A Four-part Examination into a Special Subgroup of Students
Part Four: Everyone Benefits
What are the benefits of studying dance for late-beginning students? For late-beginners, the positive results of learning to dance are many, regardless of what age their training begins. Much more than in regular exercise such as running or biking all aspects of our being must work together for successful dancing to occur. In doing so, we not only become more physically healthy, we also reap rewards from the mental and emotional connection. In the physical realm, learning to dance can help with coordination, strength, flexibility, awareness of space, and grace of movement. These abilities can help students live in their bodies more comfortably, help prevent injuries, and help to foster a strong spatial sense around their bodies.
Concerning our mental abilities, dancing helps us learn to process and implement multiple ideas in one instant. We have to be able to focus on technique, musicality, spacing around others, remembering movement combinations, and listening to and fixing corrections. With so many different parts of our brain working at the same time in such a quick and alert fashion, we get a brilliant mental workout from the effort. With regards to our emotional health, dancing can help us increase our self-esteem, provide an outlet for personal expression, and help connect us to a deeper, more spiritual side of ourselves.
What can the dance world gain from supporting late-beginning students? I know, without a doubt, that late-beginners can become professional dancers. I have witnessed it many times. They might not become professional ballet dancers but depending on their age, their natural ability, the training they receive, and their level of dedication they can certainly find professional work in other forms of dance such as modern or musical theatre. They might attend a university for undergraduate or graduate work and become choreographers, teachers, dance scholars, critics, or simply become devoted fans of the vast art of dance.
In turn, they can share their love for dance with their friends, children, and others with whom they experience life. Their loyalty can even help a studio remain financially stable during those unfortunate times when your most dedicated traditional students decide to leave their dance studies to pursue other popular activities such as soccer or cheerleading. Through this special population we will find dances strongest supporters, supporters that the dance world needs so that it can continue to flourish regardless of government assistance or popular attitudes of entertainment.
I sincerely hope that this series of articles has sparked you into thinking about how the teaching of late-beginners is approached at your studio. The information shared is by no means complete. I welcome any thoughts you would like to share. Please feel free to contact me at useyourdemipointe@yahoo.com.
Best wishes to you and your students!