KEEPS YOU FIT!
Dancing can burn as many calories as walking, swimming, or riding a bicycle. During a half hour or sustained dancing, you can burn between 200 an 400 calories. Dance can lead to a slower heart rate, lower blood pressure, and and improved cholesterol profile. The side to side movements of many dances strengthen your weight bearing bones (tibia, fibula, and femur) and can help prevent or slow loss of bone mass.
BUILDS CONFIDENCE!
It builds your confidence and the ability to enjoy yourself more in performance and public settings. As you master dance technique, you will notice your ability to lead a group will also strengthen.
IMPROVES SOCIAL SKILLS!
Dancing contains a social component that solitary fitness endeavours don’t offer. It gives you an opportunity to meet new people and develop strong relationships which contribute to self-esteem and a positive outlook. It also helps in life skills like working as a team.
MAKES YOU THINK CREATIVELY!
As long as you breathe, anyone can dance. Dance provides opportunities of success to those who find it difficult to think in one way. Divergent learning versus convergent learning allows students of all abilities to achieve success!
UNITES COMMUNITIES!
In all cultures, communities, and countries, dance is and always has been an integral part of uniting people across generations. It is used in celebrations, ceremonies, and story telling to mark important events throughout history. It crosses all boundaries of age, race, language, and gender.
DID YOU KNOW?…
Youth who participate in the arts for at least 3 hours on 3 days each week through at least one full year are:
1) 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement.
2) 3 times more likely to be elected to class office within their schools.
3) 4 times more likely to participate in a math and science fair.
4) 3 times more likely to win an award for school attendance.
5) 4 times more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem.
Young artists, as compared with their peers, are likely to:
1) Attend music, art, and dance classes nearly three times as frequently.
2) Participate in youth groups nearly 4 times as frequently.
3) Read for pleasure nearly twice as often.
4) Perform community service more than 4 times as often
(“Living the Arts through Language + Learning: A Report on Community based Youth Organizations,” Shirley Brice Heath, Standford University and Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Americans for the Arts Monograph, November 1998)