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DANCE CONTRIBUTION TO IMPROVING

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEALTH

Article · May 2017

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Lenka Svobodová
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 Dance Contribution to Improving Physical Activity and Health

Lenka Svobodová

Abstract

Physical activity programs are one of the tools that can be used to prevent noncommunicable
diseases. Dance could be also a type of physical activity that may appeal even to people who are
not otherwise active and may be a form of activity that is more acceptable than others. Purpose.
The purpose of this paper is to collate information on dance interventions leading to Improving
Physical Activity and Health across all age categories. Methods. We used the portal for electronic
information sources to identify articles published within the last 16 years. Results. Dance
interventions contribute to increase physical activity of youth and also contributes to the
development of creative capacity, constructiveness, self-esteem and self-confidence etc. The two
main goals of dance in the category of adult individuals is energy expenditure, which should
correspond with the recommendations for physical activity and stress reduction. Dance
interventions for the elderly are effective both as prevention of falls and as an instrument to
maintain or improve cognitive functions. Discussion. Including dance into the offer of physical
activities broadens the range of options where everyone can find an activity to match their needs.
Conclusion. Dancing has the potential to be an attractive physical activity that can be adjusted
to fit a target population's age, physical limitations, and culture.

Keywords: inactivity, dance interventions, health benefits, youth, adults, elderly

Introduction
This manuscript addresses the fundamental issues and assumptions pertaining to physical
activity and inactivity, covering such topics as health outcomes in a public health context. Tobacco
use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and alcohol abuse all increase the risk of noncommunicable
diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes. These behaviours lead
to four key metabolic/physiological changes that increase the risk of NCDs: raised blood pressure,
overweight/obesity, hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose levels) and hyperlipidemia (high levels
of fat in the blood). According to the World Health Organization (WHO) physical inactivity is the
4th most common risk factor for mortality in the world and causes 6% of deaths. (World Health
Organization, 2016)
The diagram (see picture 1) depicts the distinction between physical activity and inactivity
depending on energy expenditure as defined by Biddle, Cavill, Ekelund, Gorely, Griffiths, Jago, &
Richardson (2010).
 Sleep Sitting Standing LM MPA VPA

Energy expenditure

Picture 1. Physical activity and inactivity depending on energy expenditure (Biddle et al., 2010).
LM – light movement; MPA - moderate intensity physical activity; VPA - vigorous intensity physical
activity.

Physical activity programs are one of the tools that can be used to prevent NCDs, however,
traditional physical activity programs such as running, walking, and playing competitive sports are
not popular with all people. Non-competitive dance, however, may be a more suitable option for
those people who perceive traditional exercise negatively, e.g. girls who do not like vigorous types
of activities or prefer non-competitive forms of physical activity. In addition, dance provides other
benefits as well including an outlet for emotional expression, stress reduction, and creativity.
In historical context dance is one of the oldest expressions of art and movement.
Dance was used for primary communication already in ancient times, it was one of the first
emotional expressions of the forming human community. Its function was to exorcise evil spirits
and diseases, as well as help control natural elements and cycles. Over the centuries it evolved
and has played an essential role in every age and civilisation. Numerous studies confirm that
dance has been used since ancient times as a remedy and has also been an intrinsic part of all
healing rituals (Schechner, 2011).
Dance is accessible to everyone regardless of gender, age, education, physical and mental health
or level of fitness. Dance also transcends language barriers, leads to maximum relaxation and
reduces tension (Dosedlová, 2012).
Dance is also a type of physical activity that may appeal even to people who are not otherwise
active and may be a form of activity that is more acceptable than others. It is suitable for all fitness
levels and ages. Dance as a practical form of physical activity to promote physical and mental
health among subgroups of populations that often have lower amounts of participation in physical
activity is confirmed by Flores (1995), Robinson et al. (2003) and West, Otte, Geher, Johnson, &
Mohr (2004).
Our goal was to collate information on dance interventions leading to Improving Physical Activity
and Health across all age categories.

