Safe Dance Practice Knowledge, Beliefs, and Behaviors among Alberta Dance Teachers

Abstract

ABSTRACT Dance teachers are ideally positioned to implement safe dance practices and injury prevention strategies for their students. However, to date, it is unclear whether these safe dance practices are being utilized and implemented by teachers in dance schools and private studios. To this end, we aimed to understand dance teachers’ knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors related to safe dance practice and dance-related injury by surveying a sample of 73 dance instructors teaching primarily in urban centers. While general knowledge is high, some teachers reported gaps in their understanding of injury risk. Most common barriers to implementing safe dance practices were insufficient time (20/52 [38%]), lack of knowledge/training (11/52 [21%]) and no student interest (10/52 [19%]). Addressing these barriers with dance teacher training, inclusive of safe dance practice principles, is essential to ensuring the safety and well-being of dance student populations.