_edited.png)
When thinking about dance, you usually think about letting loose on a fun night out with friends, on a Sunday morning making breakfast with your family, or little kids walking around in tutu’s and tights with a smile beaming on their face excited for their ballet lesson. Whatever it is, dance is all around us, and you don’t need to have the skills to dance, you can just boogie and not have a care in the world. What many people don't know is that dance is an essential part of our early development. Children have fun while dancing and enjoy a variety of styles. It is so much more than learning the steps to a routine; dance can help us in so many aspects. So the question lingers— why is it not apart of our children’s education system?
Through dance education, children can learn key skills that they can carry throughout their lives, whether in their daily lives or future careers. The use of creative movement can teach children a lot about the world that sometimes cannot be taught in a regular classroom setting. Here are 5 ways why it's important to incorporate dance and creative movement within primary education.
1.Social enjoyment
Dance is a great way to get everybody grooving and in a good mood. Children can be unpredictable and whenever we try to get them in a better mood, it can definitely be a challenge. When in doubt, break out a weird dance move, blast the speakers and just go for it! They’re probably going to look at you like you have three heads, but next thing you know your all dancing and shaking away all the worries you both have. Its important for children to be able to enjoy the social environment that surrounds them. Dance and creative movement introduces children to social environments in a relaxed and fun way which inevitably creates friendships and boosts their self-esteem. Another plus would be eliminating the use of singling out individuals, dance is a community builder—it includes everyone and can be enjoyed by all.
2. Listening and concentration skills
Listening and concentration—extremely difficult when trying to get children to do what you want, and when they are distracted, good luck trying to get back on track. With that being said, listening skills and concentration skills are both essential for school children. Dance and creative movement classes is an ideal way of introducing and promoting listening and concentration skills. Think of it this way, when trying to get the steps of a routine together, the level of concentration increases when trying to get the hang of a routine. Inherently students are then listening to the teacher to be able to get the moves right. When they are focusing on the fun, the educational aspects end up disappearing and they end up having fun with their peers.
3.Physical development
When learning the steps to a routine, there is a great range of coordination, use of motor skills, and endurance as seen in other physical activities. Creative movement and dance classes utilize the entire body which ends up being an actual workout; and nothing is more satisfying than being fit and having fun while doing it. Movement classes offer a structured outline for physical endurance which benefits physical education.
4.Cognitive development
Young children are very creative and have an imagination that runs for days. When showing them one move, they can connect an infinite amount of moves with it. Dance then creates the foundation for cognitive connection and development. Once an idea is planted in their head, the cognitive loop of ideas, problem-solving, and persistence develops. The relationship between creative movement, intellectual development, and learning then becomes imbedded in other aspects of their education.
5.Classroom Performances.
Dance and creative movement classes require a lot of focus, and discipline, this inevitably translates in their academic performance. Children who participate in dance classes tend to implement these skills into other subjects in school. It doesn’t just stop at focus and discipline, other skills such as memorization, and team work grow and get utilized throughout school. Dance and creative movement also teaches kids to communicate with others, practicing these skills week after week will ensure to help students master these skills.
----------
It's so easy to see all the benefits of dance and creative movement classes within the education system. The exercise of both physical and mental endurance can teach children skills that can be difficult to teach in a traditional educational setting. The use of dance and creative movement can offer much more to a child. If you would like to keep up with our future kids programming join our mailing list here.