Over
the course of my dance minor classes I have learned about the different
benefits of dance and how they can be used to transform lifestyles. Many people
turn to medications to help with their lifestyle habits but these often come at
the expense of side effects. Throughout my dance minor career at UM, I have
learned that taking a dance class can be just as, if not more effective, then
medications because people can customize the exercises to their needs and
perform them at their pace. The problem is not many people recognize dance as
exercise, therapy, or anything but an art form, when in reality it improves
physical, mental and behavioral health. It is up to us dancers to educate the
world, specifically healthcare professionals, on movement therapy and share why
dance specifically should be a part of everyone’s routine.
In
our class this semester we saw how dance and movement therapy transformed the
lives of children with physical disabilities. It was not surprising to see that
movement therapy produced increases in children’s muscle tone and motor skills
because dancing improves cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and endurance,
and flexibility, (Helmer, Jodi). Although I do not have a
physical disability, I would often come to class feeling very stiff from
sitting in my other classes all day; this class, and all my dance classes over
the years, were so refreshing because I was able to stretch and move. Dance and
movement therapy involves the perfect combination of fitness elements by
working to lengthen and grow your muscles while expending energy in an engaging
way and this is something that I think is what makes dance and movement therapy
effective (Ballet vs. Yoga). If taught correctly, the consistent movement,
muscle engagement, and stretching procedures of dance will help children with
physical disabilities to build muscle tone so they can improve their gross
motor skills and be functionally independent.
In our class this
semester we also saw how dance and movement therapy transformed the lives of
students with mental health conditions. It was not surprising to see that dancing
improved their general sense of well-being and cognitive function because
movement increases the release of dopamine which triggers a reward response in
the brain so you want to keep doing the activity, and it decreases the release
of stress hormones to give an anti-anxiety effect (Bergland, Christopher).
Dance was always my stress reducer. My dance classes as an undergraduate always
encouraged me to use any negative emotions (such as stress from school work)
and channel that into a positive form such as dancing; I could have taken all
my dance classes in one semester but, this is why I decided to break them up
over my career so I could have a break in my schedule each semester. Studies
have shown that those who participate in dance or some kind of musical exercise
routine have seen improvements in their mood and productivity. One study involving
teenagers reported less anxiety, better moods, and another study with a group
of retired seniors improved cognitive function (Dancing and Mental Health).
This makes sense because of the effect that movement has on the activity of
neurotransmitters on the brain and the fact that dance as an art form lends
itself to being a form of expression. These studies show that if taught
correctly, dance can be used as a source of therapy which offers coping
mechanisms to those living with anxiety, depression, and other mental health
conditions.
Lastly, we
observed how dance and movement therapy encouraged healthy behavior practices
in young children and those with diagnosed behavioral conditions. This was not
surprising to see because dance has been found to help with development of social
and interpersonal skills (Staff, Study International). Dance not only
taught me what it meant to be part of a team, but also taught me individual
skills such as work ethic and commitment. This is because dance can involve activities
in groups, so children understand how to share and be aware of others. It is
also because dance involves both opportunities for creativity and also strict
structure so that children can learn to expend energy and also be disciplined. Some
children have a lot of energy and need the structure and discipline, and a
dance class will help them to channel their energy into activities in a better,
more productive way. At the same time, some children may be shy and a dance
class will encourage them to be more comfortable working collaboratively in
groups with their peers. If taught correctly, dance can be used as a form of
discipline that can further social development and help address behavioral
issues.
Most
people think that dance is for children with artistic aptitudes when in reality
it is for everyone. It is one of the most well-rounded art forms because it
improves motor skills, improves cognitive skills, and also improves social and
interpersonal skills all at the same time - in addition to providing an
expressional outlet and entertainment. There are so many benefits to achieve from
a good dance education, but the challenge is convincing patients and healthcare
providers that they are there and worth pursuing. As the next generation of
dance educators we have to continue to show why dance is the best medicine and
why more people should want to become part of the dance community.
References
Maha
Noor Hussain
DAN
385
Professor
Jorge
1
May 2020
Learning Academics Through Dance: Ball Room and Bhangra
Dance is a performing art form consisting
of human movement. These movements have aesthetic and symbolic value towards
dance through the performers' audience. Dancing can make someone feel more
refreshed in a physical sense and can help control emotional problems as dance
can be used to express emotions. Creative skills are used to develop through
dance, including discipline. Every individual benefits from dance, which is why
dancing is significant in the education system and should be included in the
curriculum.
Dance class is a beautiful physical
and artistic activity that leads to an increased level of energy, flexibility,
and muscle control. Dance exercises are stamina building and help form a better
understanding of a healthy lifestyle. Studies show that dance involves a higher
level of movement coordination, strength, and endurance than any other physical
activity. Another benefit when taking dance is that it helps boost memory. When
you move, the levels of chemicals in your brain help nerve cells grow, and your
brainpower is increased to help improve your memory. Dance can also be
therapeutic for people to channel any feelings they experience. Studies show
how dancing diminishes depression; when one focuses and enjoys dancing to one’s
favorite music, it aids in reducing cortisol. This hormone is associated with
stress, which lowers one’s stress and tension.
