National Dance (Movement) Therapy Advocacy Day

National Dance (Movement) Therapy Advocacy Day is observed every year on June 13. In 2026, this date falls on a Saturday. The observance raises awareness of dance/movement therapy, a form of psychotherapy that uses movement, body awareness, and embodied communication as part of therapeutic care. It is especially relevant to mental health, rehabilitation, education, community care, and the broader field of creative arts therapies. The day gives professionals, students, clients, and supporters a reason to explain what dance/movement therapy is and why access to qualified care matters. ^{1 2 3}

See also: World Music Therapy Day, World Healing Day, National Psychotherapy Day

History of National Dance (Movement) Therapy Advocacy Day

National Dance (Movement) Therapy Advocacy Day was created in 2019 by Erica Hornthal, an American dance/movement therapist. The observance was established to educate the public about dance/movement therapy and to make the profession easier to recognize and understand. Dance/movement therapy itself developed as a distinct field in the 1940s, when early practitioners began using dance and movement within psychotherapeutic work. The American Dance Therapy Association was founded in 1966 to support the profession, promote standards, and increase public awareness.

Dance/movement therapy is now understood as a therapeutic approach that connects movement with emotional, social, cognitive, and physical integration. It may be practiced in settings such as mental health programs, rehabilitation centers, schools, nursing homes, medical facilities, and private practice. The day is not only about dance in a performance sense; it is about the body as a meaningful part of communication and care. For many advocates, the observance also points to practical issues such as professional recognition, licensure, reimbursement, and access to services.

Why is National Dance (Movement) Therapy Advocacy Day important?

National Dance (Movement) Therapy Advocacy Day helps explain a profession that is often misunderstood. People may know dance as art, exercise, or cultural expression, but they may not know that movement can also be used by trained therapists in clinical and community settings. The observance gives therapists and advocates a platform to describe how movement can support self-awareness, communication, coping skills, and emotional expression. It also helps clients and families learn that therapy does not always have to rely only on spoken words.

The day also matters because advocacy affects access to care. When policymakers, educators, healthcare providers, and community organizations understand dance/movement therapy, it becomes easier to include it in appropriate programs and services. Professional standards and credentials help protect the public by distinguishing trained therapists from general dance instructors or wellness facilitators. Awareness can also reduce stigma for people who may benefit from a body-based, creative, and relational form of psychotherapy.

• It helps people understand what dance/movement therapy is.
• It supports recognition for trained creative arts therapists.
• The day connects movement with mental health awareness.
• It gives clients and families better language for asking questions.
• Advocacy can improve access to appropriate therapeutic services.

How to Observe National Dance (Movement) Therapy Advocacy Day

Learn what dance/movement therapy involves before assuming it is the same as a dance class. Read educational material from professional therapy organizations, look up credentialing information, or listen to a qualified dance/movement therapist explain their work. Students interested in the field can explore graduate training paths and the role of supervised clinical experience. Healthcare and education professionals can use the day to consider where movement-based therapy might fit within existing support services.

Advocacy can also be local and practical. Share clear information about the profession, invite a credentialed therapist to speak at a school or community group, or support organizations working on licensure and access issues. People who have benefited from dance/movement therapy can share their experiences in a way that protects privacy and respects the therapeutic relationship. The most useful observances keep the focus on education, ethics, and access rather than treating the day as a general dance event.

• Read an introduction to dance/movement therapy.
• Share accurate information from professional organizations.
• Ask local providers how creative arts therapies are offered.
• Support advocacy for licensure and access to care.
• Thank a qualified dance/movement therapist for their work.

National Dance (Movement) Therapy Advocacy Day Dates

1. https://www.adta.org/about[↩]
2. https://www.adta.org/faq[↩]
3. https://adta.memberclicks.net/what-is-dancemovement-therapy[↩]