Methods

In our search for sources we used the portal for electronic information sources discovery.muni.
We searched for information dated between 2000 – 2016. We excluded studies dealing with
professional dancers and dance interventions which include dance exergaming.
Results

Dance interventions to increase physical activity of Youth

Certain amount of the above recommended physical activity can be in the form of dance lessons.
The considerable significance of dance in youth is confirmed by an extensive research of 7500
pupils and students from the USA (where there is currently an epidemic of obesity), aged on
average 15.4 years. We can see that dance is a favourite of physical activity among young people
especially girls (the third most popular physical activity). Dance may be one of primary means by
which to increase physical activity rates in young people (Mavridis, Filippou, Rokka, Bousiou, &

Mavridis, 2004). In addition, according to recent research dancing provides a wide range of
health benefits. Use of dance contributes to the development of creative capacity, musicality and
motor abilities, also of initiative, imagination, originality, constructiveness, self-esteem and self-
confidence (Cicović-Sarajlić, Pavlović, & Popović, 2013). Special attention is paid to the issue of
self-concept, perception of body and anxiety in children and youth. A certain positive impact of
dance on these components of identity has been observed (Burkhardt & Brennan, 2012).

The 9 studies was included to our characteristics related to our topics. Characteristics of the
included studies and results are presented inTable 1.

Table 1 General characteristics and results of including studies - Youth

Autor Date Type of dance Methods Results

Jago et al. 2012 Hip hop, street dance Accelerometers Inconclusive weekday MVPV
Ballet, Partnered Dance,
Community Jazz/Hip-Hop,
Maria A. Lopez The structure of dance lessons
Private Jazz/Hip-Hop,
Castillo, San Diego, et 2015 Accelerometers can impact youths’ physical
LatinFlamenco, Latin-
al. activity.
Salsa Ballet/Folklorico,
Tap
The Body Attitudes
Questionnaire (BAQ), The Positive effects on body image
Gillian Burgessa, Children and Youth Physical and self-worth during the aerobic
Sarah Groganb, Les 2005 aerobic dance Self-Perception Profile (CY- dance intervention, but these
Burwitz PSPP) , The Leisure Time effects were not sustained after
Physical Activity Questionnaire the aerobic intervention
(LTPAQ),

Rumba, Salsa, Hip – hop,

Olvera, Scherer et al. 2010 Cheerleading, modern line Accelerometers Increased MVPA
dancing

African dance, Hip-hop,

Robinson et al. 2010 Accelerometers Conclusive PA outcomes
Step
Kim, Kim 2007 Hip-hop, Dance aerobic Questionnaire Higher positive well-being

Improved all health-related

Assessment - cardiorespiratory,
Mavradis et al. 2004 dance aerobic abilities – cardiorespiratory,
strength, flexibility
strength, endurance, flexibility
 Assessment - heart rate, blood Non-significant but improvements
Silvestri 2004 dance aerobic
pressures in resting and recovery heart rate

Reduction owerweight and

Assemssment - weight, adipose
Jazz dance, Folk dance adipose tissue, greater
Viscki-Stalec et al. 2007 tissue, aerobic fitness, motor
and aerobics improvement in aerobic capacity,
skills, coordination
strength and flexibility

Dance interventions to increase physical activity of adults

There is extensive recent literature on various types of dance as a form of physical activity
beneficial to physical, mental and social health and well-being of an individual. The analysis
included both people in good health and people suffering from diseases (Sivvas, Batsiou,
Vasoglou, & Filippou, 2015).
The two main goals of dance in the category of adult individuals is energy expenditure, which
should correspond with the recommendations for physical activity and stress reduction.
The studies available suggest that there have been a greater number of dance interventions
aimed at women and women also comprised majority in dance interventions (Sivvas et al., 2015).
This fact presumably reflects the rate of popularity of dance as a type of physical activity in both
genders. Also, every age groups has a special preference of a dancing style, this preference is
then the reason why they choose the particular dance intervention.

