The goal is for young children to enjoy learning through music, movement and dance. Have them explore a variety of movement activities and skills, using their senses (visual, auditory and kinaesthetic) to learn about themselves and the world we live in. Incorporate activities that will help them learn fundamental movement skills, observation and listening skills, as well as how to conduct themselves in a group. Strive for a balance between novelty (introducing new movements/activities) and repetition (practicing things they already know). Maintaining a predictable lesson structure is important; children will feel more comfortable to try new movements and activities within a familiar structure. 
​- Andrea Downie

Share the benefits of dancing with your dancers and their families.

SOCIAL BENEFITS
​"Dancers have a heightened sense of communication and social relations. Dancing promotes interpersonal knowledge, fosters relationships, and promotes social awareness. Young artists perform community service more than 4 times as often as their peers. By moving together, dancers of all ages learn the important social skills of cooperation and collaboration. They also develop a sense of inclusion, increased empathy, and respect for diversity. Dancers gain awareness of diverse cultures, values, and customs by performing dances both from their own and other societies." (Andrea Downie, 2015)

Learn more in the Healthy Dancer Canada resource, Providing Support to Dancers, by Andrea Downie.

Share the benefits of dancing with your dancers and their families.
​
EMOTIONAL BENEFITS
"Dancers communicate and express feelings through movement. The emotional and mental-health benefits of regular dancing include increased self-esteem and body image; reduced anxiety, depression, and stress. Dancing can improve mood by helping those who dance feel good through the release of endorphins in the brain. Dancing cultivates intrapersonal knowledge and self-confidence. Some dancers find it is a constructive way to channel their emotions." (Andrea Downie, 2015)

Learn more about the emotional benefits of dancing in the Healthy Dancer Canada resource, Providing Support to Dancers, by Andrea Downie.

Share the benefits of dancing with your students and their families.

​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. 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. Like all physical activity, dancing promotes physical health and longevity by postponing chronic disease." (Andrea Downie, 2015)

​Learn more about the physical benefits of dancing in the Healthy Dancer Canada resource, Providing Support to Dancers, by Andrea Downie.