Students show their moves in choreographed group dance during dance fitness class (Arteaga/LION).

During the COVID-19 pandemic, fitness testing in physical education classes were put on hold to accommodate student needs. However, as schools are recovering from COVID-19 alterations, fitness testing has resumed in all PE classes including Dance Fitness, Dance Arts, Yoga, and many other courses.

“The state of Illinois has mandated that we need to fitness test our students and submit the percentage of students who are in the healthy fitness zone,” Physical Welfare division chair Kurt Johns said. 

The test is designed to inform students on where they are right now. Based on results, teachers are able to adjust any lesson plans with the idea of creating an environment to help students improve their fitness, Johns said.

However, there were some benefits of not having fitness testing during the pandemic. Johns and the PE department came together to hone in on more specific social emotional needs of students during that time. 

“The flexibility that the state provided us during COVID-19 allowed us to not focus on fitness testing,” Johns said. “We responded to student needs instead. It allowed our staff and students to focus on their mental wellbeing and on designing a course that fits the needs of the student.” 

Dance curriculum developments

The Dance Fitness, Dance Arts and Dance Studies curriculums have been undergoing changes for the past six years, when Dance Fitness was first introduced. Recently there has been some confusion regarding what the Dance Fitness curriculum is meant to entail. 

“If I think back to when I was a student, dance has always been my passion and I always wanted to be a dance teacher,” physical education teacher Brittany Sidoti said. “I realized there were students out there that were not served by a traditional PE class. The best way to reach those students was to create a class where their confidence would grow and that would [let them]  enjoy PE.”

The Dance Fitness and Dance Studies curriculum needed to be revamped, Sidoti said. Dance Arts was meant for students that wanted to learn dance technique and wanted to perform on stage. Dance Fitness was created with the intent of students who preferred more fitness activities. 

“The class is meant to have yoga, Pilates, flexibility training, and strength training. A dancer doesn’t just take a dance class and [be] done working,” Sidoti said. “There is a lot of physical training involved. For students that want to dance everyday, take Dance Arts.” 

Students in any dance class are focused on increasing strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance, Sidoti said. The curriculum has reflected that. So when it comes to fitness testing, students will be engaged daily in the fitness activities that are being tested.

“In Dance Fitness, you might not like everything, but hopefully you find something you enjoy and you can take that activity into your adult life,” Sidoti said. “For me, the best thing about the course is seeing student’s self confidence grow. Dance Fitness, along with Dance Arts and Studies, is a place where students can be themselves, and build relationships with peers over that shared experience.”