Academic Benefits of Learning Rhythmic Dances
The kinesthetic movement of rhythmic dances helps teach basic academic skills in math and language. Here are a few benefits.
Math
1. Practice and learn sequencing patterns that dances are made up of, such as: ABA, AB, ABC.
2. Learn what a set of 4 is, and about multiple sets of 4, 8 and 16 counts. By consistently moving in sets of different quantities and adding and subtracting sets of dancers or movements in a dance, addition, multiplication, subtraction and division concepts are being used.
Language
3. Learn about stressed and unstressed syllables in language by hearing, feeling and clapping the accented and unaccented beat of the rhythm with hands, tambourines or drums.
4. Learn forward, backward and side to side movement - to transfer to reading and writing: left to right across, and top down to foot of page.
General
5. Practice clockwise and counter-clockwise directions - for telling time.
6. Identify right side and left side of body for moving in those directions.
7. Learn up and down and left side to right side for north, south, east and west in map reading.
8. Develop memory through remembering the order of steps and sequences.
9. Learn to use arms in opposition to legs for right-left brain development.
10. Learn patience with self and cooperation with others in a group.
11. Finish what is begun: the steps, the sequence, completing the whole.
And, very importantly, find that learning can be fun while moving enthusiastically!
Math
1. Practice and learn sequencing patterns that dances are made up of, such as: ABA, AB, ABC.
2. Learn what a set of 4 is, and about multiple sets of 4, 8 and 16 counts. By consistently moving in sets of different quantities and adding and subtracting sets of dancers or movements in a dance, addition, multiplication, subtraction and division concepts are being used.
Language
3. Learn about stressed and unstressed syllables in language by hearing, feeling and clapping the accented and unaccented beat of the rhythm with hands, tambourines or drums.
4. Learn forward, backward and side to side movement - to transfer to reading and writing: left to right across, and top down to foot of page.
General
5. Practice clockwise and counter-clockwise directions - for telling time.
6. Identify right side and left side of body for moving in those directions.
7. Learn up and down and left side to right side for north, south, east and west in map reading.
8. Develop memory through remembering the order of steps and sequences.
9. Learn to use arms in opposition to legs for right-left brain development.
10. Learn patience with self and cooperation with others in a group.
11. Finish what is begun: the steps, the sequence, completing the whole.
And, very importantly, find that learning can be fun while moving enthusiastically!
Academic Benefits of Learning Ballet
Ballet class was so active and structured that it was the perfect outlet for her to ‘fit in’ and thrive.
For children who do not do well academically, ballet gives the gift of being able to excel in another mode - good for developing self esteem!
Some of these skills learned in ballet with their academic benefit in parenthesis
a. forward, backward and sideways movement (reading and writing patterns on the page);
b. clockwise and counter-clockwise directions (telling time);
c. identifying right side and left side of body (learning to read and write);
d. developing memory (basic to all academic skills);
e. understanding sequencing (reading comprehension);
f. using arms in opposition to legs (right-left brain coordination);
g. learning what a set of 4 is, and about multiple sets of 4, 8 and 16 counts (mathematics);
h. hearing and feeling the strong beat of the rhythm, the accented part of the step (syllables and reading) ;
i. learning patience with self and cooperation with others (communication skills);
j. finishing what is begun; the steps, the sequence, completing the whole (completing work in a way that others can understand);
k. finding that learning can be fun while moving enthusiastically (enthusiasm increases energy for learning).
For children who do not do well academically, ballet gives the gift of being able to excel in another mode - good for developing self esteem!
Some of these skills learned in ballet with their academic benefit in parenthesis
a. forward, backward and sideways movement (reading and writing patterns on the page);
b. clockwise and counter-clockwise directions (telling time);
c. identifying right side and left side of body (learning to read and write);
d. developing memory (basic to all academic skills);
e. understanding sequencing (reading comprehension);
f. using arms in opposition to legs (right-left brain coordination);
g. learning what a set of 4 is, and about multiple sets of 4, 8 and 16 counts (mathematics);
h. hearing and feeling the strong beat of the rhythm, the accented part of the step (syllables and reading) ;
i. learning patience with self and cooperation with others (communication skills);
j. finishing what is begun; the steps, the sequence, completing the whole (completing work in a way that others can understand);
k. finding that learning can be fun while moving enthusiastically (enthusiasm increases energy for learning).
