Dance, leisure and recreational activities

What is recreation?

Recreation can be defined as participation in sporting activities during our leisure time through which one may better develop physically, mentally,  emotionally and socially .It is a voluntary effort in which we don’t expect monetary gain. It is done for enjoyment at ones free time after the day’swork. Recreation is for fun, enjoyment, mental and physical benefits. Recreation is voluntary participation in leisure activities that are meaningful and enjoyable to the person involved.

What is leisure?

Dictionary Definition: The condition of having one’s time free from the demands of work or duty. Macquarie Dictionary

• Freedom or spare time provided by the cessation of activities;
• Free time as a result of temporary exemption from work or duties;
• A time at one’s own command that is free of engagements or responsibilities;
• A period of unemployed time;
• Opportunity provided by free time

Webster’s Third New International Dictionary Free time that can be used for rest, recreation e. t. c

What is dance?

Dance is a recreational activity mostly done at leisure, aside for people who decide to take it as a profession. Dance involves the movements of body parts e. g arms, legs, thighs etc in a quick and lively manner. It could be an up and down movement or a side by side movement. Dance however involves the movement of the body which is a means to achieve physical fitness through the five fundamental movements of walking, running, jumping, leaping and hopping .There are different dance steps to different beats, songs and sounds .Since the beginning of time people have danced to celebrate important events in their lives. Dance is an expressive movement of turning, twisting and rolling of the body (parts) to conform with the rhythm of a sound,beat or music .It is a way of expressing our inner feeling of joy and happiness.

Differences between leisure, dance and recreation

Leisure is the spare or rest time in the daily life of a person when he is not occupied by work, studies, sleep etc.

• Recreation is indulging in thrilling and exciting activities, to derive some pleasure and have fun in one’s leisure time.
• While some people just take rest, sleep, watch TV, or play video games on computer in their leisure time, there are many who like to go out for recreation and indulge in activities like cycling, hiking, sailing, surfing, swimming, fishing, etc to have some fun.

Recreation is doing activities that recharge and freshens up in one’s leisure time.

Dance on the other hand is a physical activity that is done with the parts of the body .The difference between recreation, leisure and dance, is that dancing apart from it being physical it is also a mental activity that is done during leisure, and the leisure is referred to as the time that one sets out to relax himself after work. Dance is specific in relation to leisure and recreation, because those ones refer to general time and also general activities done for the purpose for enjoyment and fun, and dance refer to the particular form of body movement done during leisure and for recreation.

Benefits of recreation and dance

• Refreshment of both body and mind
• Create room for fun and enjoyment
• Carry over values of skills learnt during physical and health education exercise.
• Promotion of mental alertness, social and emotional stability
• It helps one relax
• Take one mind of daily strains and demands
• Helps eliminate stress
• helps revitalize a person
• Gives a sense of fulfillment
• Increases blood circulation
• Helps to burn calories
• Manage weight

The activities altogether helps one keep fit and consequently one will not be prone to lifestyle related diseases.

ASSESSMENT

1. Define Recreation?
2. What is dance?
3. List SIX benefits of recreation and dance?