"Performing Arts Education is not about creating future artists. It's about enabling dream-making to happen in all students." (Adele Horin)
The above statement is in need of attention by all the cynics that are of the opinion the performing arts is just a way to fill time and is not worthy of academic respect. Having aspirations is vital in order to develop, because with no wants why would anyone ever get out of bed?
Many mothers take their young daughters to ballet. After doing a recent survey I discovered the main reason for this is simply because their daughter wants to wear pink and have seen Angelina ballerina! Not for beneficial development. However this reason should not be over-looked and time after time it is.
The amount of fathers that have not allowed or encouraged their son to take classes in the performing arts because it is ‘not manly’ is staggering. If the benefits of children partaking in performing arts was more widely spread hopefully this would help parents to be more actively encouraging and in-role their child in to extra-curricular activities.
Research recently conducted by the University of Maryland focused on the linkage between children's participation in acting classes, dance lessons and/or singing lessons and the positive outcomes in schools, kid's emotional development and behaviour.
The research shows participation in performing arts is linked to positive outcomes in school, emotional development, family life and behaviour. The children not involved in any activities were more socially immature and had a lower self-esteem.
Research shows that these are some of the most important benefits of performing arts education:
- Plays a central role in cognitive, motor, language and social emotional development
Acting
Inspire self-confidence, self discipline, and help children in school.
Help develop critical skills for life and work
Enhances intellectual, personal and social development
Singing
Improve students' performance in other subject areas
Expose kids to a range of cultures and points of view
Dance
Refine cognitive and creative skills
Strengthen problem solving and critical thinking skills
Tremendous impact on the growth of every child
Strengthens body
According to the Report published by Australian Bureau of Statistics 42% of Australian kids aged 5 to 14 years participate in the organised after school activities, such as dance classes, singing, drama and playing musical instruments. These children are proven to be better developed socially and academically. With this evidence, hopefully more parents will sign their children up for performing arts classes.
Dear Alys,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your academic piece of writing. I could feel your passion jumping out at me through the page. You raise a very valid point, and one that is shared by many performers around the world whom I have spoken to. Many people think of dancing/performing as a lazy way out of studies. When I was training at Performer’s College, I was studying from 8am – 6pm five days a week, where as some of my friends attending university would attend about three 2-hour lectures a week. Performing Arts College is very intense.
As you state, what would be the point of getting out of bed in the morning if you there was nothing that you were passionate about.
Dancing and Performing brings such joy to so many people, not only the people performing, but also the people who are watching the performances. Surely this must stand for a lot. As you listed in your writing, dancing, singing and acting bring lots of positive behavioural attributes to those who practice it. However were there any of these studies conducted in the United Kingdom that you came across?
The reason I ask this is that the anti-social behaviour, from both genders, that is present in the British society seems to be on the rise and brings fear to communities. The Government seems to be trying to introduce dance into schools, but I think that more money should be spent on this, as the benefits that you have stated would be beneficial to the future generations.
I think that boys would especially benefit from performing arts classes, as this might give them a passion to dedicate themselves to, because anti-social behaviour is often brought on by boredom.
Do you know what the ratio is of girls and boys attending Performing Arts classes? Do you think that if parents were aware of the benefits of dance classes, that they might send their sons to them? In your opinion, how can we change as a society to stop thinking of dancing and performing as something that girls do and something that is not acceptable for boys?
I look forward to your thoughts.
Hey Alys
ReplyDeletein reply to Ciera and commenting on your work. I have scoured the internet for a source about the ratio of boys and girls that dance but have had no luck finding one! Thinking about your average dance school and 5-6year old age i think it would be about 1 boy to about 15 girls? I find at the school i teach at that most start when there younger, sometimes because of an older sister in the school, but seem to trail off when they get older. Drama classes however seem to bring in a lot of boys, about the ratio 5:10, sometimes i have found that as soon as a dance school does a show, boys seem to want to join tap and jazz classes and i see a rise in the amount of boys dancing at the older 14+ ages. The school i teach at is very lucky to be able to supply children for many of the touring shows and from time to time I have known the principal to literally ask younger brothers (whilst waiting to pick up there sisters) to play roles and sing in front of her for parts...most of the time they are naturals, get on the stage fall in love with it and bingo are keepers and continue to grow and perform as boys in theatre until they leave , mostly to go on to Performing arts schools or drama colleges.
