Heart Rates of Elementary Physical Education Students During the Dancing Classrooms Program

Abstract

We examined how different types of dance activities, along with their duration, influenced heart rate responses among fifth-grade physical education students (N = 96) who participated in the Dancing Classrooms program. Results indicated that the overall Dancing Classrooms program elicits a moderate cardiovascular heart rate response (M = 124.4 bpm), in which 47% of class time was spent above a 60% maximal heart rate threshold. The swing dance in particular (M = 143.4 bpm) stimulated a much higher heart rate level than all other dances in the program, with a mean heart rate change of 52.6 bpm. Girls (127.3 bpm) achieved marginally higher heart rates (p = .059) than boys (121.1 bpm).

Key words:

• Cardiovascular response
• Dance education
• Heart rate monitors

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Larry Nelson

This study was supported by a grant from the Amon G. Carter Foundation. Special thanks go to Tacia Torres at Tarrant County Youth Collaboration, Dancing Classrooms North Texas, and Hurst Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District. Please address correspondence concerning this article to Larry P. Nelson, Department of Kinesiology, 500 W. Nedderman Drive, University of Texas-Arlington, Arlington, TX, 76019-0259.