Why Dance?

 
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Dance is a fantastic physical activity for young people, especially for those resistant to participating in competitive sports.

It can promote general well-being, physical fitness, emotional well-being and healthy attitudes to the body and lifestyle choices.

Physical benefits:

  • Healthier heart and lungs

  • Stronger muscles

  • Stronger bones and reduced risk of osteoporosis

  • Better co-ordination, agility and flexibility

  • Improved balance and enhanced spatial awareness

  • Increased physical confidence

  • Improved mental functioning

  • Increased energy expenditure

Personal and social benefits:

  • Improved general and psychological well-being

  • Greater self-confidence and self-esteem

  • Increased trust

  • Better social skills

  • Reduced isolation and exclusion

Life:

  • Communication and negotiation skills; experience in giving and taking feedback

  • Skills in working with others to achieve goals

  • Problem-solving

  • Leadership skills

  • Flexibility and experience of working in different ways

  • Ability to respond creatively to challenges and generate innovative ideas

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Dance offers young people a wide range of physical, psychological, social and emotional benefits including: 

Artistic and aesthetic understanding:

  • Understanding of a core artistic discipline; access to a unique means of translating ideas, expressing meaning and communicating with others

  • Kinaesthetic, physical, spatial and visual awareness

  • Integrating the processes of performing, making, and observing

  • Making informed and critical judgements

  • Developing creative thought and action

Cultural awareness:

  • Appreciation of diversity in cultures, cultural values and traditions

  • Physical empathy and understanding of difference and well-being

  • Co-ordination, control, posture, strength, stamina, flexibility and mobility

  • Physical confidence, enjoyment in moving

  • Developing a responsible attitude to health and well-being

Learning:

  • Learning through spatial, kinaesthetic, and visual modes

  • Enhanced memory through physical patterning and repetition

  • Observation, analysis and developing strategies to improve performance

  • Exploring and experimenting

  • Attention, focus and bringing whole self to the moment

  • Enjoyment, motivation, inspiration, aspiration and achievement