I think the outlook on boys and dancing has improved dramatically over the last 10 years, Billy Elliot (released in 2000) made a dramatic impact I think and recently the increase of Music Artists with strong and butch men dancing with them has inspired the boys with passions for music and dancing to join HipHop classes and Jazz classes which i think are much more acceptable in their fathers eyes, than ballet for example?
do you think the rise in different genres of dance to participate in has effected the amount of boys that come to dance?
let me know!
Thanks for your comments!
ReplyDeleteI have been looking for a study doen in the united kingdom and couldnt find one. I tried to find one to support my writing with because being from the UK it would have been more relevant. Since your comment i have done a bit more delving and still found nothing.
If a study between behavioural attributes and performing arts was conducted in the UK people in the country would probably give it more respect. The government would not have a choice but to invest more money in teaching children performing arts, because (like you said Ciera) of the amount of anti social behaviour occuring in Britain.
I agree with Rosina about the outlook on boys and dancing having improved over the past 10 years. However there is still a long way to go before it is respected by men as much as football, and i doubt it will ever get there! Lots of boys do hip hop/street dance now which i agree has been encouraged by the rise in r'n'b music artits. This style then aids them in crossing over to more traditional forms of theatre. Therefore i do think that the rise in different genres of dance has increased the amount of boys dancing.
However i have come across lots of males (some who do hip hop) that feel like 'street' dance does not fall under performing arts and still disrespect what they see as traditional forms of dance and performing. This is such a shame because when other genres are tried they are always enjoyed.
The ratio of male to females in dance classes varies dramatically depending on the school. I have found that if a school does drama lots of boys attend that, see the dancing and then join that too (more often than not enjoying it more!). Within the three performing arts schools i work with in dubai only one has boys! Probably 1/4 - Once one boy is signed up for dance class then all their friends join to, but if that initial boy never appears than schools just have girls.
I have found that the name of a class affects the boys attendance. If i call i class performing arts (my interpretation being different dance styles) i will get lots of boys. If the class is called 'street jazz' a few boys will join. If the class is named 'jazz' i will only get boys, probably like Rosina said through sisters doing it first.
If the class is ballet then I am lucky to have one boy! The one boy who dares to do ballet and his parents encourage it doesnt usually start ballet until they have already joined every other class they can and i (or another teacher) has drilled in to them the importance of classical technique.
I personally feel that doing performing arts has benefitted me in more ways than giving me a career path to follow. I have learnt how to present myself, developed confidence, discipline, and having a passion for something has helped me to understand good and bad emotions.
How do you feel it has benefitted you? Do either of you feel any negative behavioural attributes were brought out because of doing performing arts?
In myself i feel that because i have always been so active and knowing you could always do more rehearsal/stretching/classes do become better i am unable to relax and feel guilty if i am just sat on the sofa. (Not really a major flaw!)
I am also very critical of myself (and others). This must have been brought on by having to constantly analyse myself so i can become better at dancing.
These two negatives are definitely outwieghed by what i have gained from performing arts.
Hope to hear your thoughts soon!
I am very careful when discussing the negative and positive effects of Performing Arts, I have been bought up never knowing the difference as everyone I have ever come in contact with has a background in theatre. I have been very lucky and benefitted massively with posture, confidence, punctuality and discipline which i have learned from theatre however I also am a perfectionist and never allow anything to past me without doing my best. This has quite badly effected my self esteem and actual perception of what is acceptable due to realising that i cannot be perfect. Whilst at college I was not satisfied with what i was doing and may have worked to hard at trying to change myself. Luckily i was quite a strong person before I left for college so although now i am very different person I haven't been destroyed completely. However when teaching my older children who want to pursue training I do stress quite punctually how intense the training is and how however much you seem to perfect something still wont be good enough and there would be something else to practice. This sadistic application of training to some may seem rather demoralizing and negative although living through 'rose coloured spectacles' without due consideration of the prospects is destined to backfire especially in the Theatrical industry.
