Dance Expert Joanne Landrau Connects Dance to School Success

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A HelloNation article features dance expert Joanne Landrau of En Face Studios in Frederick, Colorado, discussing how dance can help young learners do better in school. The article explores how dance trains the mind in ways that benefit learning, including strengthening working memory, attention skills, executive function, discipline, social development, problem-solving, spatial awareness, rhythm, emotional regulation, and confidence.

Why it matters

The article highlights how dance, often viewed as a physical or creative activity, can also provide cognitive and behavioral benefits that directly support academic success. By connecting dance to essential classroom skills, the article aims to encourage more schools and families to incorporate movement-based learning into children's educational experiences.

The details

The HelloNation article explains how dance requires children to use working memory when remembering choreography, sequencing steps, and moving in time with music - mirroring the mental processing needed for tasks like reading, math, and following multi-step instructions in school. Repetition in dance classes also strengthens attention skills, as children refine their focus and ability to stay engaged in a structured activity. Dance reinforces executive function through following routines, managing impulses, and adjusting movements, supporting time management and classroom discipline. The article also notes how dance gives children a positive way to experience discipline through weekly attendance, practice, and improvement, building habits that carry over to homework and academic persistence.

• The HelloNation article was published on March 16, 2026.