Online Dance Research Articles

“We’re still seeing people on the screen, we still keeping our bodies moving”: exploring the transition from face to face to online dance classes for community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Background The COVID-19 outbreak meant that people were unable to attend art-based community classes such as dance. In response, activities transitioned to digital modes of delivery. In this study, we aimed to explore the feasibility, inclusivity, and impact of transitioning to an online dance class. Methods Thirty community-dwelling older adults (59–84 years old) were recruited from community groups in Yorkshire (UK). Participants completed an online survey at baseline and after attending 8 weeks of online dance classes. The survey captured perceived benefits on physical activity and mental wellbeing. Two separate focus groups (N = 12) were conducted to explore if the online dance transition could be an opportunity to keep this group active and socially connected. Results Survey data revealed no significant difference in the amount of time engaged in physical activity, but mental wellbeing significantly improved. Themes from the focus groups included holistic wellbeing related to the experience of dance, inclusive participation of online dance, and online dance facilitating social connection and sense of belonging. Conclusions The research provided insight into the online transition of a dance class for older adults, especially regarding inclusivity, sense of belonging and social connection.

Benefits of an online group dance program for adolescents' social bonding and wellbeing.

The Covid-19 pandemic and its ensuing effects on mental health made it clearer than ever that social bonds are critical for survival, flourishing, and mental wellbeing. Experimental laboratory-based research with children and adults shows that activities involving movement alignment and joint action, such as dance, can facilitate social bonds. This study examined whether an online group dance intervention positively affects social bonding and wellbeing using a randomized control design. Participants were 58 UK adolescents aged 11-16 years (N = 52 girls, 75% White, 7% Asian/Asian British, 18% Mixed-Other), randomly assigned to an online intervention or waitlist control group. Participants in the intervention group completed an online 5-week hip-hop dance program during the Covid-19 pandemic in January to February 2021. Measures of social bonding, wellbeing, and future orientation were taken at the beginning and end of the program. Linear mixed model analyses examining group × timepoint interaction showed greater increase in social bonding (p < .0001), and wellbeing (p < .0001) in the intervention vs control group. Moreover, increases in bonding significantly predicted increases in wellbeing (p < .0001), and increases in bonding (p = .03) and wellbeing (p = .0002) significantly predicted increases in the adolescents' hope for the future. These data, collected at a time of mass social isolation, show that a 5-week-long online dance activity can help adolescents forge stronger social bonds, and improve their wellbeing and future orientation. Our findings suggest that the wellbeing and future orientation benefits of group dance may stem from having stronger social connectedness, opening up avenues for future research and interventions.

A novel dance intervention program for children and adolescents with developmental disabilities: a pilot randomized control trial

BackgroundOrganized physical activity programs have been shown to provide wide benefits to participants, though there are relatively few studies examining the impact of these programs for individuals with developmental disabilities. This pilot study was conducted to determine the feasibility and impact of an undergraduate-led dance intervention program for children and adolescents with developmental disabilities. We evaluated the impact of the dance program on motor ability and social skills.MethodsThe study design was a waitlist control clinical trial in which participants were randomized to active and control groups. Eligible participants included male and female children and adolescents between the ages of 4 and 17 years with neurodevelopmental disabilities. The Motor Assessment Battery for Children Checklist and the Social Responsiveness Scale were used to assess change in motor and social skills, respectively. After gathering baseline data, the active group completed 1 h of online dance classes per week for 10 weeks, while the control group entered a 10-week waiting period. All participants then returned for a follow-up visit. Pre- and post-intervention data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects modeling adjusting for age and class attendance with subject random intercept.ResultsWe recruited and randomized 43 participants with neurodevelopmental disabilities (mean age = 8.63, SD = 2.98), of which 30 participated in dance classes. The attendance rate was 82.6% for the active group and 61.7% for the control group. The active group demonstrated a significant improvement in motor skills in an unpredictable environment, as indicated on the Motor Assessment Battery for Children Checklist (n = 21, p = 0.05). We also observed positive trends in social skills that did not reach significance.ConclusionsOur results indicate that it is feasible to develop and implement a fully digital dance intervention program for individuals with developmental disabilities. Further, we find that change in motor skills can be detected after just 10 h of low-intensity participation. However, a lack of significant change in social skills coupled with limitations in study implementation suggests further research is needed to determine the full impact of this dance program.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration System: Protocol ID 20-001680-AM-00005, registered 17/2/2021 – Retrospectively Registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04762290.

