The Association for Dance Movement Therapy UK: Becoming a Profession

Abstract

This article documents the lived experience of a UK pathfinder of dance movement psychotherapy in the UK. It narrates the history of the beginning of the professional association in the field of dance movement psychotherapy in the UK during which time she was heavily engaged. It is the author’s personal report, looking back on the early development of the Association through archive materials since the outset of the forming and beginnings of the profession of dance movement (psycho)therapy in the UK from 1977 to 1990s. The story is told by holding a mirror up to this author’s leading contribution towards the establishment of the Association of Dance Movement Psychotherapy (ADMP) Limited in the UK. The article reflects on the author’s leadership, contributions from early volunteers, and what was required to build the profession into its ‘becoming’. There are supporting extracts from early archives and references to illustrate events and activities.