Welcome to the Homepage of the
Center for Integral Dance and Expression Therapy
(Integrált Kifejezés- és Táncterápiás Központ, IKT Központ).

The Center for Integral Dance and Expression Therapy was established in 1999 for the training and furthering of Integral Dance and Expression Therapy, and furthering dance/movement psychotherapies in general.

Founders of the Center:

Wilfried Gürtler (1950-2003), German psychologist, trainer expression and dance therapist
dr. Izabella Varga, Hungarian psychologist, trainer expression and dance therapist

Integral Dance and Expression Therapy:

Integral Dance and Expression Therapy was developed and brought to Hungary by a German psychologist, psychotherapist, Wilfried Gürtler (1950-2003). The first training center of Integral Dance and Expression Therapy was established in Munich, Germany (CITA, Centrum für Integrale Tanz- und Ausdruckstherapie Ausbildung, www.cita.de), then among others the Hungarian Center was set up.

This particular movement/dance therapy method derives form the creative, experimental, humanistic approach of Trudi Schoop, Swiss dancer and dance therapist, and was advanced and differentiated by Wilfried Gürtler, resulting in Integral Dance and Expression Therapy, which was nonetheless a living, continually changing, and evolving method (and this is an inherent feature) throughout Gürtler’s professional life, and has been – via his colleagues and disciples –  even ever since his death.

“Integral” in this case means that dance therapy alloys with dance and movement other therapeutic techniques and theories as well in a way that the whole is more than the sum total of the parts. Some examples our approach draws form: deep psychology, expressive art therapies, prenatal and perinatal therapies, verbal therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, social therapy, hypnotherapy, trance-states, NLP, Gestalt, systemic approaches (such as Hellinger’s etc.). In the late 90’s kinesiology (study of the flow of energy in the body) and trance dances (the cathartic and “trance-formative” effect of altered states of consciousness) were of greater impact .

Principles of Integral Dance and Expression Therapy (IDE)

-         The body is all the time “speaking”, self-expressing (From IDE point of view everybody is an expressive dancer. Self-expression is a liberating and healing art.)

-         The body always tells the truth – it is being interpreted by the observer.

-         The body is all the time moving – even if movement is not to detect from outside.

-         Dance is choreographic movement pattern which organizes the chaos of impulses.

-         The potential for healing resides in the wound and in its authentic expression. (So IDE-therapists compassionately come along with the patients expressive movements, “life dance” as participants of the process themselves. If we are able to look at illness as a possibility to realize the really important aspects of one’s own life and human life in general, only then can we ask and transform the illness in a constructive manner and make it biographically unnecessary.)

-         Every symptom is part of a constructive, and in some way biographically necessary and understandable coping strategy. (From IDE point of view illness is a path struck by someone in order to keep wholesome /i.e. not separated from themselves/ and to integrate a broader concept of health into one’s own life. This path leading to a better quality of life includes also the shadows, the absurd, questionable, contradictory, and paradox aspects of the already lived and not yet lived.)

-         Everybody is a potential artist of their own life, only the resources need to be found and the possibilities available to all can unfold. (Reference point is the human being, the whole human being who is challenged for active self-creating, taking responsibility, self-motivating and self-healing.)

Training
We have a four-year long training which is registered as an Adult Training in Hungary, but not (yet) accredited by the Council for Psychotherapy.
1. Integral Dance and Expression Therapy – Orientation.
The first training phase consists of 10 weekend seminars, one each month. This year—as an introductory phase—focuses on the “language” of IDE, its means and approaches. Some of the themes of the seminars are: creative group dynamics with expression, movement and dance; life-space – life-tree – life-flow; music and dance styles and their effects; creative contact improvisation; authentic dance and expressive movement; therapeutic dance theatre etc.
2. Critical phases of life approached with Integral Dance and Expression Therapy – Encounter with the Inner Child.
The second training phase consists of 12 weekend seminars, one each month. In this year we focus on crucial periods of human life with IDE methods such as conception and birth; childhood; adolescence; occupation, vocation; partnering; dieing etc.

In the first two phases primarily self-perception, self-knowledge and therapeutic processes are being furthered.

3. Critical phases of life approached with Integral Dance and Expression Therapy – Principles, Processes, Theories
In this year practical professional aspects (such as principles, processes, and theories) appear more pronounced, while we have the same curriculum as in the second year.
4. Application of Integral Dance and Expression Therapy
The last training phase focuses on three key aspects of the application of IDE: (1) the personality and competences of the dance therapist/group leader (IDE therapist), and fundamental questions of therapeutic work and working with groups; (2) practical applications, target populations; and (3) means and methods of IDE.

Please contact us:

Center for Integral Dance and Expression Therapy
1088 Budapest, Bródy S. u. 17.
Europe, Hungary
Tel: +36/1/3180141, +36/20/3176964
E-mail: info@tancterapia.com
Homepage: www.tancterapia.com
Management:
         dr. Izabella Varga, psychologist
         Tibor Cece Kiss, clinical psychologist