Online dance versus online therapeutic exercise on quality of life - a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial investigating social telerehabilitation efficacy in Parkinson disease

Background Social telerehabilitation delivers rehabilitation services over online video conferencing within a social context. The modality of multimodal therapeutic exercises is the most recommended rehabilitation for individuals with PD, although other modalities, such as dance, have shown potential benefits. The investigation of the feasibility and efficacy of these therapeutic strategies in a remote online format is unknown. Methods This is a prospectively registered two-arm randomised controlled trial investigating the efficacy of online dance compared to online multimodal therapeutic exercise by looking at the biopsychosocial PD aspects. Individuals diagnosed with idiopathic PD between 40 and 90 years old, at any stage of disease severity, and without cognitive impairment will be recruited from the community. Participants will be randomly allocated to one of the two social telerehabilitation groups: (1) dance and music or (2) multimodal therapeutic exercise and music. Interventions will occur twice a week for twelve weeks. Each session will last 60 min. Tele-assessments will be conducted pre-, post-, and one-month follow-up through a videoconference platform. Results For feasibility, primary outcomes will include adherence, attendance, adverse events, and participants’ perceptions of enjoyment and socialisation. For efficacy, primary outcomes will investigate well-being by positive affect (by the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule) and persistent anxiety, episodic anxiety, and avoidance behaviour (by the Parkinson Anxiety Scale). Secondary outcomes will include motor severity (by the UPDRS III), functional lower extremity strength (by the Five Times Sit to Stand Test), memory and attention (by the Attention and Recognition Memory Test), and quality of life (by the Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire 39). Conclusion We hypothesise that both interventions would effectively ameliorate motor symptoms. However, we expect dance to be more enjoyable and improve well-being by increasing positive affect and reducing anxiety signs.

Moving together - benefits of an online dance program on physical and mental health for older women: an exploratory mixed-method study

BackgroundPrevious studies show that in-person dance training is a beneficial form of physical activity that involves mental, social, and physical dimensions. This exploratory study investigated the benefits of a 12-week online dance training intervention on mental and physical health outcomes for older women.MethodsA convergent parallel mixed-method design was used. Forty-five older adults (74.0 ± 5.3 yrs old, 44 women) were recruited through advertisements at activity and rehabilitation centers in the North Denmark region. The intervention consisted of two weekly 60-min classes of improvisation and salsa delivered online through video call applications. Changes in physical health outcomes (body mass and composition, resting blood pressure, Senior Fitness Test battery) and self-rated health and wellbeing (health-related quality of life (HRQOL), feelings of loneliness) were assessed prior to and after 12 weeks of dancing. Focus group interviews were conducted post-intervention to further explore the benefits as well as the participant’s experience of the intervention. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data was conducted.ResultsThirty-two participants (all women) completed the study. Significant improvements in fitness were found for the number of arm curls performed (baseline: 12.3 ± 3.0; post-intervention: 13.7 ± 3.0, P = 0.005), 2-min step test performance (baseline: 66.5 ± 20.0 reps.; post-intervention: 73.8 ± 22.6 reps., P = 0.016), and chair sit-and-reach (baseline: 0.4 ± 11.3 cm; post-intervention: 5.5 ± 10.1 cm, P < 0.001). There was a significant increase in body mass from baseline to post-intervention (P < 0.015). The themes from the focus groups included (1) Participation, (2) Challenges, (3) Progression, (4) Motivation, (5) Perceived health and wellbeing, and (6) Online dance instruction. No significant changes were reported in HRQOL and loneliness from the quantitative data, although the qualitative data did reveal improved feelings of physical health and wellbeing.ConclusionsThe intervention improved several aspects of fitness in older women and improved the participants’ perceptions of their own physical abilities and wellbeing. While most participants found the online intervention enjoyable, several participants missed the feedback from the instructors that naturally occurs with in-person instruction.

The “Joy Hook,” “Weird Feedback Loops,” “Quick Hit Pieces,” and “Usefulness”

While dance has captured attention across platforms and media, remuneration is constrained by copyright issues, a devaluation of dance as a product, and racism. Media coverage of economic, labor, and crediting concerns in popular dance is a critical part of the circuit of creation, discourse, and culture-shifts in online dance. Coverage has an important role in an age of online organizing and the exposure economy, while it simultaneously extracts value from the creators being covered.

Brazilian dance self-perceived impacts on quality of life of people with Parkinson's.

