The National Dance Education Organization reports that regular dance classes:
- Involve a greater range of motion, coordination, strength, and endurance than most other physical activities.
- Increase a child’s flexibility, range of motion, physical strength and stamina and improve posture, balance, coordination and overall cardiovascular health.
(learn more about the NDEO here – The Pointe School of Dance is a proud supporter and member of the National Dance Education Organization! )
Each genre of dance improves physical fitness in a different way – and every teacher brings a different approach. Hip hop and tap usually have more consistent aerobic activity and may be more effective cardio, jazz classes often start with a conditioning warmup – incorporating movements and exercises targeting the abdominal muscles, arms, and thighs. Ballet’s focus on body control and balance helps dancers not only build better posture habits but also the awareness to know what their body needs and how to fix minor discomforts or issues (i.e. a tight hamstring and the appropriate stretch to relieve it).
Participating in dance classes encourages an active, healthy lifestyle and can teach students how to love and care for their body. Dancers learn techniques for preventing injury that can transfer to any other sport or activity, and how to practice difficult physical skills safely.
Our goal at The Pointe is for dancers to leave their classes sweaty and smiling – with evidence of a physical workout and a great time.