ReplyDeleteI love your comparison with football and ballet and how acceptable it is, however I bet the millions of men who are adamant that 'ballet is for wimps' would grimace if you told them some of the worlds best footballers undertake special ballet classes to help them with there balance, flexibility and strength for their games!
http://www.offthepost.info/2009/04/football-academies-teach-youngsters-ballet/
I think it is impossible to change peoples opinions however it is possible to educate people more for them to adjust there opinions based on facts...other than placing ballet shows on prime-time saturday evening tv I am unsure how we as an industry can gain acceptance!??!
http://www.offthepost.info/2009/04/football-academies-teach-youngsters-ballet/
ReplyDeleteAll - A lively discussion. Alys, I am a little confused about some of the sourcing in your piece - research shows... and who did the dancing singing acting information - is this a quote? There are examples of Harvard referencing in the back of the Handbook. Breaking up the sentences might make the writing a bit hard to follow... Certain points have certainly illicited a response from your audience, maybe a larger and more in depth conclusion to bring home your point of view? Paula
ReplyDeleteHi Alys,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your reply. Please do inform me if you manage to find any information carried out in the UK. I myself have not found anything either. But as you say if such a study has been published, then the UK Government would not be able to ignore it, as the benefits that come out of having a Performing Arts background, in my opinion, can only be a positive.
Yes, there is a stigma attached to boys wanting to dance. I think this is very sad, as I have many male friends who perform and who are happy and able to earn a living doing something they love. As you say, the dance styles will appeal differently to boys as they do to girls. I truly believe that if a boy starts off dancing in a ‘Jazz’ class, he might then be intrigued to try another form, quickly followed by another. Tap, Ballet, Modern, Contemporary are dance styles that can offer so much, and it would be great if more boys could start off at a young age appreciating this fact. Have you noticed many (if any) following this pattern? If so, once they start ballet, which is such a technical dance style, do you find they improve with other dance styles?
I agree with you regarding the benefits of having a Performing Arts background. I share the same characteristics as you, and also not being able to sit in front of the Television without doing anything else. Performing Arts give you a drive to want to go further and achieve more and more. It has made me push myself to the extreme, which is now habit, and one that is performed on a daily basis. Every day I do things to the best of my ability. Can you see this drive from your pupils?
Have you ever spoken to parents of your students about these benefits that we are discussing? Are they even aware of them? Would you consider talking to the parents that bring their daughters in but not theirs sons? Maybe if you told them all the pros they might want introduce dance to them. What are your thoughts on this?
I do believe that the one set back with Performing Arts is body image. I remember that this was the only thing that really ever upset me at college. Dancing is very visual and we all know how much emphasis is placed on looking good. I do believe that one should look after themselves and make the most of their physical appearance, however dancers often take weight loss to the extreme. Some circumstances are fatal. Have you come across any weight related issues as a teacher? And if so how do you believe the best way is to tackle the issue?
I think it would be great to interview a few of your students or do a survey in your dance school asking them how performing has affected them? And what they believe to be the pros and cons? What do you think about this?
It would be of interest to me, and to your readers, to know where you sourced the definitions of Acting, Singing and Dance.
I look forward to your response.
Thank you for your comment Ciera! Your comments really get me thinking!
ReplyDeleteIn response to your comment I asked a number of my students and their parents what they felt they had gained from the performing arts. The answer every time was ‘confidence.’ Confidence is a great attribute to gain and is vital to succeeding in any area of life, therefore this is definitely a positive thing. My pupils are too young to understand that activities you enjoy can bring any negativity. Therefore the question about what cons has performing arts brought to your life was met with confusion! The parents however felt the cons of performing arts were that their child now makes them watch the same dance routine over and over again! (This notified me that my pupils practice which thrilled me!)
I have never come across any weight related issues as a teacher. However at college I was faced with these daily. I also feel poor body image is the main negative consequence of the arts. I personally do not have an eating disorder but am aware that I think more negatively of my body than people in the non dance world. This negative and critical attitude towards my appearance is also how I know my performing friends see themselves. Therefore I think it is perfectly normal till I am surrounded by non dancers and I see their priority is having a good time rather than being fit and looking good. Due to this realisation I try to never make any reference to body image in my classes. I know if a pupil wants to take dance seriously they will realise the emphasis themselves.
Due to your comment, I was provoked to encourage a mother who was asking about singing and dance lessons for her daughter to also sign up her son. I made her aware of the benefits of performing arts and how many men do it. The mother went on to say her son did also enjoy 'the arts' as much as her daughter. However she had not thought of signing her son up simply because he was male and thought it better to encourage more 'masculine' activities. I found it very sad and disappointing that a boy that had just as much interest as his sister for performing arts was not being encouraged to partake in them. After my encouragement the mother signed her son up for singing lessons and said she will think about dance lessons. I really hope she sees the benefits of him doing performing and lets him have lessons. After all the theatre world needs all the males it can get!