Parkinson's disease (PD) causes several motor and non-motor symptoms, resulting in negative impacts on physical, mental, emotional, and social aspects of people with PD quality of life. Dance has been considered as a potential non-pharmacological intervention to improve people with PD motor and non-motor symptoms, thereby enhancing quality of life. To analyze the self-perceive impacts of Brazilian Dance on the quality of life (physical, mental, emotional, and social) of PwPD, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fourteen participants from the "Dança & Parkinson" project were included in this qualitative study. Data collection instruments consisted of a profile and personal data sheet; assessment of accessibility to the online dance classes; Telephone Montreal Cognitive Assessment by phone call; and semi-structured interview conducted through ZOOM video call. The participants characterization data were calculated using mean, standard deviation, and percentages with the Excel Program version 2013. Qualitative data was analyzed using the Thematic Analysis technique in the Nvivo, version 8.0, qualitative analysis of text, sound, and video program. The participants reported facing various challenges in dealing with PD, which negatively impact their quality of life. However, their resilience, acceptance, and dedication to treatment play an important role in coping with the issues related to the disease. Brazilian dance, both in-person before the COVID-19 pandemic and online during the pandemic, led the participants to perceive improvements in physical, mental, emotional, and social aspects of quality of life. The Brazilian dance appears to have a positive impact on the physical, mental, emotional, and social aspects of the participants' quality of life, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Arts and Mental Health Co-Research with Youth Advisors: The Role of Emotions, Creating Community, Learning and Growth

The inclusion of children and young people as co-researchers within mental health research has become increasingly recognised as valuable to improve equity and research quality. These approaches are considered important to shift knowledge and power hierarchies in research that has traditionally marginalised the voices of young people and prioritised positivist ways of knowing. Yet, very little research has explored the value of including youth advisors in research exploring the arts and mental health. This article, co-written intergenerationally, explores the role of a youth advisory (YA) in the design, data collection, and knowledge exchange of the DanceConnect research project: a study exploring if and how online dance classes may improve the social and mental wellbeing of young people (aged 16–24) living with anxiety in the UK. Drawing upon qualitative data (audio recordings of advisory meetings from the study (n = 5 meetings), a youth advisory focus group with an arts-based component (n = 1), and researcher ethnographic fieldnotes from four researchers), this study reflects on the role of a youth advisory in young researchers’ own lives. Through a reflexive analytic approach, we found that the youth advisory constructed meaningful emotional experiences, fostered spaces of learning and growth, and enabled a sense of community. Reflecting on our findings, we also set out key recommendations for researchers working in the field of arts and mental health who may wish to establish youth advisories in the future. This article acts as an important resource that can be used to inform and reflect on improving coproduction processes with youth advisors in arts and mental health research.

Online Dance Learning Satisfaction After the Pandemic: Lessons From the Crisis

Tens of thousands of students worldwide have been forced to start learning online, and online learning has never been more compelling. Understanding the effectiveness and satisfaction of online learning has become crucial. Previously, researchers have explored many determinants of online learning, but so far, only a few have focused exclusively on the field of higher education in dance. Therefore, this study delved into the satisfaction derived from online dance learning by employing the stimulus–organism–response framework, social learning theory, and constructivism theory. The aim was to examine how the effectiveness of online learning and the characteristics of online systems influence satisfaction in dance online learning. Data collection took place from January 1, 2023, to January 31, 2023, with university students majoring in dance participating as respondents in China. The analysis utilized structural equation modeling for data interpretation. The results reveal that the organism (students online learning effectiveness and the online system characteristics) directly impacted students’ satisfaction with online education. While changes in four stimulus factors (learning experiences; instructor’s inspiration; learning hindrance; quality of technology) indirectly impact online learning satisfaction. Our research enriches the exploration of students’ satisfaction factors in dance higher online education, thus filling the research gap in related fields, intending to guide relevant practitioners in the future.

Moving together-benefits of a 12-week online dance training intervention on static and dynamic postural stability and gait speed in older women: an exploratory pre-post study.

