You probably
wouldn’t be reading this article if
you didn’t have some idea that dance
was beneficial. In the most basic
sense, we all know that dance is a
great form of cardiovascular
exercise, combining strength,
coordination, flexibility, and
endurance. But why is dancing a
particularly great practice for
boys? Aren’t these exercise
advantages something he can get on
the soccer field or the basketball
court?
Studies have shown that dance is
particularly advantageous for boys
(See following references). Not only
will dance instruction keep your
son’s body healthy, but dance
improves his fluidity of movement,
self-discipline, and confidence.
Through dance, your son learns to
accept constructive criticism from
his instructors and fellow dancers,
is recognized and praised for his
effort and accomplishments, and
learns to work cooperatively and
respectfully with dancers of all
ages. Specifically, male dancers
(called danseurs) learn gentlemanly
etiquette toward their female
counterparts since the language of
many dance forms is very clear about
how a man treats a woman on the
dance floor.
However, dance instruction provides benefits beyond physical development, poise under pressure, and self-confidence. High-quality dance education, such as the interdisciplinary model offered at Dublin Dance Centre and Gymnastics, will improve your son’s critical thinking, creative problem solving, and non-verbal reasoning skills—all valuable skills for reading, math, and science success. The musical education and rhythmic training a dancer receives in counting the meter and measurers in both classical and contemporary music develop math skills as well. Dancers learn the history of dance, key choreographers and their contributions, and companies and performances that have shaped the world of dance. Dancers even learn a foreign language—French—in their ballet studies from the time they step into the studio for the first time.
Upon researching the specific
advantages of dance education for boys,
I almost changed the title of this
article to “All Boys Should Dance.”
Recent studies in the field of dance
pedagogy show that children who have had
the privilege of dance instruction have
shown improved physical development,
emotional maturity, social awareness,
and cognitive development. Children who
have had access to high-quality dance
education demonstrate improved ability
to translate movement expression and
communication into words, and they are
better able to see the world from
multiple perspectives.
These finding are particularly
imperative in our quest to raise
confident, mature young men. In current
parenting research, Dan Kindlon’s book
Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional
Life of Boys has uncovered the
devastating effects that our culture’s
current definition of masculinity has
had on the development of confident
boys.
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The author states, “Boys will be better off if boys…are encouraged to become more emotionally literate.” The importance of nurturing our son’s communication skills, social awareness, and empathy become essential to his healthy development into manhood.
Furthermore, Elizabeth
Hartley-Brewer in her book Raising
Confident Boys states that boys with
higher self-esteem are less likely
to engage in high-risk behaviors.
Dance will give your son another
language to express his emotions and
read other’s emotions as well. Dance
will improve your son’s creativity,
critical thinking, and collaborative
learning. Dance will improve your
son’s self-esteem, persistence,
resilience, and motivation. Dance
education will afford your son the
life-long skills of physical
development, emotional maturity,
social awareness, and cognitive
development. Through the
high-quality dance education he
receives at Dublin Dance Centre and
Gymnastics, your son will be poised
to enter high school, the work
force, marriage, or fatherhood with
confidence.
If you have any questions about
boys dance at Dublin Dance Centre
and Gymnastics, please call the
office.
Resources:
Ballerino Nate by Kimberly Bradley
Oliver Button is a Sissy by Tomie
dePaola
José! Born to Dance by
Susanna Reich
Alvin Ailey by
Andrea Pinkney
The Human Alphabet
by Pilobolus
Dance! With Bill T.
Jones by Bill T. Jones
Giraffes
Can’t Dance by Giles Andrae
Born
to By Wild -The Leading Men of
American Ballet Theatre
DVD produced
by Judy Kinberg
References:
The Arts Education Partnership
National PTA
National Dance
Education Organization
Teaching
Cognitive Skilsl Through Dance
Keinanen, M, Hetland, L, Winner, E.
Journal of Aesthetic Education Fall
2000, 34, (3-4): 295-306.
Art and
Community: Creating Knowledge
through Service in Dance Ross, J.
American Educational Research
Association, April 2000, New
Orleans, LA.
Raising Confident
Boys by Elizabeth Hartley-Brewer
Raising Cain: Protecting the
Emotional Life of Boys by Dan
Kindlon
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