From Studio to Clinic: Evidence Supporting Dance in Paediatric OT
Evidence-informed practice meets creative movement at TheraDance
Kate Reilly, Occupational Therapist | Founder, TheraDance
Can dance be more than just joyful movement? Can it truly change the way a child learns, feels, and participates in everyday life?
At TheraDance, we believe it can - and we’ve built our whole model around that belief. But don’t just take our word for it. A growing body of high-quality, peer-reviewed research is backing what many occupational therapists have long suspected: dance-based movement is a powerful tool for therapeutic change.
The Science Behind the Movement
A 2022 systematic review published in the top-tier journal Frontiers in Physiology examined 31 studies exploring the physiological and psychological benefits of dance for children and adolescents (Tao et al., 2022). The results were compelling:
Improved cognitive function, attention and memory
Increased physical fitness (flexibility, balance, coordination)
Boosted emotional wellbeing and self-esteem
Enhanced social skills and connection
“Dance offers a rare blend of physical, emotional, cognitive and social engagement—precisely the integration that many therapy approaches aim to achieve.” – Tao et al., 2022
This fits beautifully within the occupational therapy lens, which considers the whole child—not just their difficulties, but their participation in everyday roles, routines and relationships.
Dance and OT: A Natural Fit
As OTs, we’re always looking for ways to support a child’s ability to engage meaningfully in daily life. Dance ticks so many clinical boxes:
Motor skills: Dance builds balance, strength, coordination, bilateral integration
Sensory regulation: Rhythm, body awareness and graded movement help with arousal modulation
Social participation: Group dance fosters collaboration, imitation, and turn-taking
Executive function: Learning sequences, attending to rhythm and direction builds planning and memory
Emotional expression: Children can move through feelings they might not have words for
And importantly—it’s fun. We know from the neuroscience that enjoyment and motivation are key drivers of neuroplasticity.
Real-life Example: TheraDance in Action
When Ava, a focused and softly spoken six-year-old with Autism Spectrum Disorder, began one-on-one TheraDance sessions, she presented with low muscle tone, reduced core stability, and significant challenges with balance and coordination. Her movement was cautious and often collapsed through the trunk; she fatigued quickly and avoided tasks requiring postural control or sustained attention to movement.
Sessions were carefully structured using classical ballet principles—beginning with mat-based body conditioning to activate the deep postural muscles. Ava practised supine core engagement, bridging with alignment cues, and side-lying leg lifts to target pelvic stability and hip control. At the barre, we progressed through supported pliés and tendus to build strength, joint awareness, and symmetry.
Across the term, Ava’s endurance and postural alignment improved noticeably. Movements that were previously effortful—like single-leg standing or upper-limb weight-bearing in kneeling—became part of her repertoire. Her transitions between exercises became more fluid, and she began to anticipate sequences and self-correct her form.
Outside the studio, Ava’s occupational goals began to shift. She was sitting more upright in class, showing increased confidence navigating playground equipment, and initiating dressing tasks that previously overwhelmed her.
TheraDance provided not only a movement-based intervention, but a highly structured, evidence-informed framework where Ava could develop motor control, attention, and body confidence—through a therapeutic lens grounded in the discipline of ballet.
Key Study Reference
Tao D, Gao Y, Cole A, Baker JS, Gu Y, Supriya R, Tong TK, Hu Q, Awan-Scully R. The Physiological and Psychological Benefits of Dance and its Effects on Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review. Front Physiol. 2022 Jun 13;13:925958. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.925958.
Why This Matters for Families and Referrers
If you’re a parent, support coordinator, or allied health professional, this research helps validate what you might already see in practice: when we move with joy and intention, transformation happens.
TheraDance uses evidence-based principles, tailored programming, and occupational therapy expertise to support children’s participation, development and wellbeing—through the universal language of movement.
Coming Soon on the Blog
Next post: “The Science of Movement: How Dance Enhances Brain Plasticity in Children”
Want to Learn More?
Explore our NDIS-funded dance-based therapy programs at www.theradance.com.au or get in touch via our Contact Form.
