I enjoyed it so much, normally I feel quite misplaced dancing dances where there is something "inherently happy" about them, which is not true as I have learned. This styles of dance and music, were a mean to express, to cope with slavery oppression and discrimination, INSPIRING. The circle as a mean to allow people to express, share their daily events and current mood with the community. The circle as a safe space to be yourself, show yourself, be seen and loved by your community! so much beauty, so much to learn! this dance style was formed by people who have suffered and still suffer from violence and discrimination, transforming pain into connection and expression, strengthening the community and the human bond, humanity at its best really.

Overall, it was an integrative experience that explicitly combined dance and music, exemplifying the interdisciplinary nature of Creative Arts Therapies and highlighting the active therapeutic factor of 'non-goal-orientedness,' as manifested through improvisation.

For me, it was a focused practice in being prepared to improvise and be exposed, in not knowing what the next moment would bring—a practice in letting go

The session led by Carmen involved extensive verbal inquiry into different levels of bodily experience (bones, muscles etc.), Carmen has led us safely through a deep bodily inquiry and proprioceptive experience.

The session facilitated by Ryn focused on Drag-Based Dance Movement Therapy (DMT), exposing me once again to a less familiar field—one that required imagination and courage, and quite literally offered me a stage to express parts of myself that rarely find expression.

Both facilitation styles manifested a creation of a safe space that supports exploration and expression— core principles of DMT.

In the session I facilitated, I came to understand the critical importance of giving myself time and space to arrive in the room before the participants. This proved essential for establishing the atmosphere in the space. I was also reminded of my tendency to move faster when feeling under pressure, rather than allowing myself time to pause, process, and integrate what was unfolding—and to adhere to the principle that "less is more." Perhaps most significantly, facilitating the session enabled me to witness my own growth within the training process, particularly in my role as a facilitator. I was able to hold space for others, attune to subtle cues, and provide participants with the room they needed to express themselves.