While dance is a physically and mentally demanding subject, many people are still of the opinion that dance cannot be an academic subject and should not be included in a school’s curriculum. Dance as a school subject still faces negative perceptions despite numerous counter-arguments, and can be misunderstood as a ‘soft option’.
However, dance is just as rigorous, challenging and worthwhile as any other academic subject, holding great purpose amongst ‘arts education’ as a whole. There may not be as many students applying for dance as other subjects, but this does not lessen its worth, and the applicant number is actually rising.
Dance too requires academic thinking, with thinking required of both the brain and body. Dancers need to have good control of the body and its movements, in order to express ideas, emotions and create something artistically through the body’s physicality of muscles and joints.
The theory and history of dance also add stature to the subject of dance, in addition to studying dance criticism and dance science. These aspects must then be applied in both theoretic and physical terms. Unlike other subjects where you may not be required to show what you learn in practice or real life contexts, for dance you must know and understand the theory behind what you do on both the stage and in the studio.
Dancers are also creative, good problem solvers and quick, critical thinkers, which is useful day to day, and also as part of choreography. Dancers used methods such as risk, improvisation, flexibility and exploration to discover movement and fulfil what is required of them. Dance is full of new content and things to explore, not regurgitated every year as with other academic subjects. Students therefore make valuable contributions to the art form through what they create, actively engaging in the field.
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.