Latinx Perspectives in Dance/Movement Therapy: Development of the RED DMT LATINX Network

Abstract

Dance/movement therapy (DMT) in Latin America has a growing number of practitioners, strong training programs, and a steady trajectory of contributions to the field in both research and practice. With the objective of finding spaces of professional solidarity, discussion and support, a group of Latinx practitioners from 13 countries gathered during the pandemic, forming RED DMT LATINX (Latinx DMT Network). This commentary article exposes the process and aims of the network and delineates some of the challenges and opportunities for DMT in Latin America, and for Latinx dance/movement therapists worldwide. The article analyzes issues related to professional visibility, highlights the lack of access to resources in Spanish and Portuguese, and calls for more spaces for peer and organizational support. It presents current evidence regarding efforts of legitimizing DMT within regulatory bodies and higher education, and recent digital initiatives in Latinx dissemination of current practice. Future areas of research include: the cultural recognition of Latin American dance forms and their applications within DMT, and the further inclusion of Latinx discourses in DMT platforms across the world. The article contributes key themes to the wider field of DMT, which will enrich future discussions, collaborations and research on multicultural exchanges and diversity.