University of Pennsylvania Study

Tiffany Henderson is a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania specializing in Applied Positive Psychology. Together with the University of Pennsylvania’s Psychology Department, Tiffany has initiated an empirical study examining the impact of dance classes on the mood and overall well-being of dancers.

Tiffany is founder of Raising the Barre™, Twinkle Star Dance™, Twinkle Star Dance Academy™, Pinnacle Dance Teacher Conference and Retreat™, Tiffany’s Diamond Circle™, and Tiffany’s Dance Academy™.

 

Study Overview

 

The study aims to quantify how participation in dance classes influences dancers’ emotional states and contributes to their overall well-being. This research utilizes innovative and accessible tools to gather real-time and longitudinal data from participants.

Methodology

  • Emoji-Based Mood Tracking: Dancers anonymously select an emoji on an iPad app both before and after class to represent their current mood.

  • Quarterly Well-Being Surveys: Students complete a brief survey every three months to measure their overall well-being score, providing additional context to the mood data.

Participation

The study invites dance studios to contribute to this groundbreaking research. Participation is simple, anonymous, and designed to seamlessly integrate into the class environment.

Get Involved

If your dance studio would like to participate or learn more about this research initiative, please email: mood@raisingthebarredance.org.

For additional details, visit the study’s webpage: Raising the Barre™ Mood Study.

 
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