Body memory and its recuperation through movement

Departing from the Cartesian theory of body–mind duality, this chapter concerns theconcept of body memory as it emerges from embodiment approaches. Building onconcepts such as ‘kinetic melodies’ and the embodied mind, it advocates ‘thinking inmovement’. Uniting minds and bodies has far-reaching implications for research andpractice in dance and dance movement psychotherapy, hence a simple methodology ofhow to access the knowledge of the body is described. A process of writing–moving–writing invites the mover to focus on a significant moment to explore, and then bring it tomovement. The mover is invited to work with ‘somatic modes of attention’, focusing onany extero- and interoceptive sensations. Clinical applications of the technique arediscussed. The chapter aims to encourage educators, therapists, and researchers indance and movement to make use of their knowing and remembering bodies, thuscontributing to a global kind of knowledge in their field.