Posidance Pre-Professional

WHAT MAKES POSIDANCE DIFFERENT?

 

Dance workshops typically focus on teaching dance as a skill or an art form, in order to assist in developing technique and skills that are valued in the industry.

 

Whilst these workshops are incredibly beneficial for setting up dancers with the skills they need to attain work within the industry, these workshops do not delve into the expectations of the industry, nor help to build their wellbeing and mental resilience that ensures longevity within the industry. Emotional resilience and wellbeing are pertinent for dancers to be life-long learners, and assist them in navigating difficult situations that may arise throughout their careers.

 

Posidance, therefore,  utilises the foundations of mindfulness and positive psychology - specifically shown in numerous research studies to be incredibly beneficial for wellbeing - with dance, to educate dancers not only about mental health and the industry, but how to set up strategies for better life outcomes.

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HOW DOES MINDFULNESS AND DANCING ASSIST IN THE EMOTIONAL WELBEING OF STUDENTS?

 

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Researchers have reviewed over 200 mindfulness-based studies through numerous meta-analyses and found that mindfulness-based therapy was especially effective for reducing stress, anxiety and depression. This is due to mindfulness acknowledging the present moment, which reduces rumination.

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When people engage in mindfulness and positive psychology, they independently build the skills that develop confidence, cope with stress, and deal with challenging or uncomfortable events. It can also be used to enhance critical skills such as sustained attention, memory, task switching and socialisation.

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The 2021 study “Conscious dance: Perceived benefits and psychological well-being of participants” identified that conscious, free-flowing dance produced positive mental health benefits amongst participants based on a survey of 1,000 dancers across the world that had anxiety, depression and history of trauma.

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Dance has also been shown to improve self-esteem, increases endorphins and enhance socialisation in addition to other numerous physical and mental benefits.

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The combination of mindfulness and dancing, therefore, can be paramount for creatives looking to enhance their physical and mental wellbeing, and improve upon their overall life satisfaction.

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WHAT DO WE OFFER?

WORKSHOPS

In addition to educating dancers about mental health and the industry itself, Posidance workshops will include the following elements:

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IMPROVISATIONAL TASKING

 Based on the foundational elements of mindfulness-based therapy - Attention and Acceptance - improvisational tasks are utilised that either engage focused attention or open awareness to ensure that dancers stay present and open-minded.

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CREATIVE TASKING

 From improvisation comes creative tasking; allowing dancers the freedom to explore their movement qualities whilst collaborating and communicating with others. This then leads to presenting works that align with the foundations of Posidance: to connect and communicate.

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CHOREOGRAPHY

  Choreography is also taught to allow dancers the freedom to adapt and develop the choreography to suit their unique movement pathways, and build awareness of the way their bodies naturally prefer to move.

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS

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Unfortunately in the dance industry, there is no regulatory body that ensures consistency in teacher training and delivery. This can often mean that dance teachers are not up to date with the body of education research that informs best practice, and ensures the safety and wellbeing of students that are taught in dance studios. 

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Posidance therefore offers workshops that delve into the development and importance of emotional wellbeing and best practice so that children are receiving the best possible dance education. In addition to this, we identify the importance of the arts and extra-curricular education to promote developmental outcomes, such as identity, wellbeing and community.

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It is important for all dance teachers to understand that they provide more than just knowledge of specific art forms; they are uniquely contributing to the wellbeing of the students that they teach.

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