Changes of temporospatial orientation in persons with intellectual disabilities who participate in modern dance workshops

Abstract

Background: The aim of the study was to identify whether participation in a short series of modern dance (hip-hop) workshops could improve the level of temporospatial orientation in persons with moderate intellectual disabilities. Material and methods: The group consisted of 10 persons aged 14-23 (M=19.5, SD= 2.87). A quasi-experiment was prepared in a one-group plan which consisted of a series of nine modern dance workshops lasting 60 minutes each and held twice a week. The following test layout / testing regime was used: pretest–posttest to check the temporospatial orientation level of dance workshop participants before and after the workshop. A “ball run” spatial orientation test was used in the study. The test was adapted to the cognitive abilities of the subjects. Results: Student’s t-test for dependent samples showed that the mean level of temporospatial orientation in persons with moderate intellectual disabilities before their participation in nine hip-hop dance workshops (M=32.32; SD=3.98) is significantly higher than the mean level of temporospatial orientation (M=29.74; SD=5.45) after completion of workshops, t(9)=2.61; p<0.05. Conclusion: Modern dance (hip-hop) classes improve temporospatial orientation in persons with moderate intellectual disabilities.