title: The Transformative Potential of Community Dance for People With Cancer.
abstract: This research describes a community dance project for people affected by cancer, which was led by a trained community dancer over 10 movement workshops and three performances. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, the research explored the experiences of a convenience sample of 8 participants out of the original group of 17 individuals who took part in the community dance. The research was participatory and the researchers were involved in workshops and performances as members of the group who also had family members with cancer. The findings indicate the motivation of the dancers to continue in spite of hardship, their sense of pride in being part of something that was larger than themselves, the way the dance permitted them to embody a sense of courage, and finally, in performing, how they managed to share something that genuinely moved an audience.
authors.affiliation: Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin, New Zealand mary.butler@op.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.affiliation: University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Snook
authors.affiliation: University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buck
mesh_terms: D003615:Dancing; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation*
keywords: New Zealand; cancer; community-based program; exercise / physical activity; qualitative; qualitative descriptive