Could dance give your kids good posture, better discipline and even better grades? Read on as Elevate Dance Academie lists out the long-term benefits of dance
Few things feel better than getting a good shimmy out, right mama? Dancing always puts us in a good mood – even babies can’t resist bobbing side-to-side when music plays! But what if we told you it could boost your child’s academic performance, along with increasing focus and attention span? Turns out there are plenty of long-term benefits to dance, making it one of the best enrichment programmes for your kids to try.
1. Dancing Builds Better Posture & Agility
With ballet being the the main foundation in most forms of dance, taking formal classes can help to train your body to adopt a better posture while standing, sitting and working. Basic tips include, “Shoulders pulled down, straighten spine, core engaged, butt in, centred pelvis, weights off your heels, arms lighted.” – all the essential pointers for good posture! This is the chant you would hear on repeat in a dance class, according to qualified, award winning multi-genre dance teacher LangLey of Elevate Dance Academie, who has more than 23 years of teaching.
2. Dancing Lifts Your Mood & Can Strengthen Friendships
Dancing increases levels of seratonin in the body. The feel-good hormone contributes to wellbeing and happiness, which can be a good way for kids to find balance between winding down and academics.
Joining a dance class often means participating in group dances, which encourages teamwork. While most schools conduct a selection process, Elevate strictly does not select children to compete in group competitions in order to give every child a fair chance at performing. This may result in less-than-perfect group dances, but is so worth it to cultivate inspired, passionate little dancers!
3. Dancing Frequently Can Boost Memory & Make You Smarter
According to a 21-year study by the New England Journal of Medicine, the only physical activity to offer protection against dementia was frequent dancing. Dancing is a mentally engaging activity, encouraging the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the brain (which are activated during physical activity) to rewire themselves and allow for better information processing speed and loading.
4. Dancing Helps with Discipline, Attention & Focus
A structured dance programme can encourage students to keep striving to progress in their technique and ability as they challenge themselves through the various grades. As the whole body is activated during a dance class, students are more likely to pay attention and focus on the task at hand. In the long run, these qualities build perseverance!
5. Dancing Makes You More Creative
At local dance schools like Elevate Dance Academie, most students start off with ballet as the main foundation and eventually venture into different dance styles of their choice. This allows them to get creative and discover what interests them! Exploring new forms of dance can also encourage kids to search for creativity in other aspects of their life, whether during play or academically.
Focusing on classical ballet, modern and jazz, Elevate Dance Academie offers a holistic and comprehensive dance curriculum in a positive, unbiased environment. Their specially curated Extension Programme complements the dance school’s curriculum to expose students to a well-rounded dance experience. It includes opportunities for dancers to participate in international dance exams (including the RAD, ISTD and CSTD certifications), dance concerts, annual overseas immersion programmes, local excursions, tailored guest workshops and master classes by international and local instructors – so your kiddos will learn from the most accomplished dance pros! The school also emphasises on encouraging versatility and the development of self-concept.
So even if your child is not keen on making dance their ultimate career, the benefits are tremendous to help them succeed in life creatively and even academically! Elevate has students of all backgrounds (some as young as 3 years old and as old as 28!) who have made dancing a part of their life while successfully balancing school and work.
So are your little dancers ready to ‘Take It Beyond The Stage’, mama? Find out more with Elevate Dance Academie and you could be looking at the next Misty Copeland of Singapore!
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Elevate Dance Academie, 27 West Coast Highway #02-01/24, Westway Singapore 117867, Tel: (+65) 8111 3601, [email protected], www.elevatedance.com.sg