Development of the Dance Fitness Indicator©: a high-intensity dance fitness test: a preliminary study

Article


Rogan, K. and Wyon, M. 2022. Development of the Dance Fitness Indicator©: a high-intensity dance fitness test: a preliminary study. Medical Problems of Performing Artists. 37 (1), pp. 37-43. https://doi.org/10.21091/mppa.2022.1005
TypeArticle
TitleDevelopment of the Dance Fitness Indicator©: a high-intensity dance fitness test: a preliminary study
AuthorsRogan, K. and Wyon, M.
Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop a contemporary dance technique-specific, high-intensity dance fitness test and carry out preliminary testing into measuring the physiological intensity and reliability. The choreography of the Dance Fitness Indicator© (DFI©) is based upon Humphrey/Limón, Graham, and Cunningham techniques and includes dance elements that relate to fitness elements, that increase in intensity over four levels designed to observe changes in heart rate (HR) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) as the DFI© progresses. Each level lasts for 4 minutes, 16 seconds, with a 1-minute rest between each level; the full DFI lasts for 20 minutes, 12 seconds. Twelve contemporary dancers (9 females, age 24±6.86 yrs; 3 males, age 20±0.58 yrs) were taught the DFI© in a familiarization session before undertaking two test trials, within a 1-week period. Dependent variables to measure intensity were heart rate (HR), rate of perceived exertion (RPE), and blood lactate (BLa). Data for level 4 during test 1 and test 2, respectively, were: HR 184±16.79 bpm vs 187±16.18 bpm; RPE 17 ±2.43 vs 17 ±2.12; and BLa 8.9 ±2.71 mmol/L vs 9.1±2.41 mmol/L. Reliability was calculated by determining the coefficient of variation from paired samples t-tests between test 1 and test 2, which demonstrated consistency/good reliability (<5%) for end BLa (3.2%), HR (1.7%), and RPE (0.9%). These preliminary results suggest that the DFI© requires a high physiological intensity demand, through movement-specific contemporary dance technique, relating to dance performance intensity, and is a reliable testing mode within a dance studio environment. It could also be used to assess dancers' physiological abilities to cope with high-intensity intermittent cardiovascular and technical demands of dance performance; however, further testing with greater numbers of subjects is recommended.

KeywordsHumans, Heart Rate - physiology, Dancing, Movement, Adolescent, Young Adult, Reproducibility of Results, Exercise Test, Adult, Female, Exercise - physiology, Male
PublisherScience & Medicine
JournalMedical Problems of Performing Artists
ISSN0885-1158
Electronic1938-2766
Publication dates
Print01 Mar 2022
Publication process dates
Deposited16 Mar 2022
Accepted10 Dec 2021
Output statusPublished
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.21091/mppa.2022.1005
LanguageEnglish
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