Research indicates that dance is very important for physical health and mental development of the human body. Paramita Bhattacharyya, a Kathak dance exponent from Los Angeles believes that, utilizing dance in academics can help children develop skills that are necessary for learning such as creativity, communication, critical thinking, and collaboration.
Learning, creativity, thought process, and intelligence don’t just come from the mind alone, but from the entire body. Movement combinations increase memory, order, and sequencing skills. Dance also increases self-esteem which is very important to learning. Bhattacharyya adds, “Having experienced the positive effects that music and dance have on students’ development, I feel it is important for dance to be included in all elementary and secondary school curriculum.”
Hence, dance needs to be included in the main educational program and not just an extra-curricular activity. It is because of these reasons that I have chosen to work with organisations that work for promoting dance as an education here in LA. I have observed that children learn steps and rhythms extremely quickly.
Here are four strategies for bringing music and dance to your classroom.
Dance to develop skills
Through dance, children can gain a multitude of important skills. Dance education has important benefits for students’ social relationships, particularly among genders and age groups. Many forms of dance, including ballroom, are inherently social. Then coordination, concentration and mobility, emotions expression and confidence. Dance has also been proven to increase cognitive development.
Dance to create
Dance can be challenging both physically and academically. Dance engages the artistic processes of creating, performing and critical analysis. This requires a vast number of skills such as the ability to read symbols, implement critical thinking, nonverbal reasoning and expression, create and exchange ideas, work in collaboration with others, and understand different cultures and societies. While working with dance education organisations in USA, I encourage this analysis and critical thinking in all of our lessons, asking children questions like - “Can you explain how you are moving?” “Why did you like your classmates dancing?” “What would you do to make it even better?”
Dance to relieve stress
“At times of increased stress, I believe it is vital for children to continue dancing, if not increase, their dance classes and amount of time moving. This gives children a chance to process their work, as well as take a well-deserved break,” says Bhattacharyya.
Dance for the future
In this digital era, the escape that dance can offer has never been more important than ever. Hopefully, one day dance will be viewed as part of the foundation of a broad and balanced education, with all children exposed to the richness that an art-based education offers. Encouraging creative ambition prepares for a culture relevant future. Instilling this in children now forges the path for our future generations.
“It’s a school’s job to demonstrate what the dance art form can offer in terms of development, challenge and a full education, which allows for more versatile career paths,” states Bhattacharyya.
(Paramita Bhattacharyya, Kathak Exponent, Los Angeles).