"The dance is one of the rare human activities in which man is fully committed; body, mind and heart."
Maurice Béjart

Research on Dance/Art of Movement for Hearing Deficient Children

Accomplished by Maria Renata de Macedo Soares Neves - 1987
This thesis was presented as partial requirement to receive a Graduate Diploma (Masters) in Communication Diseases to the Judging Commission of São Paulo's Catholic University (PUC-SP), with supervision by Prof. Dr. Maria Cecília Bevilacqua.

Abstract
In order to fully understand hearing handicapped individuals, this work regards them through a novel perspective within the area of Communication Diseases.

A dance/art of movement work was developed at the Derdic (Division of Education and Rehabilitation in Communication Diseases) directed to a group of eight 7 year-old children presenting hearing deficiency. The program was based on concepts of Rudolf Laban. Classes were given twice a week during one year. Most of the classes were recorded on tape.

Results gathered revealed that students developed positive self-awareness and self-image, which made them disposed to be in contact and communicate with others.

By revealing this potential for expression, the children managed to precisely make clear their moods, limits and interests. Their own voices began to exist with higher intensity and force.

Creativity of each of these children was manifested and, by creating things as a group, they learned to work as a team. In addition to the importance of including dance/art of movement in the school program of hearing handicapped children, the most significant result was, perhaps, the possibility of crossing the boundaries of special schooling through the integration of these children to normal hearing groups participating in the Dance/Art of Movement Project developed in Libraries for children and teenagers, coordinated by Maria Duschenes