SCIENCE REVEALS THE BENEFITS OF DANCE
The benefits of dance have been the subject of much research in the past 20 years, and that research has unveiled a wealth of benefits, from intellectual and social to mental and physical. If you’re looking to boost your child’s confidence, fitness level and mental well-being (and possibly to save the world), consider what the research has shown.
DANCE IMPROVES ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
According to the National Endowment for the Arts, students who regularly participate in dance lessons:
Earn higher GPAs overall over their nonparticipating peers
Are more likely to complete calculus
Enjoy higher test scores on SATs and particularly in science and writing
Perform better in math and science
Enroll in 4-year colleges, earn mostly A’s in college and complete bachelor degrees
Additional research from the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies show that “Arts participation and SAT scores co-vary—that is, they tend to increase linearly: the more arts classes, the higher the scores.”
DANCE IMPROVES PHYSICAL FITNESS
The National Dance Education Organization reports that regular dance classes:
Involve a greater range of motion, coordination, strength and endurance than most other physical activities.
Increase a child’s flexibility, range of motion, physical strength, stamina, improve posture, balance, coordination and overall cardiovascular health.
DANCE IMPROVES SOCIAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING
Dance also offers a host of social and emotional benefits, especially helpful in adolescent years:
According to a study published in the International Journal of Neuroscience, dance significantly changes serotonin and dopamine levels (feel-good hormones), improving depression, anxiety and mood while reducing interpersonal sensitivity, relieving tension and improving self-esteem.
Dance also fosters social encounters, interaction, cooperation and communication.
As research continues, so too does the evidence for dance’s singular benefits for the whole child: mind, body and spirit.