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Dancing beyond exercise : young people's experiences in dance classes

journal contribution
posted on 2008-12-01, 00:00 authored by Sally GardnerSally Gardner, P Komesaroff, R Fensham
Dance classes in urban settings may have a role in health-promotion programmes seeking to increase physical activity amongst young people. However, little is so far known about the motivations, experiences or health outcomes of those participating in dance classes. This qualitative study of young people attending recreational dance classes addressed motivations, the nature of the class experience, and implications for health and well-being. Data show that young dance participants' experiences of 'the physical' are embedded in social, community/cultural or other values, and involve respect for older teachers and physical knowledge/expertise gained over the long term. Encouragement of dance-class participation may offer an important strategy for health promotion as long as the physical activity value of dance classes is not promoted in narrow, bio-mechanical terms.

History

Journal

Journal of youth studies

Volume

11

Issue

6

Pagination

701 - 709

Publisher

Carfax

Location

Cambridge, Mass.

ISSN

1367-6261

eISSN

1469-9680

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

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