PROVIDING SUPPORT TO DANCERS

Inica Dance Industries revisits the 2015 "Providing Support to Dancers" article written by Andrea Downie, MA, under the auspices of the Healthy Dancer Canada Resources Committee. This revisit aims to open up discussion on how to efficiently, and effectively support dancers. The article in it's entirety can be found by visiting www.healthydancercanda.org~ Inica Dance Industries

A Resource for Dancers of All Ages and Their Families

Dancers are passionate and hard-working. The pursuit of dance artistry and athleticism is a holistic endeavour that engages dancers physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially. While dancing affords many benefits, it also provides many challenges. Whether young or mature, dancing for profession or leisure, dancers need their families to be their primary support – the ones who understand their passion and help them manage the demands of dancing. A strong support network contributes to a dancer’s success, health, and sense of well-being.

The Benefits of Dancing

Being supportive begins with understanding why people participate in dance. When you know specifically what dancers gain from dancing, you will be able to have meaningful discussions about what they are learning and expressing through dance. It also helps you know how and why you should encourage their passion.

• A Universal Language: Dance is much more than a series of steps; it is a non-verbal and universal language. Dancing provides those who dance with a source of joy and passion, a sense of mental and physical well-being, and a form of artistic expression. (1) For dance professionals, it is also an important source of income. Dancing enables dancers to test their personal boundaries, and to learn more about themselves, others, and the world in which we live.

Tip: Ask the dancers in your life why they dance, and what they gain from dancing.

• Physical Benefits: Dancers acquire numerous physical benefits from dancing regularly. Dancing uses the entire body and teaches those who dance many of the fundamental movement skills that underlie physical literacy, particularly locomotor skills like galloping and leaping, and balance movements like spinning and rolling. (2) Dancing also supports the development and maintenance of physical fitness, specifically postural alignment, agility, balance and coordination, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and rhythmic abilities. Dancing can help alleviate pain and delay the effects of aging. (3) (4) Like all physical activity, dancing promotes physical health and longevity by postponing chronic disease. (3)

Tip: Appreciate that dancing supports physical health and promotes longevity. Share these ideas in open discussion with your loved ones who dance.

Read the full article on "Providing Support to Dancers" with references HERE.

Andrea Downie is a member, and past President of Healthy Dancer Canada, and founder of EnhanceDance.