In many South African townships, resilience persists despite high rates of crime and poverty. Whilst living in Cape Town, Sarah used dance therapy to connect with people living this reality, with God as a source of hope amidst the realities of everyday life.
With a murder rate of 44 per 100,000 people each year, South Africa has one of the highest rates of violent crime in the world.
For the women Sarah met with in her trauma therapy group, dance, drama, and music were just some of the creative ways she helped them to open up and process these difficult situations.
Since 2020, Sarah’s lived in South Africa, using her background in integrative arts psychotherapy to help people living with trauma. Life and ministry look a little different now, but during her time in Cape Town, she helped people by running trauma therapy sessions.
The trauma therapy group started the week together with a dance session, where they could switch off their minds and escape the violence that’s part of their every day.
“Movement and exercise reduce stress levels, which is something everyone in this community can benefit from”, shares Sarah, as she reflected on the impact of the classes.
When Courtney*, Lilly*, Geraldine*, and the other women first arrived, they’d bring in with them all their stresses and struggles from living in the township.
“They’ve been shooting again,” blurted out Courtney, who’d often turn up first and bring with her stories about what had been happening outside.
“Hearing these comments when running weekly therapeutic group sessions would be unusual in many settings. Yet, I regularly heard these, and similar comments from the women who attended,” Sarah shares. As more women join, she pressed play, and the music began…
The group started to warm up and move around the room, and as they listened with their bodies, they’d notice the tensions and emotions they’d been holding onto.
As the session continued, they danced to music with different tempos that helped them connect with their emotions, the space, and each other. A track came on with a soft, flowing pace, and Sarah asked them to imagine they were a bird, noticing what’s around them and what they could see.
“This time to dream enabled them to imagine something different. Instead of being stuck in the normal things they do, they could find a new way of being and living. To dream up somewhere that feels nice. To be with the people they want to be with. To feel the warmth of the sun on their faces,” says Sarah.
After an hour of dancing, the women were still as the session drew to a close. They ended with a much slower piece of music, breathing deeply to settle their minds. In the last hour, they’d had the freedom to switch off their minds and forget all the violence and crime outside.
“What a wonderful way to start the week, to move and dance with people in the township,” Sarah shares.
Once the dancing ended and the group had cooled down, the women sat in a circle and Sarah invited them to share anything from the dancing they’d like to.
“I didn’t feel well and almost didn’t come, but now I feel amazing,” said Geraldine.
Lilly explained how she’d been so busy before she arrived, but now she felt calm. Courtney stayed silent, but Sarah didn’t need her to speak – she knew that dancing helped to grow her confidence.
The whole feel in the room had shifted – the tension caused by trauma and violence had faded. As the women left, they were in a better place to handle the challenges ahead in the new week.
Throughout the women’s time together, Sarah introduced them to different creative ways they could process trauma and connect with one another – dancing was just one of many. Sarah also led a Bible study and an opportunity to pray together, which helped them begin to see the difference Jesus could make to their lives.
“My belief in God is more powerful now. These sessions have helped me so much,” says Geraldine, as the women reflect on the difference the group has made to their lives.
“Looking from a different perspective helped me open my eyes to see that God is always with us, helping us and protecting us. Before you came in, it was just normal. This is our community. There are gangsters…this is just what we live with. I have always prayed for things and myself. But now I want to pray for others in the community so they can be helped as well.”
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
John 10:10
Even though the dance therapy has now come to an end, we pray the times together will be significant in the lives of these women as they continue to grow in their relationship with Jesus.
Read more about Sarah’s work in her book: Life and Hope Out of Darkness
Explore opportunities to serve in Southern Africa.
*Names changed to protect identity.