Roehampton University
Open Spaces. Open Minds.
Press release
Four out of five children give ballroom dancing in PE the thumbs up
Four out of five children give ballroom dancing in PE the thumbs up
22 June 2009
An evaluation report by Roehampton University on a national dancing scheme supported by Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova from the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing TV Show, finds 80 per cent of participating school children think dancing in physical education class is “exciting, cool and brilliant”.
The report also reveals that ballroom and Latin dance in school PE lessons can improve children’s fitness, engagement in physical activity, social skills, self-esteem and classroom behaviour.
The independent report, conducted by Dr Jeanne Keay, Dean of Education, and Dr Jon Spence, Head of Physical Education at Roehampton University, one of the leading teacher training institutions in the UK, evaluated the impact of a pilot teacher-trainer scheme, called Essentially Dance.
The scheme, funded by the Aldridge Foundation, saw dance instructors including Darren and Lilia, train 52 teachers and classroom assistants to teach the cha-cha-cha, waltz, jive and quick step in PE lessons.
Carried out in 29 primary and secondary schools across the country between April to May this year, the scheme involved over 2,500 school pupils aged 5 -17.
Key findings from the report show that attitudes towards exercise, and dance, changed as a result of dancing in PE lessons:
• less sporty children became more engaged in physical activity;
• shy children gained self-esteem and made friends;
• behaviour improved, which teachers attributed to the disciplined and structured nature of ballroom and Latin dance;
• The majority, especially girls, expressed an interest in further dance lessons.
At one school where behaviour in PE lessons had previously been poor, the teacher praised the scheme saying: “These boys, they usually can’t get out of school fast enough and now they’re giving up their free time to do this.” One previously reticent boy said: “I used to hate dance now I love it.” When asked how to fit dance in to the busy school curriculum, another boy replied: “Cancel maths – put dance on instead.”
Teachers who expected wariness were surprised by the children’s instant engagement. “It opens up children who are less competitive and not as confident in PE lessons,” said a primary school teacher.
Communication and cooperation improved between boys and girls, who worked together as dance partners, and across age groups as older children taught younger ones new dance steps in the playground. This infectious enthusiasm spilled over into extra-curricula activities, such as after school dance clubs where dinner ladies, teachers and students learned side-by-side. Some participating schools now plan to host community tea dances.
Dr Keay, explains, "The response to the pilot programme was overwhelmingly positive. Dance clearly has the potential to make a huge impact on all children's learning, helping pupils learn to move and move to learn.
"The research also found that the introduction of dance into schools through this type of scheme has the potential to positively affect social interaction within families and in local communities."
The scheme reflects the core ethos of the Aldridge Foundation, which is to tackle educational underachievement and social immobility. Rob Aldridge, Chairman of The Aldridge Foundation, says,
“As a young boy, I was an under-achiever academically but gained confidence by competing in both sport and dance. I wanted to find a way to make this experience available to all children, no matter what their socio-economic backgrounds. So it’s immensely rewarding to see how this dance scheme has ignited the passion of a new generation of children in a way that can also improve their fitness and social skills.”
Teachers who participated in the scheme also said they believed the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing TV show has had a positive impact on children’s awareness and positive perceptions of ballroom dance. This was especially so for boys who viewed sports figures, such as rugby player Darren Gough who previously won the TV competition with Lilia, as role models.
As Darren, who with Lilia helped develop the training resource for the scheme, says,
“It has always been our dream that every young person should have the opportunity to learn Ballroom and Latin American dancing and finally this is being realised through Essentially Dance. It is exciting to see how successful it has become and we are looking forward to seeing the long term results.”
The Essentially Dance scheme is designed to meet the Government’s Every Child Matters outcomes on health, enjoyment and achievement targets to reduce childhood obesity and the National Curriculum’s Key stage 1-5 provision for Physical Education. The scheme will be launched nationally today at the Royal Festival Hall, with a dance demonstration by Darren, Lilia and school children from Bromley and Croydon, in south London.
To view the report summary see attached document or for the full report visit the Aldridge Foundation’s website www.aldridgefoundation.com/essentiallydance
ENDS
To attend the launch event for Essentially Dance at the Royal Festival Hall, South Bank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX, on Monday June 22 from 10-11am contact:
Petra Coveney Associate Director of The Aldridge Foundation
020 7925 7905
Blackberry 07590831966.
Or for interviews contact:
Melina Nicholson
Press and PR Manager
Roehampton University
Ph: 0208 392 3181 Mob: 0782 580 5833
email: m.nicholson@roehampton.ac.uk
Notes to Editor
- The Roehampton University evaluation included two clusters of these participating schools in Darwen (one secondary school and five feeder primary schools) and Brighton (one secondary school and four feeder primary schools). Approximately 370 children aged 5-14 took part in the research.
- The Essentially Dance pilot scheme was funded by the Aldridge Foundation. www.aldridgefoundation.com. It was developed in partnership with professional dancers Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova, Dale Bennett of City Limits Education, School Sports Partnership expert Sue Cooper and Lorraine Drolet, a former world amateur champion ballroom dancer who runs children’s dance classes in New Addington, Croydon and Couldon. The training consists of three days of practical training with dance and sport experts supported by a training resource, which includes a step-by-step DVD led by Darren and Lilia, a booklet with easy to follow sessions and a CD with suitable music. For information or to sign up for training visit the Essentially Dance website www.essentiallydance.com.
- The scheme has been piloted in 29 schools at five key sites: Darwen near Blackburn, Salford, Rotherham, Bromley in South London, and Falmer near Brighton.
- According to the NHS, ballroom dancing can burn up to 300 calories an hour.
- Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova are appearing in their first West End show Latin Fever at Sadler's Wells’ Peacock Theatre until Sunday 28 June.