When I was recently researching a dance class, I was shocked to come across a website that stated a fact that claimed that 35% of all Americans didn’t know how to dance. In a country where shows with names like Live to Dance or So You Think You Can Dance are always on, I couldn’t believe that such a large portion of our population didn’t even know how to participate in such a beneficial activity (or sport, whichever way you look at it). Though I later found this fact to have no scientific data backing it, it still got me thinking ‘Why don’t more schools have dance as part of their P.E. curriculum?’ There’s no reason why dance shouldn’t join the curriculum. Dance has many benefits as a form of physical activity and close to no downsides. First off, let’s face it; we’ve all heard the frightening statistics of growing rates of obesity in America’s children. But as more elementary and middle school-level physical educators are looking away from team sports because of the overly competitive feelings harbored and the risks of injury, they will need a new alternative.
Dance is the PERFECT alternative: it increases flexibility, agility, and coordination; strengthens the muscles, heart, and lungs; helps posture; and minimizes the chance of the bone disease osteoporosis, according to the website healthguidance.com. It’s a high calorie burner too-anywhere from 200 to 700 per hour depending on the type. Some studies show that dancers typically have better than average peripheral vision due to the importance of head angles while dancing.
There are many mental benefits of dance as well. Dance has been accredited with increasing motivation, focus, and discipline, and it’s no secret that motivated, focused, disciplined students will do better in school! Dance will not cause people to get overly competitive, and can even create confidence and a sense of relaxation. It can widen vocabulary with a large range of words and ideas. Most interesting though, is that a study on seniors by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine shows that those who dance frequently reduce their risk of dementia by 76%, as compared to bicycling, swimming, or golf, which reduced the risk by 0%, nothing at all. Though grade school may be early to be thinking about dementia, this proves that dance is an activity with lifelong effects.
My final point is that dancing truly is for everyone. It’s been proven as great therapy for those with mental and physical disabilities, and wheelchair dance competitions, among others, are becoming popular through the American Dance Therapy Association. Dance does not require expensive or hard to find equipment, just shoes, music, and a willingness to have fun! So to conclude my speech, I’d like to quote Lady Gaga and say that when it comes to physical education: “Just Dance!”
Dance is the PERFECT alternative: it increases flexibility, agility, and coordination; strengthens the muscles, heart, and lungs; helps posture; and minimizes the chance of the bone disease osteoporosis, according to the website healthguidance.com. It’s a high calorie burner too-anywhere from 200 to 700 per hour depending on the type. Some studies show that dancers typically have better than average peripheral vision due to the importance of head angles while dancing.
There are many mental benefits of dance as well. Dance has been accredited with increasing motivation, focus, and discipline, and it’s no secret that motivated, focused, disciplined students will do better in school! Dance will not cause people to get overly competitive, and can even create confidence and a sense of relaxation. It can widen vocabulary with a large range of words and ideas. Most interesting though, is that a study on seniors by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine shows that those who dance frequently reduce their risk of dementia by 76%, as compared to bicycling, swimming, or golf, which reduced the risk by 0%, nothing at all. Though grade school may be early to be thinking about dementia, this proves that dance is an activity with lifelong effects.
My final point is that dancing truly is for everyone. It’s been proven as great therapy for those with mental and physical disabilities, and wheelchair dance competitions, among others, are becoming popular through the American Dance Therapy Association. Dance does not require expensive or hard to find equipment, just shoes, music, and a willingness to have fun! So to conclude my speech, I’d like to quote Lady Gaga and say that when it comes to physical education: “Just Dance!”
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