Welcome to Visual and Performing Arts!

Did you know?

• "Dance is considered a kinesthetic art.

• Dance improves our self concept, learning, vestibular activation, timing, emotion attunement, and cognition. 

• Dance and self concept: Self concept improves when we gain greater control over our lives or have a specialized skill and can get along with our peers. This is learned in the art of dance through the ability of being able to express personal ideas without fear of censorship, the beauty of movement, the skills of choreography, and the corresponding vocabulary. Students also learn rhythm, flow, and time space issues; all of which enhance self concept.

•  Dance and learning: There have been many studies that prove that movement improves learning. For example,the report Champions of Change from 1999 did a study on 7 nationwide classes that saw that dance and theatre improved students learning.

• Dance and vestibular activation: Dance can develop balance and reading skills. What the developing brain needs for successful movement and cognition growth is sufficient activation of the motor cerebellar vestibluar system. Without this, you see problems in learning that include: attentional deficits, reading problems, emotional problems, weak memory skills, slow reflex skills, lack of classroom discipline, and impaired or delayed writing skills. 

• Dance and timing: Dancers typically visualize their moves before hand. Dancers commonly do mental rehearsals in practice and just before performances. 

• Dance and cognition: While in motion, the brain acts like a flight simulator, constantly inventing, moving mental models to project onto a changing world. This process builds thinking skills. The neurological systems necessary for improved grades include quick thinking, mental model development, task sequencing, memory, self discipline, problem solving, and persistence. These are all developed through kinesthetic arts. 

• Dance and emotional attunement: Movement arts are one of the single best ways to regulate emotions through appropriate expression. They learn that they have control over how they feel. For example, that dance makes them feel good. (Jensen, p. 71-82)

 

In the Classroom:

• "Get students to dance

• Do less sitting

• Support physical movement

• Use active games that involve dance" (Jensen, p. 103-104)

​