What can dance do for health?

Dance is an appealing 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 can help counteract unwanted weight gain

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

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

Life:

• Confidence and self-esteem

• 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