The Role of Lifestyle Factors on the Dance Performance of Students in an Urban High School

Abstract

Dance performance integrates technical, creative, and expressive skills; however, the extent to which general lifestyle factors relate to these abilities remains unclear. This study examined the relationships among physical activity, dietary patterns, nutritional status, and dance performance among Grade 9 junior high school students. Employing a descriptive–correlational design, data were collected from 324 students using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), a modified 15-item Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), body mass index (BMI) classification, and a five-dimensional dance performance rating scale. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analyses were used to determine levels and associations among the study variables. Results indicated that students were generally moderately active, with active travel contributing most to daily physical activity. Dietary quality was rated as fair, characterized by regular consumption of fruits, vegetables, fish, and breakfast foods, alongside frequent intake of processed, sugary, and high-salt items. Although the mean BMI was within the normal range, nearly half of the participants were classified as underweight. The dance performance was generally proficient, with higher ratings for creativity and synchronization. Correlation analyses revealed very weak associations between physical activity, dietary patterns, BMI, and dance performance, with most coefficients approaching zero. Although a small number of correlations were statistically significant, their negligible magnitudes indicate no practical predictive value. These findings suggest that dance performance is more strongly associated with dance-specific motor learning, coordination, and expressive development than with general lifestyle characteristics. Accordingly, efforts to enhance dance performance may need to prioritize structured, discipline-specific training that develops technical execution, rhythmic precision, coordination, and expressive competence rather than relying on lifestyle factors alone.