Adapted Dance
I have participated recreationally in dance since I was about twelve and have choreographed and led classes a few times. Throughout this time, and especially recently, I have wondered about the benefits and unique adaptations that could be made to make dance more accessible for all, so I chose this topic to explore. As far as participants go, adapted dance is very open. The only limits on the number of participants come from space and the number of dance instructors available. The age range typically falls between three and eighteen, though there are some classes offered for adults, as well. Furthermore, neither dance in general nor adapted dance has rules; rather, the goal is typically working on technique and flexibility and learning specific movements and choreography in order to either compete or perform for some type of audience. For adapted dance, the goal is usually performance over
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Not getting to know each dancer in a class and the way their disability affects how they interact with their environment can lead to frustration on the part of both the instructors and the dancers. Sarah Whatley (YEAR), author of “Strategies for Inclusion in Dance; Disability, Performativity and Transition into and out of Higher Education,” makes some important notes about the process of adapting dance, noting that, “a careful assessment of the student’s range of movement and a clear assessment of movement potential is useful to ensure that the student is appropriately challenged throughout the programme” (p. 8) and “disability should not be seen to be something to be overcome, to be hidden or disguised through performance. (p. 11). As with any adaptation, adapted dance should carefully celebrate strengths of the
By universal definition, "sport" is listed as "an activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively." Football, basketball, baseball, soccer and other primary activities have always been concretely defined as sports in society. However, one of the most physically demanding activities is constantly forgotten when it comes to the realm of sports- dance. Dance requires a tremendous amount of training and creates an aura of competition in which people compete to be the best, win, and take home the trophy- just like in traditionally accepted sports. These sports, however, do not possess an element of psychological health threats that some competitive dancers unfortunately must account for due to the emphasis placed on physical appearance.
Ballet is an athletic art form that utilizes muscle control, flexibility, and physical strength. It requires extreme discipline from the dancers and takes an extreme amount of mental concentration. This discipline causes dancers to have success throughout life and specifically in academic studies. There are many ways that dance can affect the success of a person’s life; however, there are two in specific that make dancers generally more successful. To begin, ballet causes dancers to be self-motivated workers; dancers cannot rely on others to push them to be better, but must have the drive within themselves.
Judith Lynne Hanna is a professor at the University of Maryland who focuses on anthropology, sociology and dance. She combines these topics to analyze how dance can help heal a person and help improve health. In a broader context, dance therapy is a recent form of movement that does not require any form of previous dance experience and focuses on “movement behavior as it emerges in the therapeutic relationship.” (ADTA) Judith Hanna focuses in on broader concept of dance therapy by concentrating on expressive behavior that relieves stress, disabling conditions, tension, and chronic fatigue.
The typical idea of a dancer is that they are tall, slender, full of energy, and lucky because they dance with all of the “stars”. Much of this is true, however, what many people do not think of are the many hardships that a dancer goes through in order to achieve their high status in the dance world. It takes much hard work and determination along with good direction to become a dancer. However, nothing good comes without a price. Dancers often times have many pressures put on them which can lead to physical and emotional damages. These damages occur through the pressures from the media, parents, teammates, and the stereotype that society has placed on dancers.
The words “competitive dance” alone say it all. The whole purpose of dancing at competitions is to compete against other dance teams in order to try and win an award. Without the competition aspect, dance should not be considered a sport. Yes, it is a physical activity that involves a lot of strength and time that needs to be dedicated to it. But without the competitive aspect, it would not be a sport. To be a sport, a team has to compete against another team for the enjoyment and entertainment of others (Sport, 1). This is the goal of any competitive dancer or dance team. For something to be a sport, it specifically needs to be in a competition setting as well as have the purpose behind it of entertaining. People do not go to a football or basketball game to sit there and watch two teams just play an equal and fair game with no activity and no winner. If all games and performances in the sports realm were like this there would be no one there to watch them because they would not be entertaining. With competitive dance, there is always two or more teams or dancers going up against each other to get the win. And a major reason why dancers compete is to entertain, because they love the satisfaction of the crowd being pleased by their performance. “I dance because it feels good. Also, applause,” said Helen Phelan, a freelance dancer
First, dancers are not always competing for a trophy. The Oracle proposes that,” which is that a sport involves two or more teams/individuals competing against each other” where in dance you are not always competing against another team. You are either performing for pleasure, or in competition dance you are performing for a panel of judges. You are never really going up against another team to fight for a trophy or another form of a prize. Such as a soccer player who is trying to score goals to win a trophy or award.
