The BEST FOOT FORWARD PROJECT MODEL

The Best Foot Forward Model uses Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) which is a form of psychotherapy that involves components of dance and movement in the treatment of various psychological and physical conditions. It is defined by the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) as “the psychotherapeutic use of movement as a process which furthers the emotional, cognitive, social, and physical integration of the individual” (ADTA, 2010).

Given the limited amount of research investigating DMT as a modality for internalizing and externalizing , it is important to understand how society relates with children and youth and may either foster further distress or support positive adjustment.

To aid in this understanding, the following hypotheses were proposed: (a) internalizing behavior (i.e., depressive symptomatology would be teamed with the ballet program); (b) externalizing behavior (i.e., inattentive and hyperactive symptomatology would be teamed with the jazz program) as examples.