Moving towards evidence for dance movement therapy: Robin Hood in dialogue with the King

The myth of Robin Hood is used to explore the possible dynamics between arts therapies researchers, and in particular dance movement therapy researchers, and the world of science. As professions positioned in relation to science, arts therapists are in danger of splitting and denigration on the one hand, or appeasement on the other. The case is made for a new way forward that includes making use of what arts therapists do well in terms of creativity and embodied knowing, whilst reaching out into multidisciplinary and international research partnerships. The imperative to evidence arts therapies practice has never been more urgent. Three forms of evidence are explored: Randomised Controlled Trials and systematic reviews of these; process research; and practice-based evidence from more than one practitioner using a core data set of outcome measurement. A case study is offered to demonstrate how routine outcome measures can be used to gather evidence that links outcome to process.