How Dance Supports Mental Health: Reflections from Narcisa

Oct 30

2 min read

dancers Waltteri Voitila and Suvi Honkanen rehearsing for Narcisa — *Dancers Waltteri Voitila and Suvi Honkanen rehearsing for Danceworks Helsinki production Narcisa by the Colombian choreographer Gio Ravelo. Photo by Jenni Samio*

Last spring, DanceWorks Helsinki collaborated with Mieli – Mental Health Finland, an association that promotes mental health and defends the universal right to a good mental health. Our collaboration took place during Mental Health Art Week (MHAW) in May 2025. Our new dance work entitled Narcisa was premiered during that week, and since the themes of this contemporary ballet had to do with self-acceptance and vulnerability, the premiere was part of MHAW. We invited members of Mieli to our dress rehearsal and had a possibility to connect with new audiences who had never been to a ballet performance (or theatre) before. We feel that Narcisa’s aim to invite the audience to reflect on the fragile balance between outer beauty and inner worth resonated with the audience.

We also posted a video on our social media, where one of our founding members, dancer Suvi Honkanen reflected on her views on dance and mental health. We want to emphasize that dance supports mental health in

many meaningful ways. It brings together movement, creative self-expression, social interaction, and often music—merging the benefits of artistic engagement with the positive effects of physical activity. Through its focus on breath, bodily sensations, emotions, and interpersonal connection, dance fosters well-being on multiple levels.

When rhythm and movement take hold, people often feel energized and refreshed. These experiences of joy and pleasure are vital for everyone, regardless of age or background. A safe and supportive atmosphere is essential for mental health — one where individuals feel free to be themselves and express openly. Dance can offer a liberating space to explore and release difficult emotions, making it a powerful tool for emotional expression and healing.

Shared experiences in dance also nurture a sense of community, inclusion, and belonging, helping to reduce feelings of isolation. Moreover, dance enhances kinesthetic empathy and body awareness — skills that allow individuals to better understand both their own and others’ emotional states. Kinesthetic empathy plays a key role in forming deep emotional connections with others.

The diversity of dance forms means that everyone can find a style that resonates with them. Some may be drawn to gentle, meditative movement, while others thrive in dynamic, rhythmic expression. The social engagement, sense of community, and tangible physicality of dance make it both enjoyable and intrinsically motivating—encouraging people to return to it again and again.

As Hanna Poikonen writes in Suomen Lääkärilehti (Finnish Medical Journal): “Dance in a harmonious, sensory-rich environment, fueled by gentle and encouraging interaction, is a great way to bring meaning, inner motivation and joy of life even to the darkest moments of illness.” (20.11.2024; translated from Finnish by the author).

You can read Poikonen’s article here on Lääkärilehti’s website.