Physical inactivity negatively affects gait performance and postural stability in older adults resulting in a higher risk of fall accidents. Previous research has shown that in-person dance training improves various aspects of balance and lower-extremity function, however, little is known about the potential benefits of dance training delivered online on variables used for fall risk stratification in older adults. We aimed to explore the benefits of a 12-week online dance training intervention on static and dynamic postural stability and gait speed in older women. Forty-five older adults (44 women) were included in this exploratory pre-post study. The 12-week dance intervention consisted of two weekly 60-min classes in contemporary (improvisation) and salsa dance delivered online through Zoom video calls. Static and dynamic postural stability was assessed using the center of pressure (CoP) area and velocity (force platform), and the Mini Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest), respectively. 10-m gait speed was measured using photo gates. Before and after comparisons were performed using paired sample t-tests. Thirty-two older women completed the study. There were no significant changes for static postural stability assessed by CoP area or velocity (P ≥ 0.218, Cohen d ≤ 0.234). The Mini-BESTest total score was significantly improved at post-intervention (23.88 ± 3.01) compared to baseline (22.56 ± 1.41, P = 0.007, d = 0.52). 10-m gait speed was significantly faster at post-intervention (1.68 ± 0.25 m/s) compared to baseline (1.57 ± 0.22 m/s, P < 0.001, d = 0.737). Although some caution is needed due to the uncontrolled study design, the results indicate that online dance training has a small effect on static postural stability but may be beneficial for gait speed and in particular dynamic postural control among older women. While the absolute increase in gait speed suggests limited clinical relevance, the change in Mini-BESTest score may reflect a clinically meaningful enhancement of dynamic postural control.

Exploring the Content and Methods of Classical Dance Teaching in the Context of Multicultural Integration

Abstract This paper addresses the teaching development of classical dance and proposes the use of modern teaching technology to assist the teaching of classical dance. It integrates the creative stimulation of classical dance teaching with the concept of multi-cloud culture and proposes the hypothesis of optimizing the teaching effect of classical dance with the concept of multi-culture. Utilizing the online teaching platform for retrieval of multiple dance resources, the RANKBOOST algorithm is applied to accelerate the retrieval time of dance resources. The dance resources are pre-processed with dance posture data converted into BVH file form, human posture features are calculated, 3D-SIFT technology is applied to extract the human posture features of dance movements, and similarity calculation is performed to obtain dance movement recognition and dance posture analysis. Test the performance of an online teaching platform and analyze the parameter values of the RANKBOOST algorithm. Design the overall framework of the classical dance teaching experiment, subdividing the teaching purpose, teaching content, teaching time, etc., and statistically compare the results of the teaching experiment. The classical dance online teaching platform is able to load students’ learning tasks when the concurrency reaches the maximum value. Through comparative analysis, it can be seen that the classical dance teaching (online dance analysis) method proposed in this paper based on the concept of multiculturalism can significantly improve students’ classical dance assessment results and effectively achieve the teaching objectives.

A Study on the Factors Influencing the Impact of Online Dance Activity on the Subjective Well-Being of the Chinese Elderly

A Study on the Factors Influencing the Impact of Online Dance Activity on the Subjective Well-Being of the Chinese Elderly

Facilitating participation in an online dance class for people living with dementia

Background: Care workers practice different approaches to facilitating social participation and managing (non-)responsiveness in activities for people living with dementia. Utilizing an on-screen dance activity in a foreign language, carers in this study draw on multimodal resources and shift their footings in participation frameworks to demonstrate and reformulate expectations in pursuit of responses. Method: Data were collected as part of a test pilot for a dance program designed for people with cognitive and physical challenges. The program was remotely delivered from Canada to a private, assisted living facility in Finland during the COVID-19 pandemic. Video recordings of five consecutive weekly dance classes were transcribed and analyzed using an ethnomethodology and conversation analysis (EMCA) approach to multimodal interaction, looking at directive-response sequences. Results: Our preliminary results explore how co-present facilitators encouraged participation of a non-responsive participant through embodied directives in three ways: through demonstrations and reformulations in co-participation; through repetition and emphasis in response to non-compliance; and through a subsequent proposal of a change in the interactional frame. Discussion/conclusion: There are various recipient-designed ways in which care workers facilitate participation in on-screen arts-based programs, including how they address non-compliance.

Health &amp; well-being experiences of patients with pulmonary fibrosis from dancing intervention