Selected studies confirm the effectiveness of dance interventions (Table 2)

Table 2 General characteristics and results of including studies - Adults

Autor Date Type of dance Methods Results

Exercise intensity (EI) and energy

Sardinian folk dance
Cugusi et al. 2015 Accelerometers expenditure (EE) fulfill the
ballu sardu
recommendations ACSM

Gas exchange was

Recreational recorded using a The intensity of exercise as matching the
Lankford et al. 2014
ballroom dance portable metabolic criteria established by ACSM
system

Latin dance and non-

Accelerometer with Efficacious in terms of community-based
Domene, Pablo et partnered Latin-
2015 accompanying heart physical activity and psychosocial health
al. themed aerobic
rate monitor promotion
dance
Dance interventions to increase physical activity of the elderly

One of the major issues in the 21st century is maintaining the quality of life of the aging population.
There is no doubt that health problems are associated with ageing. Common health complications
in the elderly are falls, which are around the world considered to be a threat to public health. One
of the major causes of falls is impaired ability to quickly adapt to a changing environment. Falls
are the main aetiology factor leading to death caused by an accident of people over 65 (Reguli &
Svobodová, 2011). Dance interventions for the elderly are effective both as prevention of falls
(Sherrington et al., 2011) and as an instrument to maintain or improve cognitive functions
(Verghese et al., 2003). Impairment of cognitive functions resulting in depression, MCI (mild
cognitive impairment), Alzheimer´s disease and dementia are some of diagnoses increasing
dramatically. It is estimated that by 2030 the number of patients suffering with dementia will have
risen by 70 % (Raboch, 2010). Dance as a means of improving cardiorespiratory parameters is
effective, nevertheless there are studies which confirm that it is just as effective as any other type
of exercise (Rodrigues-Krause, Farinha, Krause, & Reischak-Oliveira, 2016).

Discussion

Results suggest that dance can improve cardiovascular parameters and can contribute to
preventing or reducing obesity (Adiputra, Alex, Sutjana, Tirtayasa, & Manuaba, 1996; Bennell et
al., 2000; Janssen & LeBlanc, 2010).
There is also limited evidence implying that dance intervention may improve self-concept and
body image and reduce anxiety (Burgess, Grogan, & Burwitz, 2006; Cuypers et al., 2012).
A crucial question that remains unanswered is motivation for physical activity. Including dance
into the offer of physical activities broadens the range of options where everyone can find an
activity to match their needs.
As the history of dance is so long, many dance styles have been examined regarding their health
benefits, the intensity of loading, energy expenditure as well as mental aspects. Currently new
styles are springing up, providing new challenges to revise the effects of dance.

Conclusion

The global epidemic of inactivity and diseases caused by inactivity leads to the introduction of
various measures. Policies to address insufficient physical activity are operational in 56% of WHO
Member States and WHO Member States have agreed to reduce insufficient physical activity by
10% by 2025 (World Health Organization, 2016).
The above review of literature covering various aspects of dance as physical activity for improving
physical, mental and social health indicates a wide range of effects. In children and youth dance
generally fulfils the function of physical activity and also contributes to the development of creative
capacity, musicality, also of initiative, imagination, originality, constructiveness, self-esteem and
self-confidence. In adults significantly more women than men participate in dance intervention
even though dance contributes to increasing physical activity and resulting prevention of NCDs
and stress reduction. Dance in the elderly primarily fulfils the function of fall prevention and
maintaining or improving cognitive functions.
Dancing has the potential to be an attractive physical activity that can be adjusted to fit a target
population's age, physical limitations, and culture. Despite the scientific evidence on health
benefits of dance it still has to be taken into consideration that physical activity alone cannot
guarantee the overall health of an individual, it is merely one of the significant factors contributing
to a healthy lifestyle and enhancing physical and mental health.

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