Dance as a Tool for Social Behavioral Change among Children

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study examines dance as a tool for social behavioral change among children and the youth. Using a case study of Rainbow House of Hope Uganda – a non- governmental organisation that takes care of vulnerable children, the investigation does not only position dance as a means, and a method of rehabilitation, but also opens discussions on the very core essence of dancing, which if put in analytical lenses is in the very center of many day today life activities of children. The main objective of this study was to study how Dance can be used as a tool for social behavioral change and the supporting objectives were; (i) To assess how dance is used as a tool for social behavioral change among the children at Rainbow House of Hope Uganda (RHU). (ii) To assess the benefits of using dance as a tool for social behavioral change among the children of RHU and (iii) To establish the constraints of using dance as a tool for social behavioral change of the newly recruited children at RHU. Many cosmopolitan dance practitioners and scholars in Uganda today have not only given basis for the importance of the same but have also asserted its contribution to the change of attitudes among children (See Boorman 1973; Raily 1984) Paulo Freire (1973), Sherrill Barryman Miller (1988) and Julie McDonald (1991) further explained the educative essence of dance in relation to behavioral change in youths and children. Maldonado (2012) however, gave an insight into the way dace changes lives by giving an epic explanation of how dance changed and transformed lives of children in El Salvador and through his article the researcher had a clear insight of the usefulness of dance in relation to behaviors of teenagers. In the study, the researcher analyses in depth the use and process of using dance as a tool of social behavioral change in youths and she goes further to specifically look at the case study which is Rainbow House of Hope Uganda in chapter three. She discusses the study findings like the strong attachment dance has towards behavioral change of youths and children and also she goes on to make conclusions and recommendations to the Rainbow House of Hope like having a stronger hand in educating the children and she also points out areas for further research for example how dance enhances certain behavioral patterns and using other case studies of other dance schools and companies.