that were meant for personal growth rather than just assignments helped me understand concepts on a deeper level. I especially loved the creative and movement-based parts of class, like drawing exercises or movement activities, because they helped me learn through expression rather than memorization. Those moments made the material feel personal, grounded, and meaningful.
Even though I’m studying marketing and business, I will absolutely take what I learned in DMT into my future professional life. The empathy, grounding techniques, and breathing exercises we practiced are skills I can use anywhere. If I become a manager one day, I’ll be working with many different kinds of people, each with their own emotional experiences and challenges. This course taught me to be more aware of how people communicate through their body language and how important sensitivity is when working with others. I now understand that you never know what someone might be carrying mentally, and because of that, approaching others with patience and compassion is essential. DMT has given me tools that will help me support others, communicate better, and create healthier environments wherever I work.
4
Understanding Other People's Body Language
5
Personal Narratives Show Up Physically
6
My Body is Not Just Something I Use
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Sources:
1) Collaborative Classroom. https://www.youtube.com/collabclassroom






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