THE POWERFUL EFFECTS OF DANCE ON TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS TODAY

The benefits of Dance to the human body, mind, and spirit are immeasurable. We have had famous dance quotes, for instance, that said by World-renowned dancer and dance professional Martha Graham “Dance is the hidden language of the soul”; or the Hopi Indian saying that goes, “… to watch us Dance is to hear our Hearts speak”.

May I now extend these voices as I say, “… Dance saves lives Everyday”.Thus, has been my experience as a Dance enthusiast and professional for so many years. I have been opportune to watch the transformational power of Dance and its effect on those who dare to practice this art, intensely or otherwise, and even more so, its effect on teens and young adults of today. I shall elucidate upon some of these below:

1) Mental Health: Post-COVID, this factor is now spoken about and given way more relevance today than just 5 years ago. The result of these times led to a drop in the natural learning processes of the Youth in general; especially visible in academic study teachers world-wide reported an apparently exhibited lack of interest prevalent in both exam and general aptitude test scores. Most students are seemingly generally depressed with a lack of motivation expressed towards future progression. Dance has been known to improve general mental and cognitive well-being by providing a space or community setting whereby you are removed from a perceived state of isolation and loneliness to one of community and togetherness which is excellent for the general mental well-being of the youth who generally feel excluded from certain social factions, experience peer pressure and exhibit a sense of discomfort based on physical appearance leading to lack of self-confidence. This sense of community helps the youth foster wholesome relationships allowing them to communicate, and share thoughts and ideas allowing them to step-away from general thoughts of negativity into that of a more wholesome state of mind and self.

2) Physical Well-being: Through exploration and repetition provided through dance, students and the youth in general are given a platform to both express their innermost feelings and thoughts and well as improve mental pathways to learning, understanding and building both foresight and hindsight principles; all necessary factors of brain development. “Catch them Young” – it is said. The earlier Dance is introduced in life to a “young person”, the quicker and faster these traits are developed leading to better mediums of thought and improved ability to Focus thus, yielding better results in all-round development. Physically, improved muscle function and, a better wholistic understanding of the body and its functions both internally and externally.

3) Competitive Spirit: At some point or other in life we come upon a situation whereby we feel compared to someone else either individual or group of persons. Many dance schools these days prepare young people early for these moments in life by having competitive shows and showcases allowing their students to understand principles such as hard-work, commitment, and diligence, highlighting these points as necessary factors that could set them apart from others and give a distinct edge amongst peers. At an early stage principles of equality and a fair level playing field for all are imbibed; allowing each person to display his or her own talents without fear of bias – such understanding is a general must-have for every young adult and he/she prepares to handle future challenges of this sort.

4) A Goal-Bound Attitude: Every young adult needs to understand the importance of setting goals and achieving them through a set plan of action. Dance and the development of Dance in the youth helps them acquire these necessary life attributes. Ballet programs and companies, for instance, provide certification courses and exams such as the RAD Syllabus for both students and those who aspire to one day teach. Dance or take dance as a professional field of endeavor. Allowing the youth to participate in programs like this requiring them to participate in both the physical and academic sides to these programs at an earlier stage in life gives him/her a sense of achievement, effectiveness, follow-through, and purpose (the hallmarks of success).

5) Body Image and Self Confidence: A reigning and prevalent topic among teens and young adults. As their bodies mature and transform as is the natural order for all at different stages of youth, young people suffer some form of body dysmorphia, ie, having a distorted understanding of the female/male physique highly due to the internet and social media in general from platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram and Tik-Tok to mention a few. Dance comes in by mitigating these thoughts. Through the exploration of movement as a whole, young people take on a more appreciative perspective on self; especially when through thorough training, they gain abilities and capabilities far above the average person and are able to showcase these new-found abilities to friends, family, and the World as a whole. They gain a deep understanding and respect for self, alongside understanding, through injury and recovery patterns, the importance of self-care and general good health. To conclude, Dance is a powerful tool in molding and shaping the minds and hearts of teens and the young. Early involvement in this genre yields such high benefits; a few of which are highlighted above.

So, WASTE NO TIME.

Enroll your child, teen, or young person in a Dance class today and watch them flourish!!!

Written by:

JANE EGBE (GINGER)

CEO: Universal Dance and Music Arts, Abu Dhabi