Abstract Patients with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) are recommended pulmonary rehabilitation which improves health outcomes. Such physical activity (PA) programmes are meant to promote sustainable behavioural change as exercise activities are valued, enjoyed and considered meaningful. Dance is one exercise form, but COVID-19 may have negatively impacted participation and quality of life of vulnerable populations due to lockdown and consequent isolation. This qualitative study aimed to investigate the perspectives of adults living with PF who had participated in a dance intervention. In partnership with the Irish Lung Fibrosis Association (ILFA), A group of 16 patients with PF, members of ILFA, participated in 75 minutes online dance intervention for eight weeks delivered by an experienced choreographer. An exploratory qualitative study using thematic analysis of semi structured interviews was carried out to understand feasibility as well as health and wellbeing impacts of dancing among the participants. Eight participants (6 Female, 2 male; mean age 72.3 years) completed one to one semi-structured qualitative interviews. Four key themes emerged: 1) Dance is fun - we're not exercising 2) Improved sense of wellbeing 3) Positive impact of own online social space 4) Connecting dance impacts to clinical health. Overall, participants mentioned that our virtual dance intervention was acceptable, enjoyable, preferable, and feasible. They strongly perceived health benefits especially breathing efficiency and mental health improvements for managing their day-to-day struggles with PF. Emerging themes could influence the development and evaluation of dance as an alternate form of PA for patients with PF, exploring its benefits and sustainability. As dance is a low-cost activity that can be done at home, dance interventions may be used as an exercise pathway for patients with pulmonary diseases. More organised and continuous events in future may reveal cost-benefit ratio and impact on health outcomes. Key messages • Dance – More favourable, higher adherence rate, better health and wellbeing outcomes and achieve higher targets of recommended PA levels in the community. • Social prescribing – Creating and promoting alternative exercise forms which patient’s can and should enjoy an activity of their choice and have a choice.

Expanding the social cure: a mixed-methods approach exploring the role of online group dance as support for young people (aged 16-24) living with anxiety.

There is an increased interest in whether online arts interventions support mental health and social connections. This study explored eight weeks of online group dance as support for young people (aged 16-24) living with anxiety. The applicability of the 'social cure' theoretical framework to the novel context of an online dance class was sought. The study utilised an embedded QUAL+quan design, incorporating participatory focus group discussions (n = 3 groups; n = 11 participants) and one-on-one interviews (n = 2 participants), creative reflections (n = 16 participants) and ethnographic fieldnotes, and a repeated measures design with surveys at three timepoints (week 1, n = 27; week 4, n = 18; week 8, n = 14). Thematic analysis identified two overarching themes demonstrating how the dance classes (i) provided the opportunity to co-construct a meaningful shared identity and (ii) supported holistic wellbeing. The quantitative findings supported this, suggesting lower anxiety, depression, and loneliness and higher wellbeing, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and group closeness. This study expands the social cure to its application to an online dance context for the first time.

Emotional labor mediates the associations between self-consciousness and flow in dancers

Emotional labor has been a focal point in occupational well-being literature, but studies have long overlooked an important group of emotional laborers: performers. This research represents a pioneering effort to examine dancers’ adoption of emotional labor strategies, their antecedent of self-consciousness, and the outcome of flow experience. We explored these elements both in the traditional setting of stage dancing and in the novel context of online dance classes without on-site spectators during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results revealed that dancers employed all three common emotional labor strategies: surface acting, deep acting, and expression of naturally felt emotions, with deep acting being the most frequent. In the traditional setting, only the expression of naturally felt emotions mediated the positive effect of private self-consciousness and the negative effect of public self-consciousness on flow experience. In contrast, in the online setting, only private self-consciousness impacted flow through the mediation of deep acting and expression of naturally felt emotions. This exploratory study bridges dramaturgy-originated theories of emotional labor with empirical performing arts research, preliminarily advancing knowledge in the relevant fields of dance education, self-presentation, and flow studies.

A Safe and Feasible Online Dance Intervention for Older Adults With and Without Parkinson's Disease.

Introduction: Dancing is one way of maintaining an active lifestyle, and online dance interventions in group settings can be a solution when in-person classes are impossible. This study investigated the feasibility and potential clinical effects of an online dance program for older adults with and without Parkinson disease (PD). Methods: Participants attended 2 weekly dance classes in the same videoconference room for 2 months. The dance activities were mainly performed while seated (around 75%). Researchers monitored feasibility (ie, adherence, attendance, and technological barriers) and safety. Pre- and post-intervention assessments investigated self-perceptions, effects on emotional domains, quality of life, activity-specific balance confidence, lower-limb functional mobility, and PD non-motor symptoms. Individuals also reported their self-perceptions regarding technology usability, enjoyment, and social interaction. Results: Most of the participants with PD (n = 12) had moderate PD (Hoehn & Yahr score) and presented a greater risk of falls when compared to participants without PD (n = 14). Overall, we found a high rate of adherence (100%), attendance (87.5%-91.7%), and safety (100%) for both groups. No falls or near-falls occurred during the sessions. Only the PD group ameliorated emotional domains (anxiety and depression) and improved lower-limb functional mobility. All participants reported feeling safe and perceived benefits, although over a third of older adults with PD reported moderate difficulties in using technology and in socializing with the group. Conclusion: This online dance protocol is feasible, safe, and a potential strategy to improve clinical parameters in older adults and people with moderate PD.

