As a dance educator for 25 years and a dancer for more than 35, I am passionate about sharing the benefits of taking dance classes as a child. I’ve seen firsthand the positive effects of dance training on thousands of children. I’ve seen where the skills they learned in my classroom led them to embark on prestigious careers. I may be slightly biased, but I’m also a product of the process.
We all know the obvious physical benefits of choosing dance as an extracurricular activity for your child. Through repetition, Dance utilizes the entire body and teaches coordination, strength, and stamina. Any physical activity that gets your child off the couch and their phones for a few hours a week has countless health benefits. However, have you ever considered the other benefits?
Thankfully, with the recent mental health movement, parents are considering a child’s emotional well-being when choosing an extracurricular activity. One of the most fundamental lessons a dance class teaches is how to communicate through movement. Dance is used to tell stories and express emotions. This provides a creative outlet for a child to express their emotions, lessening the effects of stress and anxiety.
Additionally, self-confidence is a prime focus in every class. With every new skill learned, self-confidence is cultivated. These skills may not get mastered immediately , but each gain a child makes builds their confidence and self-esteem, leading to a sense of pride in their progress.
Our society revolves around working with others. Humans are predisposed to interact with one another, but this skill needs to be nurtured. The structure of a dance class introduces children to teamwork, cooperation, and respect at a very early age. In my youngest classes, for example, students take turns demonstrating steps and sharing props. These skills are reinforced and tested as a child grows through a dance program. For instance, as an older group prepares for a performance, they face problem solving their weaknesses and persevering to attain their end goal, their best performance. I find this to be one of the most fascinating by-products of dance class. Even after all these years, I’m still amazed at how these young adults can work together, put aside differences, and use the knowledge they’ve learned to work through the issues in their cohesiveness.
Dance does not just improve physical strength. It also promotes cognitive development in many ways, providing parents with confidence about their child’s mental growth. Dance requires an enormous amount of focus and concentration, causing the brain to always be stimulated. Memory is enhanced when learning and recalling choreography. Spatial awareness is improved when students learn through movement. Rhythm and timing are enhanced with continued exposure to music and beats. Group all these brain exercises together, and you have a very healthy mental workout! The best news is that research has shown that dancing throughout your life lessens the risk of cognitive decline.
Another huge benefit of dance is learning responsibility and discipline. Time and time again, I’ve heard from my “alumni” students crediting learning the importance of these skills by taking dance classes at a young age. This wonderful group of “alumni” students have grown up to become doctors, nurses, engineers, teachers, dancers, and successful business professionals. They’ve told me over the years that the goal setting required in dance set them up to attend prestigious universities, push to obtain postgraduate degrees, and finally land their dream jobs. If this doesn’t prove how beneficial dance education truly is, I don’t know what does.
Lastly, introducing a child to a dance class builds the framework for an appreciation of the arts that will last a lifetime. Whether through dance, music, theater, or physical art, the arts provide joy and a sense of connection in our society. Instilling an appreciation for the arts in a young child gives them an outlet to feel and express themselves throughout their lives. It also provides a safe space to escape from the stresses of reality.
When you enroll your child in a dance class, they not only benefits in the ways listed above but also gains awareness of oneself and their peers. This awareness can produce some of the most productive members of society. So, if you’ve been on the fence about enrolling your child in class, try it this year. The numerous benefits that your child will learn will extend far beyond the dance classroom and this year!
