Projects per year
Personal profile
Teaching interests
- Dance Movement Psychotherapy
- Arts, Health & Wellbeing
- Embodied Self-Care (The Body Hotel)
- Embodied Decision Making
- Violence prevention through Movement
- Physical Theatre
- Dance Education
- Choreography / Performance
- Interdisciplinary Practice
- Work with LGBT+ Community
- International Professional Development
- Workshop Facilitation & Curriculum Development
Research interests
Dr Thania Acarón (she/her) is a lecturer, performer, choreographer and dance movement therapist from Puerto Rico, currently based in Wales. She obtained her PhD on the role of dance in violence prevention at the University of Aberdeen (2015). Dr Acarón holds a master’s degree in Dance Education from New York University (2003) with Alternate Route Certification in Dance Movement Therapy since 2004 and advanced certifications in clinical supervision and private practice in the UK (R-DMP) and US (BC-DMT). Thania currently works as lecturer and course leader in arts, health & wellbeing and performance at the Faculty of Creative Industries at University of South Wales. Acarón has taught in over 10 DMT training programmes around the world.
Acarón holds a strong research focus on diversity in therapeutic practice and offers international workshops on therapeutic work with the LGBTQ+ community, embodied decision-making, violence prevention and dance movement psychotherapy (DMP). To further consolidate this work, in 2020 she founded The Body Hotel CIC, (@thebodyhotel )a dance movement psychotherapy social enterprise which provides training, professional development programmes & dance movement psychotherapy services to the health, wellbeing, education & arts sectors and underrepresented communities.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 1 Active
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Body Questions in Practice: Decision Making through Movement and the Arts
Acarón, T., May 2025, Routledge. 500 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review
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Editors’ Note
Robinson, A. B. & Acarón, T., 5 Apr 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: American Journal of Dance Therapy. 46, 1, p. 1-2 2 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review
Open Access -
Editors’ Note
Robinson, A. B. & Acarón, T., 24 Sept 2024, In: American Journal of Dance Therapy. 46, 2, p. 103-104 2 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review
Open Access -
Improving Well-Being and Resilience of Healthcare Workforce Through the Body Hotel Dance Movement Programme: A Social Return on Investment Analysis
Filipponi, T., Lynch, M., Wallace, C. & Acarón, T., 11 Oct 2024.Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract › peer-review
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The Body Hotel: Dance/Movement Interventions for Employee Wellbeing & Occupational Health
Acarón, T., Filipponi, T. (ed.), Wallace, C. (ed.) & Lynch, M. (ed.), 2024.Research output: Contribution to conference › Other › peer-review
Activities
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Dance Professions: Body Movement and Dance for Wellbeing
Thania Acarón (Speaker)
11 Nov 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Learning Disability Nurses Day: Creating Nonverbal Connections: The Power of Movement
Thania Acarón (Speaker)
1 Nov 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Bi Voices & VisibilityBi Lleisiau a Gwelededd
Thania Acarón (Speaker), Precious O'Driscoll (Speaker) & Yasmeen Multani (Speaker)
23 Sept 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Organising an event
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Taith Mobility Grant: Chile
Thania Acarón (Lecturer)
16 May 2024 → 16 Jun 2024Activity: Other › Types of External academic engagement - Contribution to the work of national or international committees and working groups
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Women of the Arts Panel
Thania Acarón (Speaker)
9 May 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
Prizes
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Ambassador of Dance (Puerto Rico International Dance Festival)
Acarón, Thania (Recipient), 2017
Prize: National/international honour
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Bonnie Bird / Marion North Choreographic Award
Acarón, Thania (Recipient), 2016
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Finalist: Wales Startup Awards UK
Acarón, Thania (Recipient), 22 Jun 2023
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Puerto Rico Ambassador of Dance: Puerto Rico International Dance Festival
Acarón, Thania (Recipient), 2016
Prize: National/international honour
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The Diversity and Inclusion Awards Wales 2024
Acarón, Thania (Recipient), Nov 2024
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)