In hospital care, children with cancer experience procedures, pain and uncertainty, while still needing opportunities to play, imagine, move and connect. This article explores how Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) can support those human needs alongside medical treatment.
DMT is described as a psychotherapy practice that uses movement, rhythm, imagery, imagination and the therapeutic relationship to help children sense their bodies, express emotions, regulate stress and connect with others. It is not a dance class or hospital entertainment.
The article also reflects on choice and agency: even small decisions about how to move, when to participate and when to rest can help a child experience a greater sense of ownership of the body during treatment.
Parents and caregivers may also take part. Shared movement, touch, rhythm and play can create moments of connection beyond medication, tests and treatment. The article positions DMT as a complement to palliative and medical care, not a replacement for it.
