Posts Tagged ‘Benefits of dance for kids’

I read an interesting article at NYTimes.com published on January 6, 2010- Well: Do You Overestimate Your Child’s Activity, by Tara Parker- Pope. The article is based on a study conducted in Norfolk, England of 1,892 children between the ages of 9 and 10, all of whom attend 92 different schools and their parents.

 The children were given accelerometers, which are gadgets that measure physical activity within a specific period of time. They participated in what is known as the Speedy study, which is an acronym for- Sport, Physical Activity and Eating Behavior: Environmental Determinants in Young People. Children were given exercises to perform and when the data was collected, it was discovered that most of them were getting a good amount of physical activity. On the other hand, 39% of girls and 18% of boys were not.

 Many of the parents of the children whose physical activity was insufficient thought that their children were in fact getting enough (according to published data in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.) Ironically, parents of slim girls were the most disillusioned about their children’s lack of physical activity. To read the full article go to: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/06/how-active-is-your-child/         

In New York City public high schools the strong correlation between students’ academic growth and exposure to the arts has been proven successful. Based on a New York Times, Arts Briefly article titled- Arts Education and Graduation Rates by Rachel Lee Harris, it was founded that high schools with the highest graduation rates also offered the most arts education programs to students.  

 This data is based on a report issued in October 2009 by the Center for Arts Education. The report is quite dense so I’ve highlighted some points that I think are most significant:

• These schools had external funds to support the arts that were more than likely raised by the schools.
• Students in these high schools completed at least 3 types of arts courses.
• Students were offered a multiyear sequence in the arts.
• Students in these particular high schools had exposure to arts activities, such as: a dance recital, a Broadway performance, or the orchestra.

To read the full report go to www.cae-nyc.org.

I was honored to be a participant at the 1st annual Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service’s (BBCS) East New York Wellness Day, outdoor fair on Wednesday, July 29, 2009.  The day was fun-filled for families and children with music, face painting, tasty refreshments, and a live marching band. There were free health screenings available, and opportunities for adults to give blood. The primary focus of the event was on children, and providing them with tools on how to take care of their bodies and maintain good health.

I taught a beginner modern dance class to a group of energetic, enthusiastic kids from the East New York area of Brooklyn. Much to my delight these children were so focused, and eager to dance! (A dance teacher’s dream.) I was particularly excited to have boys who stepped up to the front and were uninhibited in their expression (I have found that boys tend to be less open to learning modern dance.)

    Dancing is a fantastic way for kids to get in shape; however the benefits of dance in a child’s life are far more than physical. I like the way Creative Dance Teacher Mary Joyce states it in her book, Teaching Creative Dance to Children: “Children find a fulfillment through dance that can be realized through no other discipline, because dance simultaneously involves the inner being and the physical body…dance experience teaches children both awareness and control of movement. They use these skills in games, sports, and everyday living…movement is closely connected with the mind and the spirit. It is inherent in any kind of growth activity. The act of growing is movement. Mentally, spiritually, and physically, children need to move-a lot.”

In addition to my dance class, kids and their families were able to sign up for a Brooklyn public library card, and had the thrill of meeting Maurice Evans, a professional football player with the New York Giants who also gave many tips about exercise. 

The Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service’s 1st annual East New York Wellness Day- It was definitely a day well spent, and an event I was proud to be a part of.