Many people have a general awareness that dance education (and arts education in general) have a positive impact of childhood development and on overall academic performance.  What is lesser known are details of the actual scientific research that has been done on this subject.

The link below is a comprehensive report by the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) that summarizes many of the important studies on the relationship between dance education and childhood development in the K-12 age range.  

Some brief highlights:

• Dance education facilitates the kinesthetic learners’ exploration of abstract geometrical concepts, enhance their problem solving skills, and enable them to develop a mathematical-thinking process that can be verbally communicated
• Eighth graders who had high levels of arts engagement from kindergarten through elementary school showed higher test scores in science and writing than did students who had lower levels of arts engagement over the same period. 
  
• Students who had arts-rich experiences in high school were more likely than students without those experiences to complete a calculus course. Also, students who took arts courses in high school achieved a slightly higher grade-point average (GPA) in math than did other students. 
• In two separate databases, students who had arts-rich experiences in high school showed higher overall GPAs than did students who lacked those experiences. 
• High school students who earned few or no arts credits were five times more likely not to have graduated than students who earned many arts credits.
  

The complete report can be found here.

If you are looking for a summer activity for your pre-teen, consider a summer dance camp.  Dance is a unique activity in that it combines art with athleticism, and an introduction to dance (and specifically ballet) can have long term benefits for your child.
 
Some of the benefits of ballet for kids aged 5-10 are:

• They learn to follow instructions. Learning ballet requires concentration and focus on the instructor - the same skills they need to be successful academically.
  

• They learn how to take a disciplined approach to a difficult activity.  The discipline a child learns through ballet will serve them well in any endeavor in their lives.
  



• Because of the athletic nature of ballet, kids learn co-ordination, balance, kinesthetic sense, and how to control the movement of their bodies.
  

• They  learn patience - the study of ballet does not give instant gratification.
  

• They build strength and endurance - ballet is great exercise!
  

• They learn self confidence and become comfortable performing in front of an audience.  Even if they never become an adult performer, these skills are essential for public speaking or giving a presentation in a business or professional setting.
  

• Young children learn quickly.  If your child has expressed an interest in ballet or dance the best time to start is when they are young.
  

 

Summer dance camps at Opus provide all of these benefits, as well as the following:

• Kids learn about the history of ballet and famous ballet performances.
  

• The camp program is conducted in a fun environment that includes watching videos of ballets and ballet related craft projects.
  

• The camps are held in Opus' convenient downtown location. 
  

Please check out the details on our Summer Dance Camp 2015 schedule and registration page