This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Dancing to a healthier tune
07/02/2006
Improving the health of young people took centre stage today as a nationwide dance project, backed by £1.2 million from the Scottish government, was unveiled.
Against a backdrop of unacceptable levels of inactivity among children, the Dance in Schools Initiative is being rolled out over the next three years to offer 144,000 children in 800 schools an alternative to more traditional forms of exercise.
YDance, the national youth dance agency, is spearheading the drive, funded by the Executive's Health Department, to encourage more children and young people to dance their way to fitness.
Culture and Sport Minister Patricia Ferguson said:
"Physical inactivity is the most widespread health risk factor in Scotland. That's why the First Minister has made health improvement one of the Executive's priorities.
"The Dance in Schools Initiative provides physical activity and cultural expression to children of all ages and abilities. It improves health not only through increased physical activity but also by developing young people's self-esteem and confidence.
"I am delighted to hear of the close co-operation between local authorities, sportscotland, Active School Co-ordinators and YDance in achieving the successful delivery of this innovative programme."
YDance's Education Director Katy McKeown said:
"Dance has an incredible power. It allows children to have fun, be creative and express themselves as well as having a huge impact on health, wellbeing and confidence levels.
"The physical health of many schoolchildren is poor and I hope that these workshops will be a catalyst for Scottish youngsters to adopt a more positive approach to physical activity. It is also an alternative to more traditional forms of exercise."
The Dance in Schools Initiative will train teachers to deliver a wide range of dance in schools and will work with Active School Managers and Active School Co-ordinators to identify the best type of dance delivery for each area.
The PE Review acknowledges that not all children are able to or want to participate in traditional PE, games or sports and so offering a wider range of more contemporary activities, such as dance, is not only an important objective to build participation but also indirectly strengthens support for culture and the arts.