English 122 - Visual/Multi-Media Project Double Entry Journal

Name: Aaliyah Michel

Essential Questions:
1. How can dance affect brain development?
2. What are the physical, emotional and intellectual benefits of dance?
Text Title and Author/Speaker/Originator:
Dance As Therapy: Natalia Duong at TEDxStanford

Quotation/Visual Feature How it sheds light on my essential

“When I perform an action with another
human being, there is a connection that is
built. Sympathy for another, Empathy with
another and Action together. The move to
measure changes in the brain through
cognitive mapping to using our bodies to
physically act that change.”
question
When the speaker brought up the fact that this
encouraged many in wheelchairs to physically
get themselves out and start to crawl is truly
inspirational. That was definitely not easy for
them to do and nobody told that they had to,
they chose to.

A video was shown of a choreographer
purposely getting the dancers to fall but get
up.
He was not getting them to mimic his life, he
was walking them through it. His position in
his wheelchair showed his dancers that he has
struggled in the past, but dance was his coping
mechanism and by inviting others with him, it
built bond that would not only make him
stronger, but them too.

“They become his supporters, where
whenever he reaches a difficult point in his
life, he will have people who are there to
listen, to empathize, and to connect with him.”
No human enjoys being alone. Having the
love and support of somebody else not only
makes you feel better, but it makes you both
physically and emotionally healthier. This
exercise and/or experiment was beneficial for
all those who took part.