Thank you, Shirley Ballas (What good is the sparkle of Strictly if young people in Britain aren’t getting the chance to dance?, 8 February). As a retired teacher of dance in schools, I have watched my beloved subject being left off a curriculum that prioritises Stem subjects in so many secondary schools. Dance is a physical means of expression that is unique. While some headteachers continue to include it, for many young people in state schools, experience of the arts is minimal.
To create a dance alone gives young people the chance to explore their emotions and ideas creatively. To create a dance with others allows them to work together to find solutions to problems, to listen, to discover each other, to compromise.
To perform it in front of an audience is scary, but audience appreciation is a distinctive way of building confidence.
Dance brings joy to learning. I have seen it inspire reluctant learners and those with mental health and anger issues. Training new dance teachers will be a challenge, but one that should not be shirked for the sake of a curriculum that allows for the fact that everyone learns differently.
Penny Perrett
Worcester
• Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
