Conceptual framework for creative dance-based practice in cerebral palsy rehabilitation: mini review

In recent years, shifting paradigms in cerebral palsy (CP) rehabilitation have highlighted approaches that promote autonomous movement through active participation, including goal-directed training, task-specific training, context-focused therapy, and constraint-induced movement therapy. Dance has increasingly been recognized in neurorehabilitation as a promising intervention capable of supporting physical, cognitive, and social functioning. Among various dance practices, this mini review focuses on the conceptual framework of creative dance. Creative dance centers on the process of generating movement, which aligns with contemporary paradigms in cerebral palsy rehabilitation. Additionally, because creative dance values the discovery and development of new and unique movements, it provides a setting in which movements, whether with or without disabilities, are respected and accepted as having equal value. These values play a crucial role in fostering a sense of achievement, interest, motivation, and sustained engagement, all of which are emphasized in rehabilitation for individuals with cerebral palsy. However, despite its potential, creative dance remains in the early stages of development as a rehabilitation modality. Establishing a solid evidence base will require a clearer understanding of the movement methodology underlying creative dance. In this mini review, I examine the movement methodology embedded in creative dance-based practice (CBP) and propose a conceptual framework to support its implementation within rehabilitation contexts for individuals with CP.