Investigating Psychological Motivations to Use Online Physical Learning: A Theoretical Study in the Dance Education.

Online education has become increasingly popular during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite its potential for breaking down environmental, geographic, time, and space constraints, many scholars have found that online education still has much room for development. Online physical education, and especially dance education, face challenges due to the high demands of physical interactions and safety requirements. However, only a few scholars have explored the psychological motivations in the context of higher education dance students. Therefore, this study enriches this stream of literature by investigating the motivations of students' intention to use online dance learning. Structural equation modeling is performed in this study. Empirical data were collected from China to examine the relationship between constructs. This study uses self-determination theory to build a theoretical framework and deeply explore the psychological factors that affect students' attitudes and behavior towards online dance learning. Based on self-determination theory and perceived value theory, the study investigates the interrelationships among the seven latent structures: perceived autonomy on flexibility, perceived online class arrangement competence, perceived usage competence, perceived relatedness with instructors, attitudes, perceived value, and intention to use online dance education. The structural equation modelling results indicate that perceived autonomy, perceived competence, and perceived relatedness have a positive influence on attitudes, and attitudes have a positive influence on perceived value and the intention to use online dance education. All hypotheses proposed in the theoretical framework are supported by the empirical data analysis. This study extends the self-determination theory to the online dance education context, providing a new perspective for understanding students' motivation to use online dance classes. The research results also provide theoretical support and management inspiration for the sustainable development of art and physical higher education, particularly online dance education.

Application of image recognition based on neural network algorithm in multimedia dance teaching

Neural network recognition algorithm is a deep learning-based convolutional neural network, which has been applied to target detection, image recognition, sound recognition and other fields. Although the recognition technology of convolutional neural network has been gradually stabilized, it is mainly implemented in single-machine serial mode. Therefore, there will be problems such as too long training time and insufficient memory capacity. According to the previous work, this paper has carried out related research and obtained some useful results. This paper focuses on the introduction of image recognition technology based on neural network algorithm. At the same time, this paper proposes a fast real-time image recognition algorithm, which has high recognition accuracy. In this paper, the existing algorithms mentioned in the paper are analyzed, the characteristics and shortcomings of all algorithms are summarized, and the appropriate combination of algorithms is selected for specific problems. On this basis, the acceleration method of artificial neural network is used to improve the algorithm of convolutional neural network image recognition technology. With the continuous development of education and the increase of the number of students year by year, the effect of classroom teaching becomes particularly important. Therefore, modern information technology is used to transfer the classroom teaching mode to the network and realize a new method of online remote online dance teaching. According to the actual situation of dance teaching, the advantages of multimedia dance teaching are analyzed. The software of multimedia dance teaching system is tested comprehensively, from the aspects of computer system memory occupancy rate and temperature, to test whether the activities of B/S mode multimedia dance teaching system meet the expected goals and requirements of each core module of multimedia dance teaching system.

Online structured dance/movement therapy reduces bodily detachment in depersonalization-derealization disorder

BackgroundDepersonalization-derealization disorder (DDD) is a dissociative disorder encompassing pronounced disconnections from the self and from external reality. As DDD is inherently tied to a detachment from the body, dance/movement therapy could provide an innovative treatment approach. Materials and methodsWe developed two online dance tasks to reduce detachment either by training body awareness (BA task) or enhancing the salience of bodily signals through dance exercise (DE task). Individuals with DDD (n = 31) and healthy controls (n = 29) performed both tasks individually in a cross-over design. We assessed symptom severity (Cambridge Depersonalization Scale), interoceptive awareness (Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness – II), mindfulness (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire), and body vigilance (Body Vigilance Scale) before, during and after the tasks. ResultsAt baseline, individuals with DDD exhibited elevated depersonalization-derealization symptoms alongside lower levels of interoceptive awareness and mindfulness compared to controls. Both tasks reduced symptoms in the DDD group, though dance exercise was perceived as easier. The DE task increased mindfulness in those with DDD more than the BA task, whereas controls showed the opposite pattern. In the DDD group, within-subject correlations showed that lower levels of symptoms were associated with task-specific elevations in interoceptive awareness and mindfulness. ConclusionIndividual and structured dance/movement practice, performed at home without an instructor present, offers an effective tool to reduce symptoms in DDD and can be tailored to address specific cognitive components of a mindful engagement with the body.