Dance And Kinesiology Research Paper

Dance and Kinesiology

The knowledge of dance is important in the field of Kinesiology. Dance is a topic that Kinesiology majors should learn about because it helps them understand the fundamentals of the sub-disciplines in the major. Kinesiology emphasizes the study of human movement, such as physical activities, exercise, and health; therefore, it is a field that definitely encourages the knowledge of dance.

Dance generally consists of physical movements that require us to use many parts of our body (Olympic Review, 1991 August No. 286). Basic dance or rhythmic and patterned movements are identical throughout the world, in all time and in all cultures, and is a fundamental element of our behavior (Hanley, 1991, p. 385). Since dance is

categorized as a physical activity, it requires a lot of energy and strength. One of my past experiences, is in one of my Kinesiology class subcategory, dance class, I had the opportunity to do ballet. Ballet has helped me realize that it requires a combination of different movements to execute a form. For example, Sam Webb’s article titled “Why a ballet dancer never gets dizzy: Scientists uncover differences in ballerina's brains that mean they can do endless pirouettes,” the pirouettes is a spin for ballet dancers, and that professionals do not get dizzy from this movement due to endless spins and training they have done, so the dancers are able to suppress signals from the balance organs in the inner ear, which might otherwise make them fall over (Sam Webb, 2013, Web). This shows that kinesiology, which requires human movement and etc., was associated with dance in terms of movement that change a person’s skills/knowledge and it also has a relation with kinesiology that helped to form what it is today. In addition, through personal experience, I learned that ballet requires flexibility and great balance. Ballet definitely required me to use a lot of energy and strength all around the body. Thus, knowledge of dance helps those studying kinesiology understand how the human body is able to execute various physical movements. According to Walters, Nelle’s “A Study in the History of Dancing,” Walters highlighted Japanese dance, she also discussed art forms in Egypt, India, China, and Greece. She also looked at the dances of the American Indian, Mongolians, Buriats, Kalnuks, and Finns. She then compared the meanings of these dance in various cultures. She then concluded that dance was popular because rhythm generally appeals to most people (Miriam F. Shelden). In kinesiology, where the study of human movement, such as physical activities, exercise, and health is present, Dance played and still plays a big role in the history of kinesiology.
In kinesiology, where the study of human movement, in terms of where health is present, Dance has benefitted the human body in many ways.

According to an article by Marjie Gilliam, titled “The many Health Benefits of Dancing,” dance offers a total body workout, using all of the major muscle groups and providing heart-healthy benefits. And that “the benefits can extend beyond fitness.” His study shows that, a recent study in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine found that teaching the cha-cha to a small group of older adults twice a week for six months was enough to improve their memory and cognitive function on a number of tests. Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that ballroom dancing at least twice a week made people less likely to develop dementia (Marjie Gilliam). In my personal experience, dance helped improve my health because it is a form of physical activity. For example, in high school, I was in a dance club and we had to dance to hip hop. It required a lot of body movements and a lot of energy. I remember sweating a lot after an intense hip hop dance session. Moreover, through this dance club I lost weight and got more fit. Thus, dancing definitely benefits our health and keeps our body in shape. In kinesiology where health factors are also present, it is important to reflect that dance has shown many groups of people, past or present, the significance amount of movements it offers as well as health benefits ever since back in the

days.
In the study of kinesiology, dance education is indeed important.

As a student studying kinesiology, I believe that professionals should acquire knowledge of dance because dance is an activity that has to do with physical movements. In my opinion, to be a professional in Kinesiology we must have enough knowledge of the human movement and dance is indeed a topic that requires the knowledge of physical movements. The physical education professionals are not like psychiatrists or physicians that give the clients medicine and tell them what to stay away from. However, people in the other fields, i.g. physical education, have to let clients know that there is a different kind of approach to their issues by introducing them to dance. Dance is related to the history of kinesiology because it has been practiced since long ago and it is still present

today.

Bibliography:

Olympic Review, 1991 August No. 286.; http://library.la84.org/OlympicInformationCenter/OlympicReview/1991/ore286/ORE286n.pdf

Walters, Nelle. “A study in the History of Dancing,” The Pentathlo, 2, No. 1 (October 1929), 13-15, 34; No. 2 (November 1929), 12-15, 41; No. 3 (December 1929), 17-21, 40.

Sam Webb, “Why a ballet dancer never gets dizzy: Scientists uncover differences in ballerina's brains that mean they can do endless pirouettes.” Web. (2013)

Marjie Gilliam, “The many benefits of dancing,” Dayton Daily News, Web. (2012)