Belly dance is a folk dance with a history that can be traced back to the beginnings of civilization. It is a form of expression and movement that has been used for hundreds of years in religious ceremonies, birthing rituals, and social and familial gatherings in the Middle East. Students of belly dance can increase their muscular strength and…

Because exercise has become another form of structured work for many adults, play is suggested as a motivating factor for middle-aged adults. Various aspects of exercise are discussed including the concepts of pleasurable activity, self-expression, and absorbing activity. (CB)

Jane Addams, founder of Hull House and proponent of cultural and physical recreation programs, contributed greatly to current recreation and leisure time programs. Her contributions include: (1) a view that recreation programs could organize and structure social life; (2) a recreation philosophy that proposed to unite urbanites and to express…

The chief objective of sport art is to capture that actual fleeting moment of excellent performance in a sporting event. In a series of articles, the significance of sport art is shown in its importance in recording historic contests and games, emphasizing social achievement and personal performance goals, and attempting to symbolize the depth of…

Dance in the physical education program allows students to express themselves while keeping fit. Aerobics is a good starting point for introducing dance into the curriculum. Suggestions for developing an aerobic dance unit are given. (DF)

Dance for preschool children can be a vehicle for self-expression and for learning, but teachers must present material in the form of play. Ideas for teaching dance to three- to five-year-old children, such as the proper way to jump and skip, are presented, along with a sample lesson. (PP)

Suggestions for teaching improvisational dance in a nonthreatening way are offered. (DF)

Planned movement experiences can serve as a vehicle for young children's self-expression, problem-solving, and body awareness development. Techniques and learning activities for providing creative movement experiences to children in early childhood programs are described. (PP)

Dance educators must define the concepts that distinguish dance from other disciplines and other forms of movement. Dance makes use of space, time, and force to become a distinctive art form involving kinesthetic perception and emotional self-expression, as well as motor skill development. (PP)