Adolescent Development: How Dancers Compare with the Typical Teenager

Adolescence is a developmental phase of tremendous physical, cognitive, and social-emotional growth. It is often thought of as a time of reworking of previous stages of development with the emergence of the individual’s identity. Some time in these years the adolescent is expected to answer the existential question, “Who am I?” To better understand the specific psychological strengths and conflicts of the adolescent dance student, it may be useful to review the “normal” developmental course. Adolescence is commonly divided into three stages: early, middle, and late.