Athletic Benefits of Dance

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Dance is an art, a creative portal, a form of expression; it is a sport. Atop all of the things that dance can be, it is also something physical. It takes work, power and effort. It takes stamina, grace and an extreme amount of muscle and flexibility. What do athletes need to have, all of those characteristics. When it comes to athletes, of any kind, dance can help with honing their skills. Something that most athletes do not seem to understand is that dance is just as much a physical and athletic sport as their sport is. Dance can help in areas that regular conditioning, working out, stretching, and practicing cannot.

Dance is not only a sport, but an art. When athletes participate in the arts it makes them more well– rounded people. As said by Albert Einstein, “Dancers are the athletes of God.” (Albert Einstein Quotes). The arts awaken the right brain, giving people the ability to think more openly and creatively, they find musicality and rhythm. Along with imagination and innovation that the right brain brings, dance can help heighten spatial development, awakening the left brain. The left brain brings holistic thinking and mental flexability, therefore increasing the ability for problem sloving. It can help with pattern recognition and the ability to calculate and plan. It gives an increased motivation to learn and can improve accademic performance overall. Dance is able to open the mind and give a person more self-confidence, higher self- esteem, and a stronger self-determination. With dance, people are more likely to be persistant and accurate, and build a higher sense of accomplishment. The social outcomes are better listening skills, improving communication, and a better conception of team work, cooper...

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Citation

“Albert Einstein | Albert Einstein Quotes." Albert Einstein | Albert Einstein Official Site. GreenLight LLC, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Web. 22 Jan. 2012.

Dascomb, Audrey. "Benefits of Dance." National Registry of Dance Educators. Web. 13 Jan. 2012.

Injuries, Stop Sports. "Basketball Injuries | Basketball Injury Prevention & Treatment." STOP Sports Injuries | Sports Injury Prevention. National Athletic Trainers Association. Web. 15 Jan. 2012

Overstreet Allen, Lee Ann. "Ensworth Athletes Hit the Barre." Boys and Ballet. The Tennessean, 7 Dec 2009. Web. 24 Oct. 2011.

Shea, Griffin. "Young Footballers in South Africa Turn to Ballet." Boys and Ballet. Sowetan – News, 3 Apr. 2009. Web. 24 Oct. 2011.

Shepherd, John. "Can Athletes Dance Their Way to Agility?" Sports Training | Sport Fitness. P2P Publishing. n. d. Web. 24 Oct. 2011.

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