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Kayla Walker
Caroline Prohosky
Dance 460
December 14th, 2014
Absorb the Art
Does your high school see the benefits and opportunities that the art of dance has to
offer? Does your high school even have dance classes? When budgets are tightened, the school
library media specialists and/or the arts programs are often considered expendable. As money
becomes tight, frills are cut (i.e., the arts). Research tells us that to compete in a global economy
we must think beyond the linear, logical, and analytical skills that are easily measured by
standardized tests (Nathan). Daniel Pink, an American author and journalist, goes further,
stating that to succeed in this new environment, students will need to create imaginative and
emotional beauty, recognize patterns and opportunities, develop the ability to empathize and
understand the subtleties of human interaction, to find happiness in oneself and bring it upon
others. Perseverance, diligence, practice, working with a group, compassion, and learning to take
criticism are all taught in the study of the arts. In dance, the willingness to fall and recover is a
common modern motif that also applies in the academic classroom (Nathan). As students, we
constantly strive to reach out and take risks and then come back to center and be in control when
necessary. The Impact of the Arts on Learning report produced in 1999 by the National Arts
Education Partnership, the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities, the GE Fund, and
the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, compiled seven major studies that provided
evidence of enhanced learning and achievement when students are involved in a variety of arts
experiences. The study found that art programs have a dramatic influence on elementary and

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high school students' performance on standardized tests. It is important that educators expose
students to the connections between music and art and other academic subjects (Young).
Although to most high schools the fine arts may not seem worth the cost, dance specifically
should not be cut because it helps to develop oneself physically, mentally, and socially while also
being a universal language that connects cultures around the world.
Schools don't seem able to fill the financial gaps in arts education, and they often view
music and arts as extraneous (Young). Art courses can be expensive, especially because they
require an entirely different set of resources and teachers with different training and
backgrounds, making them more expensive compared with traditional academic classes
(Clairenstein). Some teachers complain about the loud noises that the stereo, piano or drums
make because they disrupt the focus and attention from the students in the classroom. Schools
must do their part to keep the arts alive when budgets are cut. Informing faculty and students
about the relationship between the fine arts and learning may compel educators to reconsider
before cutting the arts education, especially if their goal is to increase student academic
achievement.
Dance in high schools should not be cut because it helps a student to become physically
healthy and fit in a variety of different ways. Not only is the style of ballet a great sport on its
own, but it is important and helpful to other sports as well. Rumor has it that ballet is the secret
to being a better football player. According to Allison Stevens, a writer and publisher of the
Calvary Christian Fellowship quarterly newsletter, and many others, this rumor is true. Being
flexible may not seem like a key factor in football, but increased flexibility has many benefits to
the game. Ballet provided the flexibility necessary for NFL Hall of Famer Lynn Swann to
become famous for his graceful, entertaining and successful football career (Stevens).

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According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, increased
flexibility can also reduce your risk of injuries. In addition to making you a stronger, more
flexible football player, ballet can make you more agile, moving quickly on your feet, changing
directions with greater balance, stability and a greater range of motion (Stevens). Allison
Stevens also mentioned that ballet can help increase your speed, as it did with Dallas Cowboys
running back Herschel Walker. Although this article just talks about ballet helping with football,
dancing is good for all athletes and sports in general.
Dancing helps the bodys circulatory system and improves cardiovascular health. Dance
also helps build better posture, keep your frame, improves muscle tone and shapes the body into
a thin, lean and elongated figure. One problem that has been growing in high schools is obesity.
The lack of physical activity and consequent obesity problem amongst children can be offset by
dance (Arora). Dancing is a great form of exercise because not only does it burn calories and
build muscles, but it also contributes to your overall sense of happiness. Endorphins are released
when the body is forced to exert itself at a specific level (Hanson). You may have heard of a
runners high; a state of euphoria. Dancing is a similar activity because this same boost in
mood is achieved through dancing. Rachel Hanson, a freelance writer and editor who specializes
in the art of dancing, also said that in addition to the physical activity of dancing, when dancing
is a performance, adrenaline and endorphins work together to create a dramatic 'dancer's high'.
Dancing also helps to relax, reducing stress and tension. High school can be extremely stressful,
especially when trying to balance your homework, extra-curricular activities, boyfriends,
girlfriends, social status, family problems, puberty, etc. Using dance as a way to release your
emotions and let go is a great way to alleviate of the pressure from these responsibilities. It is
also important for high school age students to be more aware of their cholesterol levels because it

