As these volunteers swayed to the beat this Friday, one thing was evident —- they were not just dancing. “We use dance movements as an alternative mode to the psychosocial rehabilitation of victims of violence and trafficking, mentally-challenged patients and people suffering from HIV/AIDS,” said Sohini Chakraborty of the NGO.

The volunteers, who demonstrated the benefits of the therapy, were trained by Bonnie Bernstein, an expert from the US, who has been using dance as a healing tool for years. “When a person is physically abused, his or her entire personality is affected. It leaves psychological scars. Dance therapy addresses the complex relationship between the body and the mind and becomes an effective tool of healing,” said Bernstein. She trained these volunteers for over three weeks, in a ninety-hour intensive course.

For the members of Kolkata Sanved, which began as a shelter home for rescued victims of trafficking and sexual abuse, this was an opportunity to understand the art of dance. “We hope this will help the victims understand their rights and find ways to integrate with the mainstream,” said Chakrab-orty. The idea, she added was to enable these volunteers help other victims.

“Dance therapy has proved to be an empowering experience. It has helped me reclaim my body and life. I hope I can help others now,” says S Khatoon, a victim and a member of Kolkata Sanved.