When someone tells you, dance is
not essential and compares it to a class that is required in the school
curriculum, one should argue that he/she is wrong. Dance education should be
treated equally due to multiple benefits. International advisor on Education in
the Arts, Sir Ken Robinson, argues about the equal importance of dance with the
other arts, language, mathematics, and sciences in the general education of
every child. The social benefits of dance are what makes dance so powerful and effective on individuals, mostly on the young, when they engage in dance
practices such as, for example, ballroom dancing.
Studies show that 95 % of teachers
found that through ballroom dancing and art education, their students were able
to cooperate and developed discipline with each other. Ballroom dancing is
known for being a fun, physical activity as it has many physical benefits.
However, when one learns the dance, many great benefits can be taken away as it
takes us on a journey to build life skills. Tatiana Lingos-Webb's Ted Talk presentation
explains how ballroom dancing enhances a child's education by offering crucial
life skills. She explains how if dance was included as a school subject, one
could build children’s self-confidence. Ballroom dancing is a slow but
developing process that teaches skills required to perfect a child’s performance
ability. Dance helps build strength and courage to express oneself freely in
front of others. The more individual practice and performance of ballroom dance
technique and skills respectively, in front of an audience, the more a child
would feel confident about him/herself when facing other life situations. All
in all, dance is a way to build social skills.
Furthermore, through multiple
studies and views, one can understand why dance can benefit a student
physically, mentally, socially, and well as academically, especially looking at
a more educational picture. Dance education has proven to help children to
develop excellent literacy skills. During dance class, dance exercises will
have a profound effect on the student's academic improvement. Dance is a method
of learning, and dance students learn movement patterns as they learn
languages. Dance learning involves both
sides of the brain left and right, and is one of the most excellent builders of
brain connectors which improves students’ academic language skills.
Kinesthetic abilities also play a
role in the child’s development since they increase information retention through
the physical repetition of tasks. In conclusion, many argue that dance cannot
be in the education system due to not being as important as math, science, or
history. However, I learned that being exposed to dance can make a fantastic
difference. Back home, I would give back to my community by teaching bhangra to
young children. Through this work, I witnessed how many children's lives were
transformed as this dance brought them closer to their culture and also saw
them improve memory as this traditional dance requires a lot of memorization of
movements. Dance must be included in the education system and be a requirement.
It can benefit a student socially, mentally, physically, and academically.
Sources:
1.
Brocksom, Deborah
Preece. “The Importance of a Dance Education.” Tdcps, 18 July 2016,
www.thedancecentreperegiansprings.com/post/2016/07/18/the-importance-of-a-dance-education.s
2.
Dance Teacher.
“Introducing Dance Media Live!: The Ultimate Live Class Series to Get You
Through Quarantine.” Dance
Teacher, Dance Teacher, 5 May 2020, www.dance-teacher.com/dance-media-live-class-series-2645924383.html.
3.
“Why Dance Is
Important.” Fired, 2020,
firedupdanceacademy.com/classes/why-dance-is-important/.
12
Rundian Yuan
Dan385
Morejon Jorge L
5/6/20
Multimedia Technology Resources in Dance Education
In now-days society,
multimedia technology is widely used in dance teaching. The dance class
is a practical course which, unlike the lecture classes that are purely theoretical, emphasizes the practice. However the current dance teaching is
still used by dance teachers who use the oral teaching method, which limits students'
artistic imagination and teachers' teaching efficiency. In order to expand the
limits of traditional teaching methods, the introduction of multimedia
teaching resources (MTR) will make a great change in dance teaching. Multimedia is a broad term for combining multiple media formats such as text, audio, still images, animation, video and interactivity.
Slides, for example,
are multimedia as they combine text and images, and sometimes video and
other types. They enrich the
teaching content and have relatively high demands on students' practice.
Therefore, this method can greatly improve the quality of dance instruction.
The content of multimedia is vivid,
which improves the level of interests of the students. In the traditional
teaching methods, dance teachers and classmates teach students some dance
movements. The efficiency of this method is relatively low, and the difficulty
of students 'learning
is relatively high. As people’s
pursuit of art continues to increase, the current number of dance teachers is very limited. Therefore,
a dance teacher sometimes needs to train a large number of students. In the
classroom, they cannot pay close attention to each student.
Many students are
slacking in their learning attitude because the teacher can’t take care of them one-on-one. Introducing
MTR allows students to learn dance movements by
watching dance teaching videos. On the one hand, it could liberate the pressure
off the teacher enabling the teacher to pay more attention to the students' learning
results. Also, the students can repeatedly study through the MTR. They can improve not only by practicing in the classroom, but also watching the
MTR after class for review.
Sometimes the actions
that are difficult for the teacher to describe in language can be easily
understood through MTR with more details. Although MTR have
certain teaching advantages, they rely on students' learning autonomy.
