Effect of dancing on subjective experiences and psychological state of dancers

Abstract

Dance is a physical activity that improves physical fitness, and also develops social and psychological aspects. The research study focused on dancing and psychological aspects in experiencing common feelings of individuals and their changes due to dance training. The aim was to determine current feelings and experiences and their possible changes in relation to the actual effects of the selected dance styles - street dance and modern scenic dance. The problem was solved by an empirical approach with quantitative and qualitative data analysis. A sample comprised 20 participants who are active dancers (10 street dancers + 10 modern scenic dancers). The main method of data collection was a standardized questionnaire of the structure and dynamics of subjective experiences and individual states (SUPSO). Both positive components (P – psychological wellbeing, A – activeness) and negative components (U - anxious expectations and fears, S – sadness and depression) were employed as indicators of psychological state of dancers. The positive and negative components of psychological state were assumed to be changed due to the dance training. The data were evaluated by quantitative and qualitative analysis and the results suggested that dancing influenced psychological state. There was an increase of positive components and decrease of negative components, both in street dance and modern scenic dance.