Shirina Cao

Dancing Toward Development: A Global Review of the Effects of Dance on Adolescent Cognitive, Mental, and Academic Outcomes

Started May 22, 2025

Abstract or project description

Dance is regarded as an effective extracurricular activity to produce both physiological and psychological benefits, especially during the later childhood and adolescence period. This study explores the benefits of dance on mental health as well as cognition and academics, two developmental factors that receive less attention in adolescent literature, and discusses the combined effects of the three together. 11 articles were analyzed for this literature review. Although dance intervention type and length varied across studies, common themes suggest that dance as a recreational activity produces numerous mental, cognitive, and academic benefits such as self-esteem and emotional regulation, memory capacity, and motivation in school. Given these results, schools are encouraged to include dance into their curriculum. Additional research that further explores dance as an extracurricular would be beneficial.