Dancing Toward Connection: Protecting the Joy of Movement

Dance is a beautiful and healthy form of self-expression for both children and adults. It helps us build coordination, confidence, and connection with others. It brings joy, encourages creativity, and can be a powerful outlet for emotion. However, in recent years, the art of dance has been increasingly impacted by the hypersexualization of children—especially through […]

J’Adore Dance Canada

One of the goals of the DA:NCE is to highlight organizations we feel embody healthy dance. J’Adore Dance is a YPAD certified studio located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They provide non-competitive dance education for all ages (babies through adults) and all abilities. They advocate dance for everyone to reap the benefits of physical, mental and […]

What’s Next?  Addressing the Mental and Physical Consequences of Dance-Related Trauma

The hypersexualization of children’s dance is now a well-recognized issue.  Yet as these issues are beginning to be addressed, the trauma incurred by victims often goes unnoticed.  Adult costumes, hypersexual choreography, and music can all be sources of trauma for young dancers.  This trauma is stored in the body and continues to affect these individuals […]

Effects of Hypersexualization on Mental Health

As the founder and executive director of Dance for Life Suicide Prevention & Mental Health nonprofit since 2018 and a retired dance studio owner for 30 years, I have a profound love for the beauty of the dance arts and the joy and fulfillment it can bring into the lives of children, adolescents and adults.  […]