Dance for Improving Low-SES Children and Adolescents’ Well-being: A Narrative Review

Dance seems to impact young people’s well-being and is a promising practice for disadvantaged populations. This study reviews current evidence regarding the effects of dance on low socioeconomic status (lowSES) children and adolescents’ physical, mental, and social well-being. Eleven publications (all from Western countries) were selected from Scopus, Web of Science, ERIC, and PyscINFO. Main findings reveal that programs are commonly developed for adolescents through hip hop dances. Most programs aim to foster social well-being through improving communication, teamwork skills, and respect toward others. Participants enhanced physical fitness and acquired awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle. They also reported greater mental well-being, with improvements in self-confidence and self-identity. Most participants perceived positive effects of dance on their overall well-being. Dance seems to be a good opportunity to promote well-being, especially the social dimension, among low-SES young people, although the effectiveness of interventions may depend on different conditions and social contexts.