Dance movement strategies training to help rebuild social capital in Colombia

Abstract

Building social capital within a post-conflict scenario is key to achieving sustainable peace. The authors implemented an intervention consisting of a 120-h training programme in dance movement strategies in five violence-affected municipalities in Colombia (n = 150). The aim of the intervention was to assess any possible changes in the participants’ states of mindfulness, bodily connection, emotional intelligence, somatic complaints, aggressive reaction, empathy, agency, and subjective emotional experience. We selected the tested variables as conditions necessary to rebuild social capital within a community affected by violence. Post-test measures revealed statistically significant changes in mindfulness, bodily connection, emotional intelligence and regulation, somatic complaints, aggressive reaction, agency, perspective taking, sleep and appetite. Key implications for practice Dance movement strategies help to create the necessary individual conditions for rebuilding social capital in regions heavily affected by an armed conflict Training the community leaders in dance movement strategies positively impacts some aspects that are associated with better trust and reciprocity within communities Community leaders trained in dance movement strategies should be encouraged to replicate these strategies within their own communities.

Keywords

• body and movement therapy
• colombia
• dance
• social capital