Dance Therapy NZ

We were so grateful to be at the Disability Connect Transition Expo! 🎉

While our main focus was promotional work, it was such a joy catching up with friends and allies from other amazing organizations. 🤝✨

We were thrilled to connect with parents and carers while showcasing our services for tamaraki and rangatahi adults living with disabilities.

We’re so proud to be part of such an empowering event, helping to shape brighter futures together! 💪💙

Happy International Day of Charity!

At DTNZ, we believe in the power of community, compassion, and support. Since 2013, we’ve helped more than 18,000 people through creative-based therapies.

But we can’t do it alone.

How can you make a difference?

1. Donate: Every contribution helps us continue our vital programmes.
2. Volunteer: Your time and skill are invaluable.
3. Spread the Word: Share our mission with your network.

Together, we can create a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. 🌱

Join us in making a difference today.

To donate to Dance & Arts Therapy, please follow this link: https://ow.ly/wJZo50Tajns

DTNZ is participating in Drop Your Boss ! Just as our tamariki and rangatahi confront their fears and overcome challenges, we're taking on our own!

Our young people today face a world of increasing challenges and adversity. It's more important than ever to stay connected, nurture their resilience, and empower them to overcome any obstacles in their path.

So, what better way to show our support than by taking a leap of faith—literally—by plunging 192 metres off a ledge?

Every dollar raised from this event will go back to the Graeme Di**le Foundation, supporting over 27,000 rangatahi and tamariki across the motu. Let’s do this together! 💪🎉

Donate here: https://ow.ly/kQu850T1HI0

Happy Father's Day to all the dads, grandfathers, step-dads, father-in-laws and special father figures in the Dance Therapy New Zealand community 💜

Wear it Purple is more than just a day of awareness; it's a powerful movement of love, acceptance, and pride.

This day uplifts LGBTIQA+ young people, reminding them that they have the right to be proud of who they are and who they are becoming. 🏳️‍🌈

At DTNZ, we believe in creating a world where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Today, we proudly wear purple to stand in solidarity with our LGBTQIA+ community. 💜

1 in 3 New Zealanders will be affected by cancer in their lifetime

1 in 3 is a lot of us. Daffodil Day is our country's chance to work together and change the experience of cancer for every New Zealander. We all know someone affected by cancer and the toll this takes on them and their friends and whānau.

At DTNZ, we stand with every person facing this challenge, offering support and solidarity. Together, we can make a difference. Join us this Daffodil Day and help bring hope to those who need it most.

As the world comes together to celebrate the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, we at DTNZ are inspired by the incredible athletes who showcase the power of perseverance, dedication, and inclusivity. 🏅✨

Let's cheer on all the athletes and honour the values of unity, diversity, and determination. 🌍❤️

We are incredibly grateful for the generous support from the Puketāpapa Local Board towards our Dance 4 Us Mt Roskill programme. 🙏

Your contribution helps us continue empowering our community through inclusive dance movement therapy, celebrating diversity, and creating a space where everyone can express themselves freely.

Art Therapy is for Everyone! 🎨

Many people think they need to be an artist or have a special talent to try art therapy, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

Art therapy is about expression, not perfection. Whether you're using paint, clay, or just a simple pencil, the focus is on exploring your emotions and experiences through creativity.

No judgement, no pressure—just a safe space where you can freely let your thoughts and feelings take shape. 🖌️✨

Remember, it's not about creating a masterpiece; it's about the process of expressing yourself. Everyone is welcome to join and experience the healing power of art.

Find out more about our programmes at https://ow.ly/cjTI50T0KJx.

Mālō e lelei and happy Uike Kātoanga’i ‘o e lea Faka-Tonga – Tongan Language Week! 🌺

The 2024 theme for Tonga Language Week is 'E tu'uloa 'a e lea faka-Tongá 'o ka lea'aki 'i 'api, siasí (lotú), mo e nofo-'a-kāingá - The Tongan Language will be sustainable when used at home, church and in the wider community.

No matter where you are on your journey with Tongan phrases —whether you're picking up your first phrases or speaking fluently—this week is a heartfelt reminder of the importance of keeping our Pacific languages alive.

There are so many great resources available at Ministry for Pacific Peoples

Join us as we shine the spotlight on Jaden Gamman, a volunteer at DTNZ and a student at ACG Parnell. 🌟

Discover what inspires Jaden to contribute to our community. His dedication and energy are truly motivating!

Here is an insightful Q&A session where Jaden shares his experiences, challenges, and what he enjoyed about being a part of DTNZ. 💬

Learn about our sessions, the benefits, and DTNZ in Schools on our website (link in bio) 🔗

Kia Orāna and happy Cook Islands Māori Language Week! 🌺

If you're looking to brush up on your Cook Islands Māori language to celebrate the week, there are a tonne of great resources at https://bit.ly/3Wlycbq

Learn some te reo Māori Kūki 'Airani to use this week! Save this post to use these phrases throughout the week, and find more language resources at https://bit.ly/3Wlycbq

🌟 Client Testimonial Spotlight! 🌟

We’re thrilled to share this amazing feedback from one of our valued clients at Dance 4 Us! 💃✨

"My client has become really confident at Dance 4 Us. She is saying new phrases and connecting with new participants each week. She is very responsive to instructions and is also able to share a clear 'No' and feels safe to do so."

We love seeing our participants grow in confidence and communication while enjoying every step of the way!

