The DMTLDA is an 18-month, 376-hour certification programme that prepares participants to become Therapeutic Movement Practitioners and Facilitators.

Course Highlights-

• Certificate Title: Therapeutic Movement Practitioner and Facilitator
• Duration: 18 months (376 hours)

Through this academy, participants—especially survivors, underprivileged, and marginalized women, girls and youth—are trained to:

• Facilitate need-specific therapeutic movement practices in communities
• Strengthen community-based mental health support in low-resource settings
• Provide appropriate referrals and pathways for deeper care
• Drive collective healing, resilience, and social change

Marginalized youth face systemic discrimination and limited access to credible wellbeing education.

Key Problems-

• Systemic inequality and exclusion
• Low access to mental-health/creative services

Co-founded by survivors of gender-based violence, trafficking, and systemic oppression, Kolkata Sanved has demonstrated that individuals from vulnerable and marginalized backgrounds can rise as professional DMT practitioners and lead meaningful social transformation. At the heart of this mission lies our belief: healing and leadership can emerge from lived experience.

Participants transform through practice, reflection, and mentorship—gaining identity, dignity, and purpose.

The program leads to-

• Healing → growth → leadership
• Discovery of potential and independence
• Awareness of mental health via DMT

Graduates of the programme have not only experienced personal healing and growth but have also undergone transformative life-cycle changes, breaking free from cycles of vulnerability. Today, many serve as:

•       Community change agents
•       DMT facilitators
•       Champions of resilience, wellbeing, and empowerment

Through the DMTLDA, Kolkata Sanved continues to build a new generation of healers, changemakers and DMT entrepreneurs  who use dance and movement towards healing, justice, and social change.

Bringing education and mental health together through the arts for inclusive futures.

Domains:

• Social Development
• Mental Health
• Creative Arts
• SDGs: 3, 4, 5 & 10

Underprivileged youth/young women in collaborative community hubs.

Geographies: West Bengal-Kolkata, Howrah, Birbhum, South 24 Parganas

Collaborative Partners include 

• Nari O Sishu Kalyan Kendra  (NOSKK), Howrah
• Antaranga School, Birbhum 
• Hope Foundation, Kolkata 
• Jeevika Development Society, Kolkata
• Mental Wellness Trust, Kolkata
• Groups: Youth and young women aspiring to DMT careers

Over the past two decades, more than 519 individuals have grown into certified Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) practitioners and DMT for change leaders through this programme.

A growing cadre of leaders professionalizes DMT and integrates it into workplaces and services.

Key Outcomes-

• Pool of trained DMT practitioners
• Leaders and changemakers from marginalized communities
• DMT integrated across professional fields
• Ongoing enrollment into DMTLDA/ Post Graduate Diploma in DMT (PGDDMT)