... social dance. Many people in today’s society enjoy social; dancing. Chapter eleven dance concert, properly planning and establishing a dance concert is of the utmost importance. The partnership with the lighting designer usually takes priority over all other factors. One of the most important issues concerning customers has to do with mobility. The dancer must be able to move comfortably in the costume. The task of producing a dance concert is an overwhelming and tiring one. Chapter twelve dance in education and career in dance, many dance educators present the argument that teaching and learning dance as an art form is obviously absent from the American student education. There has always been and always will be people who have a love, desire, and passion to instruct and learn the art of dance, will ensure an important place for dance in higher education.
Miami Dade College’s very own dance majors, who were challenged by the artistry of guest choreographers as well as themselves, performed The Art of Dance. Watching this performance truthfully made me question if the dancers in this program were being trained properly to be professional dancers
However, New York Public Schools offered ballroom dancing classes to low-income students of color, which allowed the arts to be included in their curriculum. Watching the film, I observed the positive reaction the children had to the dance classes. Overall, they were exposed to different cultures, made new friendships, became more confident, and aware of different career options such as professional dancers or singers (Agrelo, 2005).
Image your mom had just signed you up for ballet. You watched all the Barbie movies and practiced the dances, this was your dream. You wanted to dance like the people you see on television the girls in your class talked about dancing at their studios and you could only dream of what it must be like to be a real ballerina. Your mother saves up the money to get you into classes. Imagine your 7 and you go to you first class and meet the girls they don’t look like you at all. You’re too young to pay too much attention to something like that but you make note of it, and you begin to feel out of place. After class with the rest of the money your family had saved up, you go to the store you try to find a nude leotard and shoes, which are required for performances in you class. As you scan the isle and look around the store you start to notice that there isn’t something there for you. There isn’t a Ballerina in sight that looks like you, there isn’t leotard that was made for, you don’t belong, and there isn’t space in this world (or the real one) for someone like you. “Someone like you” meaning dark skin girls who dream of being a ballerina. You look up at your mother and you ask her, “Where are the black ballerinas in the store?” She looks down at you disappointed and is unable to
The benefit of cultural diversity in schools is evident in the dancers at Darwin High School, where they are naturally exposed to multicultural dance, expresses Newth. In a survey that was conducted in Darwin, mainly to students at Darwin High School, a student responded, agreeing that “exposing dancers to different cultural dances will help deepen this understanding”. Another participant responded that the experience “builds tolerance and understanding and provides new
Gray, Judith A., and Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Reston, VA. National Dance Association. American Alliance for Health. Dance Technology. Current Applications And Future Trends. n.p.: 1989. ERIC. Web. 17 May 2014.
Physical education in school systems is beneficial because it improves students’ health. Without physical education the child’s overall health will decrease. Despite these benefits, some people believe that physical education has no value to children in schools. Physical education is significant in schools because it improves children’s health.
Dancing is a form of art that allows many children to express themselves through body motion while developing many skills. Children throughout the world have been dancing since the day they began walking. When a child to take their first steps and puts together the simplest combination of movements, that would be considered as dancing. Music also plays a major role in the development of children understanding dance, because it is can be used as an accompaniment, and can help children get a better feel for the rhythm in dances. Over the past century educators have come to the conclusion that dance serves as a form of art, and should be taught in public schools and colleges to help the growth in children of all ages both physically, mentally, and academically.
In the beginning I had a hard time finding what topic to do because I don’t do many activities of things that relate to my life. I could only think about things with my family, but none have interesting questions. I eventually chose dance because there are many components of dance that I don’t even think about. I began to wonder; why dance? How does it benefit me?