the science behind it
What does dance do for the body, soul and mind? Research suggests that regular dancing has many positive impacts.
Reinders, Bryden and Fletcher note that people with Down syndrome often have balance, motor control and motor learning deficits, as well as a higher risk of chronic disease -- which can be offset by an active lifestyle. Despite some cognitive and motor delays, Reinders et. al say, people with Down syndrome are often able to attend school or work, and make their own decisions and community-based activities like dance can help them live a fulfilling life.
They also point out that children with Down syndrome are more less likely to participate in the recommended amount of physical activity, even though an active life can reduce risk of disease along with improving confidence, motor skills and allow them to engage with their community.
“For children with Down syndrome, movement-based therapy is beneficial; benefits range from strengthening the mind–body connection to the improvement of development, health, and cognitive skills.”
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-- Chloe M. Albin (2016) The Benefit of Movement: Dance/Movement Therapy and Down Syndrome, Journal of Dance Education, 16:2, 58-61
And while there are plenty of run-of-the-mill physical therapy programs to help people with Down syndrome get their recommended exercise, they’re often flat out boring. Reinders et. al call many of those programs “repetitive and uninteresting”, whereas dance, they say, allows people with Down syndrome to create a movement language, communicate with others and develop awareness, all through a platform that emphasizes individuality and creativity.
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Appealing to students’ sense of creativity helps dance as therapy programs stand out for the people who use them -- and that, Albin says in The Benefit of Movement: Dance/Movement Therapy and Down Syndrome (2016), is the key to success.
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“A successful physical therapy program is one that is as unique as the individual. Dance/movement therapy is a malleable approach to therapy; it can change depending on the needs of a specific person. It is beneficial for children, but also adults, as methods used in movement therapy can evolve with age.”
-- Chloe M. Albin (2016) The Benefit of Movement: Dance/Movement Therapy and Down Syndrome, Journal of Dance Education, 16:2, 58-61
Reinders et. al and Albin both mention that dance and movement therapy strengthen the mind-body connection for dancers of all abilities -- something that VICTORY Canada tries to embody with their slogan “Have Spirit. Will Triumph.”