The finished product is all most people see and the only
knowledge most have of dance. Performers are made-up and ready to put their
best work on the floor for audiences to enjoy. However, dance is more than a
set of steps to music. Dance is a learning process.
Dance allows participants to learn about themselves. A study
completed in 20081 found that participants in dance classes found a
new respect for their body, gained confidence within them, and found a new
respect for others and their diverse cultures.
Dance also teaches the participant how to intrinsically
motivate themselves to overcome obstacles by problem solving. A study performed
in 20012 showed that through the learning process of dance, the
participants learned to adjust their body to match and overcome their struggles
with choreography. The participants in that study also had to intrinsically
motivate themselves when learning difficult choreography that forced them to
push themselves harder.
Dance is more than meets the eye. Most people do not know
what goes on behind the curtain, where dancers work through a lot of struggle. However,
through the struggle, dancers learn something new about themselves or
find out what they have within themselves.
Sources
1 Gardner, S., Komesaroff, P., & Fensham, R. (2008).
Dancing beyond exercise: young people's experiences in dance classes. Journal
of Youth Studies, 11(6), 701-709. doi:10.1080/13676260802393294
2 Lazaroff, E. M. (2001). Performance and Motivation in
Dance Education. Arts Education Policy Review, 103(2), 23
I have great respect for dancers. I really never viewed dance as much of a sport until I tried it myself to just a simple routine for a skit. Never in my life have I ever felt more uncoordinated and embarrassed than when I tried to perform an actual choreographed routine. It's one thing to be able to just have a few freestyle moves to a piece of a song, and it's another thing to have a full routine for a song with all of the different elements. It is just mind boggling to me. Not only do you have to remember the routine, but you also have to have the flow and athletic ability to pull it off. I can see where the intrinsic motivation comes into play. It would be very easy for a dancer to struggle to the point of giving up. The fact that it is just as much if not more mental and emotional as it is physical also contributes to the fact that dance truly is a sport just as much as anything else.
ReplyDeleteThe ability to dance, and especially to make it look effortless, is definitely an impressive skill. I'm guilty of assuming that it's something you're born with; either you can dance or you cannot. After reading this, I realize how silly that idea is. Just like the skills acquired to spike a volleyball or hit a curve ball, the ability to dance is the product of work, challenge, and repetition. And with that hard work, comes success and confidence. I may re-attempt dance myself!
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