Use of imagery while performing dance movement

Author(s): Tetreau, B., Sarrazin, C.

Journal/Book: Int J Sport Psychol. 1995; 26: Via Panama 68, 00198 Rome, Italy. Edizioni Luigi Pozzi. 413-430.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of mental imagery when used during performance of three different dance movement tasks. Three groups (no-treatment control; relaxation placebo and movement imagery) of 65 dance students performed the battement, developpe and arabesque in the same pre- and post-test conditions. Analyses of variance and Scheffe post-hoc tests on the angle scores, for each movement pattern separately, revealed significant improvement for two of these, the battement, p greater than or equal to .01, and arabesque, p greater than or equal to .05. This suggests that directional whole-body images can be used successfully during certain dance movements Regressions revealed that imagery efficacy with one movement could not be predicted from efficacy with another. Both the ballistic battement and the sustained arabesque improved significantly as a result of imagery, which indicates that the characteristics of the movement patterns may have less impact than has been suggested (Hall,1980; Hanrahan & Salmela, 1986).

Note: Article C Hanrahan, Univ Alberta, Dept Phys Educ & Recreat, P421 Van Vilet Ctr, Edmonton, Ab T6G 2H9, Canada

Keyword(s): imagery; dance movement

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