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will help them to stay physically healthy and more able to succeed in their schoolwork. New
research has discovered that it is important to measure both positive and negative cholesterol
levels when determining how healthy we are. Dancing aids in lipid control, which raises our
HDL (good cholesterol), and lowers our LDL (bad cholesterol). (Craddock) Barbara Craddock,
an American professional dancer and choreographer, also said that dancing is great for diabetics
because it aids in blood sugar control. Therefore, dancing would be a great option for those who
are suffering with any form of diabetes.
Dancing benefits our heart, cardiovascular system and increases our lung capacity.
According to Barbara Craddock, the muscle exertion and breathing rates of dancers performing
in one dance competition is equivalent to those of cyclists, swimmers and an Olympic-level 800meter runner. Dancing comes with many health benefits and aids in the bodys circulatory
system. It can diminish blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, decrease the risk of heart disease,
enhance bones, etc. Dance assists in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis, a condition
where peoples bones become thin and weak, which is a major concern for woman, especially
during post-menopause where there is a significant drop in estrogen. This drop is what stops
calcium from being absorbed into our bones. Dance also keeps joints smooth, which aids in the
prevention of arthritis. (Craddock) High school students should be involved with dance because
not only does it prevent all of these things from happening, but it serves as a treatment as well.
Barbara Craddock goes on to say that dance improves your balance and coordination. Balancing
yourself in one position may be easy, but balancing in the numerous types of positions involved
in dancing is much more difficult. This strengthens our stabilizer muscles, while protecting our
core and keeping us less prone to injury in our daily lives. Dancing also aids in co-ordination and
helps strengthen our reflexes. It is a great way to keep our Central Nervous System and

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Peripheral Nervous System in tip-top shape by improving and strengthening different muscles
within our bodies. (Craddock)
Dance contributes to a students sense of well-being and emotions, lowers your stress,
stimulates you intellectually, and helps you recognize and deal with patterns, spacial issues and
sequences. (Hargrove and Wheat) Dance also trains you to perform in front of an audience, an
aspect that can frighten athletes during a big game, or a student going into an important debate.
Dance stimulates a connection between your brain and body that helps you do your best in all
activities. Dancing also affects the mind by bringing a sense of satisfaction. While you may not
reach new goals each day that you dance, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you
worked hard towards reaching those goals. For example, one of my good friends decided that she
wanted to get her right splits flat. She set a goal, made a plan and took action. Each day that she
attended class, she took advantage of any extra time that she had to stretch her right splits. After
some time, she finally started seeing progress and her dreams slowly became a reality. This
particular process boosted her self-esteem and gave her a sense of satisfaction as she worked
towards a goal. High school is the perfect time to be practicing the goal setting process and dance
is one way to make that happen. Dance promotes psychological health and maturity. Because
students enjoy the opportunity to express their emotions and become aware of themselves and
others through creative movement, dance can be considered a form of therapy. A student enters a
dance class or classroom with a history of emotional experiences. Movement within a class
offers a structured outlet for physical release while gaining awareness and appreciation of oneself
and others. That student is able to release all of their emotions, problems and experiences by
dancing it out and telling their story through movement.

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Dance elevates our mood and allows us to heal stress and depression two of our
immune system's biggest enemies (Craddock). It helps us establish our self-confidence, selfesteem and self-discipline. It improves the harmony between our mind and body, giving us a
sense of well-being. Dancing not only has short-term benefits, but also long-term benefits
because it is a great mental exercise for our brains. Dancers become very good at learning things
quickly and methodically because of how often they learn new dances; you may see a dancer
turn and stare into space while moving her hands and perhaps mouthing something to herself
while trying to learn something. Dancers learn to repeat things not just with their bodies, but
also with their hands and in words. This process of repeating what you just saw or heard until
you've committed it to memory is a skill, and it serves dancers in all aspects of life, both inside
the studio and out (Hanson). The ability to memorize is a skill that students will need and use
wherever life takes them. Who would have thought that the art of dance would be capable of
teaching you these principles of learning? In addition to enhanced memory skills, dancers also
tend to be self-disciplined and self-motivated. Dancers grow accustomed to working in a
structured manner toward a goal and realize that results never come overnight. For this reason,
dancers are often highly disciplined, and carry this discipline over into other aspects of their
lives.
Dancing is a highly sociable activity, which makes it a great way to meet new people
especially in high school. When going to the gym you may expect to carry out several solo
conversations, whereas dancing is highly interactive and provides a great social networking
opportunity that does not involve sitting in front of a computer. This is particularly beneficial to
students who will quickly make new friends and develop bonds in a secure environment.
Similarly, adults will not only learn a new skill but also quickly develop new friendships and

