In the Struggle to Balance Dance and School, Don't Give Up On the Arts

DanceHere | Sep 10, 2008 | 2

Your work in dance class can help when you have to hit the books later

It's hard to do everything you need to for school, friends, homework, and dance class. We're now a few weeks into a new school year, and your packed schedule is probably starting to wear you out.

If you're thinking of freeing up some time by giving up activities, don't drop dance. Even though it requires time and energy, research shows that your participation in dance can actually help you succeed in school.

Studies on Arts and Learning

"Champions of Change: The Impact of the Arts on Learning" is a book about seven major research experiments that tested whether participation in the arts could improve students' learning abilities. Overall, these studies showed that when students participate in the artsâ€"including danceâ€" they do demonstrate enhanced learning and achievement in school.

"Critical Evidence: How the ARTS Benefit Student Achievement," is a study by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. This study also reported on the positive connection between arts and improved learning.

Here are a few facts about how dance improves your learning:

   * Dance has been employed to develop reading readiness in very young children ("Critical Evidence" page 11)
    * Those who studied dance scored higher than non-dancers on measures of creative thinking in an experimental research study of high school age students ("Critical Evidence" page 15)
    * A group of juvenile offenders and other disenfranchised youth, ages 13 to 17, reported significant gains in confidence, tolerance and persistence after taking jazz and hip hop dance classes twice weekly for 10 weeks ("Critical Evidence" page 14)
    * Students in a dance troupe learn to plan, explain their ideas, argue for a particular tactic, and articulate strategies when they help select performance themes and organize practice schedules ("Champions of Change" page 25).
    * Students who learn the arts in school often express their thoughts and ideas, exercise their imaginations, take risks in their learning, and demonstrate their learning better than students who receive little arts instruction in school ("Champions of Change" page 38-39)


Stick It Out In Dance

Do your best to keep up your commitment to dance, even if you feel pressured to lighten your weekday responsibilities. Not only is dance a great way to stay fit and burn stress, but it's also a good tool for success in school. The skills that you learn in dance and in school--creative thinking, problem solving, and teamwork--will help you throughout your whole life.

Good luck in school, and enjoy the new dance year!

Check out all our posts on dance, dance careers, technique, dance history, and more by visiting our blog at DanceHere.com

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Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Modern, Teacher, Parent (all tags)