REF introduces to its audience a Roma Memorial University Scholarship Beneficiary from Montana, Bulgaria – Antoaneta Ivanova.
REF Communications noticed her diploma thesis on art therapy, some findings of which will be presented below.
Antoaneta has 10 years of experience in the field of medicine. In 2015 she got enrolled in Master Program in Health Care Management in Sofia. This was the time she applied for Roma Memorial University Scholarship at the Roma Education Fund. “It was an honor to meet Roma colleagues in the field of health care thanks to the #scholarship, whom I did not know before, because I was among the first medical students in the country”, says Antoaneta.
The story continues from first person, since REF cannot and dares not to recreate her energy and emotion:
“A few years ago, my grandfather told me: “If you want to understand a person – watch how the person dances! This will disguise one’s nature and personality. If the one cannot or doesn’t want to dance – stay away from them!” My grandad’s words remained deep in my mind. I started watching how people dance. Old people in the Roma community “interpret” a woman’s dancing and this is how they select their daughters-in-law. “This girl dances in a dynamic, joyful way, so she’ll be a vital and nimble housewife who will rotate several things at once in the house”, they assume. “The other one, she dances like she is barely alive, probably she would be difficult to communicate with, sort of a “beetroot”. She wouldn’t care if a dish is burning”, they will comment on another one.
This inspiration was the incentive to choose the topic for my diploma thesis. I wanted to learn more about non-verbal language. There was this professor at the university, who wrote the first books and expertise in Bulgaria on art therapy. No one wanted to work with him, as the professor was viewed as a hard character and pretty demanding. A huge compliment for me was when the professor took out his special pen and wrote an excellent grade for my thesis “ART THERAPY – ESSENCE AND OPPORTUNITIES”. Then the academic mentor handed my work to a PhD candidate with the words, “Such piece of work is what I demanded from you, read it carefully.”
I will share some of the findings from the mentioned thesis. Historical facts show that the healing power of art therapy has been already discovered in ancient Egypt, China, India and Greece. In particular, the dance therapy is the most ancient form of healing. Its basic principle is the relationship between the movement and the emotion and the way it conceives in the patient.
There are 40 uneven beats in the musical realm of Bulgaria. And through the beats, “horo”, the traditional folklore dance (also “kolo” in Serbian, “czárdás” in Hungarian, etc.), raises the earth vibrations and helps us heal our bodies.
Paydushko horo (size 5/8) rejuvenates heart, lymphatic system, eyesight and cures headache. It also works in the frequency of love.
Elenino horo (13/16 size) helps with psychological disorders.
Daychovo, Cherkezko, Varnensko, Grancharsko horo – all of them are 9/8 in size and act on the consciousness.
Petrunino horo (size 12/16) stimulates the thyroid gland and the throat and evokes a sense of compassion.
When people hold hands and dance in a circle, they feel a special bond and togetherness. The circle has a special magic power.