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increase their social circle with a group of like-minded individuals.
Dance fosters social encounter, interaction, and cooperation. (Kuhlman) Students learn
to communicate ideas to others through the real and immediate mode of body movement.
Students quickly learn to work within a group dynamic. As the ongoing and sometimes
challenging process of cooperation evolves, students learn to understand themselves in relation
to others. By participating in dance events, students experience what it is like to be cooperative
and collaborative in their group endeavors. They learn to be supportive, work as a team as well
as to compromise.
According to Martha Graham, an American modern dance pioneer, The body says what
words cannot. Competing in the Miss Drill International Pageant in Irvine, CA was one of the
most meaningful and eye-opening experiences I have had. I got the opportunity to interact with
girls from not only the states, but also those from other countries. We did not all speak the same
language, but as dancers we were able to communicate. Taking class, one would have thought it
would be difficult for everyone to understand the concept of the movement, what the steps were,
or the counts of each combination. On the contrary, dance truly is a universal language. Sure
there were moments of confusion, but the language of dance crossed all barriers giving us the
opportunity to work on common ground. Through movement, we were able to break the
boundaries of race, language and culture. I became friends with strangers from another country,
who opened my eyes to parts of the world that I have never seen. Despite our differences and our
backgrounds - we are all equal. This experience opened my eyes to the amazing legacy that
dance leaves in every corner of the world. Dance has been an important part of self-expression,
ceremonial and religious events, and health in most cultures throughout history. For example,

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medicine men and women of many Native American tribes used dance as part of their healing
rituals (Dance Therapy).
Dance offers students the opportunity to relate themselves to other cultures, people and
customs. Its impact on globalization is huge and has been for quite some time. Dance has an
important place in multicultural education and the development of culturally responsive
pedagogy or education. Through dance, students can explore and express their own and others'
cultures and share their stories in ways other than the spoken and written word. By integrating
dance into the classroom program, there is an increased connectedness between teachers and
their students, students and each other, and students and dance (Melchior). Historically, dancing
has been a part of our established society since the days of the primitive man and it will continue
to be until the end of time. In the old civilizations, dance was always a signal that something
important had happened, will happen or is happening. There have been dances that expressed
their gratitude to the universe for bountiful harvests while there have also been dances that
sought forgiveness from drought and famine. Dances were also used to assemble warriors for
war, to crown Kings and to glorify marriages. Since times immemorial, dance has been the
expression of our lives (Arora).
Stephanie Perrin, head of the Walnut Hill School for the Arts, said, the impact of the
"globalization" of culture and commerce in an increasingly interdependent world is not yet being
adequately addressed by American educators. Because the arts share a global language and a
common culture of training and production, they can provide a ready pathway for global
communication. The arts are a universal language, one that bridges cultures and articulates the
highest aspirations of humankind (Perrin). Dancing has no cultural barriers. People from all
parts of the world, with different ideologies, meet on the dance floor (Craddock).

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Dance offers physical, social, intellectual, artistic, and individual rewards to enhance and
enrich lives. It has given me a healthy lifestyle, which has allowed me to increase my flexibility,
strength and coordination. Because of classes in Jazz, I have learned the importance of working
together and problem solving. From ballet I have learned discipline and techniques, which allow
me to memorize quickly the most intricate series of steps. Modern dance has developed my
creativity, forcing me to think outside the box. These are attributes I carry with me everyday as I
navigate my way through school and life. They will continue to strengthen, educate and lead me
toward reaching any goal I set my mind out to achieve. Dance helps all high school students
physically, mentally, socially and multiculturally; therefore it should not be cut from the schools
curriculum.

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Works Cited
Arora, Ameya. Importance of Dance in Education PapyrusClubs (2012) n.pag. Web. 3 Nov.
2012.
Clairenstein, Goody. What Are the Reasons to Eliminate Arts Education Courses From
Schools? eHow (2006) n.pag. Web. 13 Nov. 2012.
Craddock, Barbara. Benefits of Dancing and Quick Tips for Staying Healthy Dancescape
(2006) n.pag. Web. 2 Nov. 2012.
Dance Therapy. American Cancer Society. (2008) n.pag. Web. 6 Nov. 2012.
Hanson, Rachel. How Does Dancing Affect the Mind? LoveToKnow (2006) n.pag. Web. 3 Nov.
2012.
Hargrove, Tracy Y. and Wheat, Brenda M. Born to Hand Jive. General Music Today 22.3
(2009): 1-4. Academic Search Premier. Web. 30 Oct. 2012.
Lutz, Tamara, and Wilma D. Kuhlman. Learning About Culture Through Dance In Kindergarten
Classrooms. Early Childhood Education Journal 28.1 (2000): 35-40. Academic Search
Premier. Web. 30 Oct. 2012.
Melchior, Elizabeth. Culturally Responsive Dance Pedagogy in the Primary Classroom.
Research in Dance Education 12.2 (2011): 119-135. Academic Search Premier. Web. 30
Oct. 2012.
Nathan, Linda. "All Students Are Artists." Educational Leadership 69.5 (2012): 48-51.
Academic Search Premier. Web. 30 Oct. 2012.
Perrin, Stephanie. Why Arts Education Matters. Education Week 27.21 (2008): 26-27.
Education Full Text (H.W. Wilson). Web. 30 Oct. 2012.

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Stevens, Allison. Can Ballet Lessons Improve Your Football Skills? Livestrong (2011) n.pag.
Web. 4 Nov. 2012.
Young, Jr., Terrence E. "Keeping The Arts Alive." School Library Journal 51.2 (2005): 88.
Academic Search Premier. Web. 30 Oct. 2012.