Nga Mihi Maurea! 🎓✨

We are thrilled to announce that with the generous support from Foundation North and Maurea , our director, Anaia Treefoot, is now a Te Kaa graduate! 🎓✨

Ngā mihi nui ki Foundation North mō tō rātou tautoko nui. Ka nui te koa ki te whai wāhi ki tēnei angitu. 🎉🎓

We're thrilled to announce the launch of "Dance 4 Us Youth," a brand new weekly dance therapy group starting this Term 3! 🎉

📅 Date: Mondays, 29th July - 23rd September
🕟 Time: 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
📍 Location: Te Tuhi, Pakuranga

This will be a dance therapy group for rangatahi (youth) aged 13-24, led by a qualified dance therapist and qualified teacher. It will be fun and social but also working on movement, social and communication goals.

💸 Online donation (suggested $5-$10 per session)
📧To join, simply email [email protected] for more info and the donation form.

Spread the word and let's dance together for a healthier, happier community! See you there! 💃🕺

Find out more about our programmes at dancetherapy.co.nz.

Our group therapy programmes are back next week! This includes our hugely popular:

⭐STARS - dance movement therapy for children/teens with disabilities
‍🎨️ Arts 4 Us - free arts therapy for tamariki aged between 5-12
🖌️Arts 4 Us Specialty - arts therapy for tweens, children, and teens on the autism spectrum and/or developmental delays
🕺Dance 4 Us - dance movement therapy for people aged 15+ with disabilities
🖼️ Arts 4 All – art therapy for people with disabilities aged 15+ years

Our expert therapists provide creative arts therapy to empower people in all situations. We focus on what people can do, not what they can’t.

Learn about our sessions, the benefits, and bespoke options including individual therapy and DTNZ in Schools at https://ow.ly/xi8550S97wq.

🌟 Teamwork at its finest! 🌟

Dance & Arts Therapy NZ had an incredible full team training day on the 6th of July where we came together to grow and learn.

Grateful for the opportunity to strengthen our skills and bond as a team. Here's to continuous professional development and achieving new heights together! 🚀

We were so grateful to have had workshops with ConTact C A R E Central , New Zealand Sign Language and F’INE Pasifika Aotearoa Trust ❤️🌺

This article from Psy Post provides some interesting detail about art therapy and the many benefits it offers clients.

"When people face significant physical or mental ill-health, it can be challenging to put their experiences into words. Art therapists support people to explore and process overwhelming thoughts, feelings and experiences through a reflective art-making process. This is distinct from art classes, which often focus on technical aspects of the artwork, or the aesthetics of the final product..."

If you’d like to try arts therapy, DTNZ offers individual and group therapy throughout the country for people of all ages. You can find out more at dancetherapy.co.nz

Research shows art therapy brings benefits for mental health Art therapy can be used to support treatment for a wide range of physical and mental health conditions. It has been linked to benefits including improved self-awareness, social connection and emotional regulation, while lowering levels of distress, anxiety and even pain scores.

We've partnered with Supergenerous to help our generous supporters claim their rebates - giving them the option to donate it back to us or keep it for themselves!

Supergenerous allows you to claim rebates for donations made during the past few years. It helps individuals who may have never claimed before, or who never even knew this was an option for them, gain easy access to these funds.

Learn more about how it works so you can sign up at https://ow.ly/FG5B50S979J.

Mānawatia a Matariki ✨

Wishing you and your whānau a wonderful Matariki from all of us. We hope you enjoy your time together and take a moment to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and plan for the future.

We always want to know how our programmes benefit our clients. This is a testimonial from a parent whose child attends one of our STARS programmes and it makes us grateful that we are able to help.

“What I mostly observed about my son is his improved ability to process his emotions, and he is more respectful of other people’s boundaries” - Parent.

Our STARS dance movement therapy is a group programme that empowers children and teens with different intellectual and physical disabilities. This includes Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, Global Development Delays and brain trauma.

It combines movement, music, and body awareness activities with skill development (i.e. communication, self-regulation, and motor planning) all under the guidance of one of our expert therapists. Learn more at https://ow.ly/hm7B50S96Pj.

It's National Volunteer Week, so we want to give a shout out to the amazing volunteers that help us at Dance & Arts Therapy NZ. Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu – National Volunteer Week honours the collective energies and mana of volunteers in Aotearoa.

Our volunteers assist us in various ways, from therapy group support to administration work, and are incredibly important to what we do. Thanks DTNZ volunteers, we love your mahi!

If you're interested in volunteering at DTNZ, visit https://dancetherapy.co.nz/supportdtnz/volunteer/ to learn more.

We want to send a big shout-out to New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) for their support of our programmes for tamariki. Thanks to NZCT's support, DTNZ has been able to continue to offer our Arts 4 Us, STARS and Arts 4 Us Specialty Art & Dance Movement Therapy groups for tamariki in north, south, east and west Tāmaki Makaurau.

Ngā mihi nui ki a koe - we are so fortunate you are there for our tamariki!

For more than a decade, we've worked hard to be the nationwide leader in dance movement and art therapy. We proudly empower people of all ages including individuals facing cognitive challenges or disabilities and tamariki.

We're grateful to have received generous funding support over the years, enabling us to get to where we are today. But we want to continue to make to make a positive contribution to the community and be in a position to meet the ever increasing need for our services around Aotearoa.

We'd love your help as together we can have a significant impact. If you're in a position to do so, please consider donating at https://ow.ly/yCy050S6lis.

Any amount will make a BIG difference to our very special cause. You can also help us by liking and sharing our posts, reviewing our service if you’ve used it or volunteering your time at DTNZ.

Tālofa lava and happy Samoan Language Week 🌺

If you're looking to brush up on your Samoan language to celebrate the week, there are a tonne of great resources at https://bit.ly/3NvT4a0 including booklets, alphabet sheets, and videos.

Keen to learn some Gagana Samoa for Samoa Language Week? Save this post to use these Samoan phrases throughout the week and find more language resources here: https://bit.ly/3NvT4a0