Changes in motor skills among early school aged girls under the influence of regularly practiced dance

ABSTRACT

This study aims the evaluation of the level, dynamics and direction of changes in the development of motor skills among early-school aged girls under the influence of a regularly practiced dance. The study involved 357 girls aged 7–10. The experimental group consisted of 192 girls attending dance classes at schools and children’s dance groups. The physical fitness level was assessed by seven trials from the Eurofit test battery that allowed to determine the level of balance, speed of upper limb movement, flexibility, explosive strength of the lower limbs, static hand strength, strength endurance of the abdominal muscles and agility. Measurements were carried out twice with a 9-month interval during one school year. Test scores were used to determine profiles of motor skill levels for a group of dancing girls, standardised against the control group. The dynamics of changes were determined on the basis of percentage indicators for relative increments. The frequency of changes between measurements was expressed as the number of subjects in percentages. The dancing girls presented a higher level in six motor skills and changes in their physical fitness were more dynamic. Statistically, significant increases were found for balance, flexibility, static hand strength and agility.

KEYWORDS:

• Children’s development
• female dancers
• physical activity
• physical fitness

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ewa Polak

Ewa Polak is an Adjunct in Physiotherapy and Sports Centre at Rzeszow University of Technology. She received her doctorate in Science of Physical Culture from the University of Physical Education in Katowice (Poland). She has more than 25 years of experience in teaching gymnastics at the academic studies for teacher of physical education. Her research interests include different aspects of children’s sport in psychology and kinesiology approach.

Bernadetta Wojtuń-Sikora

Bernadetta Wojtuń-Sikora is an Adjunct in Institute of Physical Culture, College of Medical Sciences at University of Rzeszow. She received her doctorate in Science of Physical Culture from the University of Physical Education in Krakow (Poland). She has more than 25 years of experience in teaching dance at the academic studies for teacher of physical education. She is also an experienced dance teacher who has been running her own youth dance group for 30 years. Her research interests include different aspects of learning and teaching dance in the pedagogical, psychological and psychomotor dimensions.