Fairmount Center for the Arts Launches Creative Arts Therapies Program

Fairmount Center for the Arts Launches
Creative Arts Therapies Program
The program will be one of only a few featuring Dance/Movement Therapy in Northeast Ohio

Fairmount Center for the Arts is excited to announce their new Creative Arts Therapies program focused on Dance/Movement Therapy, which will debut this June with three programs and individual sessions offered at their Novelty and Chardon campuses.

Creative Arts Therapies include the use of therapeutic interventions in artistic mediums, including dance, music, visual arts, drama, and poetry to facilitate change, emotional expression, enhance self-awareness, and foster overall well-being. “Building upon our extensive history in dance education, we are excited to begin our Creative Arts Therapies programming centered on dance/movement therapy,” said Elizabeth Bolander, executive director.

Brittany Armstrong, the creative arts therapies director, will lead the program, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise that sets it apart from others.

Brittany Armstrong, Creative Arts Therapies Director

Armstrong’s diverse background encompasses dance/movement therapy, yoga, and clinical training. Her passion for dance/movement therapy ignited after college, leading her to teach adapted dance classes, become a certified yoga instructor, and seize every opportunity to immerse herself in dance classes and performance experiences.

As she began her journey toward becoming a Dance/Movement Therapist, she enrolled at Kinections Institute in Rochester, New York. During her studies, she engaged in an intensive exploration of the Dance/Movement Therapy methodology “LivingDance~LivingMusic,” participating in immersive programs in Corfu, Greece, and Hanoi, Vietnam. Her training continued under the mentorship of Danielle Fraenkel, a leading figure in the field who was directly trained by some of the pioneering founders of Dance/Movement Therapy. LivingDance~LivingMusic will be one of the three programs offered this summer.

For those seeking a path to self-discovery and healing, Armstrong highlights that the Creative Arts Therapies program is designed for individuals looking to reconnect with themselves, express emotions creatively, and explore new avenues of healing. “Whether you're navigating stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, decreased motivation, neurodivergence, developmental delay, life transitions, or an overall feeling of being “stuck,” there's a space here for you,” Armstrong explains.

For individuals who may feel uncertain or hesitant about joining, Armstrong reassures that each group and individual session provides a welcoming and supportive space to move, create, express, and reflect. “Activities may include guided dance and movement, music, simple art-making, and group connection,” Armstrong explains. “People are always encouraged to engage in ways that feel authentic to them—there’s no pressure to perform or share.” And for those who don’t have prior dance experience, she adds, “No prior experience with art or dance is needed—just curiosity and openness.”

For more information about Fairmount Center’s Creative Arts Therapies programs and individual sessions launching this summer, visit fairmountcenter.org/creative-arts-therapies. To register or inquire further, simply complete the interest form on the website—Armstrong will reach out to individuals directly.

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About Fairmount Center for the Arts

The mission of Fairmount Center for the Arts is to enrich lives through the arts. For more than 54 years, Fairmount Center for the Arts has provided a space for individual expression and the opportunity for all to explore the arts through classes, workshops, community performances and cultural programs. For more information or to register for classes, music lessons and special events visit fairmountcenter.org or call (440) 338-3171.

The Fairmount Center for the Arts is supported in part by the Figgie Foundation and Ohio Arts Council (OAC), which receives support from the State of Ohio and the National Endowment for the Arts. The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally and economically.