Woo-hoo! It’s time to turn a spotlight on news that will spark cultural change.
- If you took dance classes as a child,
- If you have a child or grandchild who is in dance or will be soon,
- If you know a child exposed to hypersexualized dance through media, or,
- If you are simply concerned about the state of children’s dance,
THEN(drum roll):
You have an invitation to participate in a free gift that I think is going to be wonderful for children inside and outside the dance community: the Healthy DA:NCE Directory. It creates the first-ever database for dance studios and organizations that teach healthy dance. It also casts light on a dark problem: the outcomes of harmful, hypersexualized children’s dance.
“The solution to harmful dance is healthy dance. The Healthy DA:NCE Directory will provide dance educators and caring adults with a way to find each other, connect, net-work, and ensure safe, protective dance environments for children.” Mary Bawden
“Parents and caregivers of young dancers must educate themselves about the harms of sexualized dance, be aware of what their children are watching and posting – and who they’re interacting with online, and have open, honest, consistent conversations with their children about their unique value and worth, harms of pornography, online risks, and how to defend themselves from harmful influences. Lina Nealon, Vice President & Director of Corporate Advocacy, National Center on Sexual Exploitation [Source]
“…….the bigger concern, from a psychological perspective, is the long-term effects on the young people who internalize this [hypersexualized] perspective and believe that their worth is based solely on their sexiness. Research over the past 20 years has shown that when young people are constantly bombarded with the message that their value lies in their sex appeal, they no longer have the mental capacity to consider other aspects of themselves.” Dr. Tomi–Ann Roberts, Member of the American Psychological Association Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls [Source]
Let’s review what those healthy and harmful outcomes are:
Healthy Dance Outcomes:
- Improved brain development,
- Improved academic performance,
- Higher ordered thinking/ critical thinking skills
- Creativity,
- Emotional maturity,
- Problem solving,
- Risk-taking,
- Improved Self-Esteem and more.
Harmful Dance outcomes:
- Relationship Wounding due to Constant Comparison
- Unable to Identify Sexual Abuse,
- Promotes Objectification,
- Poor Academic Performance & Cognitive development,
- Body Dysmorphia, Eating Disorders,
- Higher Risk of Abusive Relationships,
- Higher Risk of Pornography Use,
- Promotes Rape Culture
- Promiscuity, Teen Pregnancy
Informed choice for adults is key. It’s time to get out your personal spotlight and share the news about the Healthy DA:NCE Directory with your relational world. We make the steps simple to follow on danceawareness.com:
“Looking for a dance studio that prioritizes the health and well-being of young dancers? The DA:NCE Awareness Healthy Dance Directory is your go-to resource. This free directory highlights studios and organizations dedicated to teaching age-appropriate, healthy children’s dance. Designed with concerned parents and guardians in mind, the Healthy DA:NCE Directory helps you find safe and nurturing dance options in your community.” And here’s the how:
Nominate in 3 Easy Steps
Step 1: Nominate
Using the form on the website, nominate a dance studio or organization for the Healthy Dance Directory. If you are a dance studio or organization committed to healthy children’s dance, you can nominate yourself.
Step 2: Accept
Once nominated, the organization needs to accept the nomination, complete listing details, and agree to (conduct code for all) included in the directory.
Step 3: List
Once the dance studio or organization accepts their nomination, they will be added to the Healthy Dance Directory.
With the nominations already rolling in, one grateful dance studio owner requested a decal to display in her studio. Now we send one out to each dance studio/organization accepting a healthy dance directory nomination.
Join with Dance Awareness: No Child Exploited to protect all children inside and outside the dance culture with safe dance environments by becoming the lights that flood the darkness of harmful dance. Let’s engage the culture with advocacy, education, and collaboration to protect children with the Healthy DA:NCE Directory. Flip the switch and turn the lights on!
