By John Boyle, FCSN Voices Youth Reporter
Graphics by: Angel Li, FCSN Voices Graphic Artist

A growing body of research has investigated the therapeutic benefits of dance and movement for children and adolescents with developmental disabilities. These studies have provided strong scientific evidence that structured dance interventions can improve a range of developmental outcomes.

Dr. Rujuta Wilson and her team at the UCLA Center for Autism Research and Treatment ran a study to see how dance classes could help children and teens with motor skills and social abilities. The participants were between 4 and 17 years old and had neurodevelopmental disabilities, mostly autism. Some could speak well, while others were non-verbal. They were split into two groups: one group took weekly dance classes for 10 weeks, and the other group did not. Each dance class lasted one hour. The dance classes were led by trained college students as dance instructors. Buddy volunteers were paired 1:1 with each participant. In each class, a dance instructor started the group class with warm-up stretches followed by exercises involving more exaggerated movements. A short break was taken to encourage hydration and resting. After taking a short break, the instructor taught a series of dance moves paired with music. 

Social skills (behavior and communication) and motor functions (motor tasks) were evaluated before and after the dance trial. After the 10-week dance lessons, the active group showed a significant improvement on the “movement in an unpredictable environment”, while the control group did not show any significant change in this domain. The “Movement in an Unpredictable Environment” refers to a child’s ability to move and react appropriately in dynamic or changing surroundings. It assesses how well the child can manage movement tasks when the environment is not stable or predictable, for example, reacting to sudden changes in the environment. This reminds me that at the annual Disability Resource Festival each year, to foster familiarity and comfort in chaotic situations, the Fremont Police Department showcases drone and K-9 demonstrations, and the Fire Department also showcases a fully equipped firefighter mingling with children with special needs. On one hand, all these showcases at the Disability Resource Festival aim to alleviate fears associated with unpredictable situations and emergencies. On the other hand, participating in structured dance classes can help improve motor function and adaptability.

A study in Brazil looked at whether dance classes could help autistic children and teens improve their communication, social behavior, and independence. The participants were 8 to 15 years old. The dance group took 40-minute dance classes once a week for 6 months. There were 17 children in the dance group and 19 in the control group (who didn’t take dance classes).

By the end of the study, the children in the dance group showed clear improvements in how they communicated, understood others, and behaved overall. The study also found that the dance program may have had positive effects on the well-being of their mothers.

Similar clinical trials have been conducted across continents. These trials consistently showed that structured dance programs led to significant reductions in core autism symptoms and improvements in social interaction. These benefits were most pronounced in programs that ran for at least 8 weeks. Another important finding is that not all types of physical activity provide the same array of benefits. Structured physical activity with guided practice (e.g., dance led by an instructor) proved to be the most beneficial for motor skill development compared to unstructured physical activity. 

Both FCSN Easy Bay and South Bay Centers offer music & dance classes in their after-school programs, summer programs and during the Family Gathering events. These dance classes are usually led by instructors. In addition to these classes, you can also find dance tutorial videos online, and dance in your own backyard. Here are some dance tutorials:

Step in the Right Direction – Autism Dance Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4lFmVJLB0w

Rhythm of Health: https://rhythmofhealth.godaddysites.com/ As a passionate dancer in training, I have released five hip hop dance tutorials. Follow these videos, you can dance at home with your family members. 

References:

JT Anderson et al., 2024, The impact of a pilot dance intervention program for children and adolescents with developmental disabilities: a randomized control trial. https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-3256683/v1

Teixeira-Machado et al., 2022, A novel dance intervention program for children and adolescents with developmental disabilities: a pilot randomized control trial. Complement Ther Clin Prac. 49:101650. 

A Mastrominico et al., 2018, Effects of Dance Movement Therapy on Adult Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Behav Sci (Basel). 8(7):61

T Chen et al., 2022, Dance intervention for negative symptoms in individuals with autismspectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Clin Prac. 47: 101565