Dance

Personal Connection

My college career has been filled with many difficult decisions. As a returning adult student, I felt obligated to choose a major I could use to obtain a good paying job soon after graduation. So, I began as an education major, working hard to become an elementary school teacher. At the time the Wichita Public School District was hiring and in need of teachers. But, unfortunately when I began student teaching I discovered I did not like teaching young children. My love for children still exists but, the public school classroom was not the place for me. Then I changed my major to sociology. Once I began to study the subject I started to create lesson plans tying education and sociology together. My intentions are multilayered. To begin, I will discuss the physical benefits of dance for children. Secondly, the emotional benefits of dance for children. And lastly, the social benefits of dance and how these topics shape the individual and prepare them to enter society. I also have three young children of my own who dance and have experienced the wonderful benefits of dance. Through the explaining the benefits of dance I will also give some insight on my personal connection with the benefits of dance. The physical, emotional, and social benefits of dance will help to prepare children for future challenges they will face in society.

To begin, dancing has several physical benefits. One of the most important benefits is cardiovascular health. My personal connection with heart disease motivates me to highlight this benefit first. My dear friend and long time lover died from congestive heart failure in January of 2009. As a result I would like to help children I teach and my own children how to avoid weight related heart problems. According to the book, Kids with Zip: a Practical Resource for Promoting Active Children Ages 3-12, dancing can raise the heart rate to “between 80 and 120 beats a minute.” As with any muscle, if the heart is...