There are currently over 3.5 million dance students enrolled at approximately 32,000 private dance studios in the United States. With numbers like these, which continue to rise every year, it would certainly be of benefit to highlight the positives behind all this participation. This becomes especially important with the seemingly heavy media concentration on the drama and “Dance Moms” contribution to the stigma surrounding dance competitions.
The faculty at
believes the positive aspects of athletic dance competition participation are a focus that has deep meaning. Yes, there is always the possibility of too much training too soon and a misplaced emphasis on the “wrong” outcome like winning at all costs. These risks, however, do not negate all the positives that can and do occur. When dancers are exposed to the proper environment and exert proper amounts of effort and make good choices, you would be hard pressed to find anything that gives them the holistic benefits that competitive dance does. These benefits fall into the following categories:
1. Physical
As a dance educator it is impossible to cover the benefits gained from dance technique and competition without mentioning the fitness improvements achieved. In a society where obesity has become a major health issue, these advantages
simply cannot be denied.
As a dance educator it is impossible to cover the benefits gained from dance technique and competition without mentioning the fitness improvements achieved. In a society where obesity has become a major health issue, these advantages
simply cannot be denied. 2. Mental/Conceptual
It is the mental and conceptual benefits that support the importance of participation in competitive dance. We wholeheartedly agree! As with anything, however, one can only get out of something what you put in.
With a professional studio and qualified dance teachers a positive code of ethical standards is a major focus. High levels of effort and solid programs center on the abstract concepts revered as necessary to become successful in sports, and for that matter, in life as well. They include:
a. Goals: Creating and setting goals is an integral part of being an athlete.
b. Desire and Inner Will: These attributes are essential in accomplishing the goals one sets.
c. Perseverance and Determination: Competitive dancers are consistently involved in situations where they are challenged. When this happens, their level of perseverance and determination will be tested. The hope here is that they become stronger from within over time.
d. Coping Skills: No matter how talented a dancer is there will always be times when they “fail.” It is what one does after a failure, how they cope, that will determine future positive outcomes.
e. Character & Integrity: It is not that good character and integrity are automatically developed by participating in dance, but rather are revealed through circumstances that normally arise in the competitive arena.
f. Mindset for Success: As a competitive dancer one needs to:
a. Develop good time management skills
b. Create strategies for improving their skill set
c. Build a strong sense of focus and concentration, develop internal skills for handling pressure
d. Learn how to take calculated risks, and when not to
e. And take responsibility for one’s success or failure.
3. Social
There are some definite and positive social benefits for all dance athletes, centering on concepts such as cooperation, teamwork, and friendships.
When one takes a good look at the wide range of physical and emotional benefits available to those who participate competitively in dance, one cannot help but see how monumental they could be in the development of a well-rounded individual.
Dance.tech Performing Arts Studio
Dance.tech Performing Arts Studio
is pleased to showcase the talents of their award-winning competition team, the “PowerPAC”, at their Spring Dance Concert on Saturday, May 20, 2017 at 1:00pm and 6:00pm at Blacksburg High School. The studio will also be having two Summer Dance Intensives for competitive-level dancers on June 19-23 and July 31-August 4. More information is available at their website: www.dance-tech.com or on Facebook: Dance.tech Performing Arts Studio. You can contact the studio at 540-961-6666 or at info@dance-tech.com