Therefore they cannot replace the leading position of
dance teachers in teaching. Yet MTR could "fully mobilize students' active participation and interest in learning, change passive learning into active learning, to broaden the students' thinking and imagination space" (aip.scitation.org). Thus, traditional teaching method, which relies on the
explanation of dance moves that students imitate could be complemented by MTR. The learning process, often rigid, along with students' mechanical training, could become more accessible and relaxing. If MTR are not implemented, some students
may feel that they don't get the charm of dance and gradually lose their
interest in learning. While MTR make up for the
shortcomings in traditional teaching; they cannot replace the rapport dance teachers create with students, reason why the two combined are important.
Therefore, MTR
can easily awake students' interest
in learning. Yet, not all students can learn so much content through MTR. Teachers are still required to explain and reduce the
difficulty of learning. Thus, by strengthening the mixing of
MTR and traditional teaching methods can students have a better educational environment. Only then, can they enhance their artistic
accomplishments and stage performance abilities.
Dance requires
continuous practice in order to improve. Therefore, it is not
enough to rely on watching some multimedia videos and listening to the
teacher's explanations. Only continuous practice will improve students'
learning. Many moves seem relatively simple, but it is not an easy thing to be
able to show the charm contained in the movements. So teachers have to keep continuous
contact with their students in order to discover the essence of their dances.
In traditional teaching, many
students use mirrors to supervise their technical progress. But there is no
way to pay attention to every detail of students' movement with the standard movement corrections from the teacher.
Recording the movements, and comparing them with the movements in the
multimedia textbook, can easily allow students to identify the shortcomings of their technique movements and how to improve it.
Multimedia
teaching resources are an emerging dance teaching method that not too many schools have put into practice yet. However, with the popularization of multimedia equipment,
multimedia teaching methods will soon be integrated into dance teaching.
Teachers should prepare themselves to improve their knowledge of multimedia teaching resources and how to apply them. At the same time, schools should also pay more
attention to dance teaching in order to improve access to relevant multimedia equipment as they work
together to improve the quality level of dance education.
References
Yuan, Ben. "The construction of multimedia teaching resource base based on campus network." https://aip.scitation.org/doi/pdf/10.1063/1.4977412
13
Grace Migliozzi
Dr. Jorge Morejón
DAN 385
Dance
Education & Exceptional Student Education (ESE)
Dance is
“the movement of the body in a rhythmic way, usually to music and within a
given space, for the purpose of expressing an idea or emotion, releasing
energy, or simply taking delight in the movement itself” (Mackrell). Though
this is a broad definition of dance, society’s belief in what constitutes dance
instruction is often very narrowly confined to official forms of dance such as
ballet, jazz, and tap. When considering how to introduce children with special
needs to the world of dance, we should adopt the more flexible definition, as
language is a very powerful tool of communication. We should be offering
students the opportunity to express themselves creatively and experience the
joy that movement can provide without relying on the strict choreography and
discipline that many traditional dance classes require.
The many
benefits of teaching dance to exceptional students can have a profound impact
on their physical and emotional wellness. Through dance instruction we can
increase physical fitness, improve flexibility, strength and motor skills,
increase confidence and self-esteem, engage creativity and imagination, relieve
stress, and diminish depression. We can
achieve all of these goals using strengths-based practices, fully engaging both
the minds and bodies of students who find many of life’s daily activities and
interpersonal interactions challenging.
With small adaptations, we can make the world of dance available to any
student.
Dance has
proved to be a venue for connecting these children with others on a more
emotional level. The New York Times published an article on the positive
benefits of dance instruction on children with autism (Hollow, 2019). They related the story of James Griffin, a
14year old boy on the autism spectrum who struggled with speech and emotional
connection. James began a regular dance instruction program. Now, James says
“Go dance, go dance ”immediately after school and in a moment of joy on the
dance floor, looked at his mom and said “I love you” for the first time in his
life. According to Anjana Bhat, a
professor at the University of Deleware, other parents found that their own
children with autism responded positively and were more engaging while and
after participating in musical activities as well (Hollow, 2019).
Dance is
beneficial for those with disorders that adversely affect motor coordination, flexibility,
and strength as well (Dabalsa, 2017). Movement creates increased muscle mass, balance,
and cardio fitness, as well as increased dexterity in gross motor skills. Along
with these benefits, dance creates a greater sense of spatial awareness that
improves coordination and general movement. Within the context of Down
syndrome, educators involved in a particular study reported that “students
[with Down syndrome] who participated in the program displayed improved communication
skills, improved body awareness, and improved respect for personal boundaries”
(Munsell & Davis, 2014).
Unfortunately,
the population of those with special needs and disabilities often faces a lack
of social acceptance. Participating in dance classes provides a much needed
outlet for developing friendships with peers and promoting social acceptance.
With encouragement from dance instructors and fellow dancers, these exceptional
students can demonstrate an increase in self-esteem and self-awareness, both
precursors to overall emotional well-being. This encouragement allows dancers
with special needs to feel like they are a part of their learning. Rather than
being held back, they are given the opportunity to be self-sufficient. Learning
something new and working towards a larger goal gives students, with or without
exceptionalities, a sense of accomplishment and gratification. Great dancers
are great for their technique, of course, but more importantly they are great
because of their infectious passion. Passion comes in many packages, and all
students, no matter what their physical or learning challenges, should be
provided the opportunity to tap into theirs.
