Title: Dance as a physical activity – An amendment proposal for the recruitment and retention of
11-15year old girls under the auspices of the union
Background: 74% of all 11-15-year-old Danish children do not live up to the recommendations for 60 minutes of exercise a day. Girls in particular are more inactive than boys, as 81 percent of 11- 15-year-old girls do not live up to the recommendations. Studies show that girls are motivated by other factors and are attracted to other forms of physical activity than boys, where especially dance is a popular form of activity among girls. However, dance as a physical activity is more driven by the commercial dance centers compared to association dance, which potentially contributes to increasing social inequality in access to dance. The social inequality in access to physical activity is considered a public health issue as it can be associated with a number of consequences at the individual and society level.
Aim: The purpose of the present project is to contribute with knowledge about which promoting and inhibiting factors are important for 11-15 year old girls' level of physical activity in the form of association dancing, in order for the associations to recruit more members and in a long-term perspective reduce social inequality in physical activity.
Method: The MRC model based on the development phase constitutes the overall framework for the thesis. The empirical evidence of the thesis has been obtained through a systematic literature search, which aims to uncover the existing knowledge in the field. In addition, a focus group interview was conducted with 11-15-year-old girls, but to gain insight into promoting and inhibiting factors that are important for their participation in dance as physical activity. In addition, an individual semi-structured interview has been conducted with an association chairman, to gain insight into the association's current recruitment strategy.
Results: In the present project, several factors have been identified that are important for 11-15- year-old girls' participation in as physical activity, including the importance of social relationships, accessibility of offers, competence development and entertainment. In addition, the following themes have been analyzed; a close cooperation between schools, associations, and parents as well as a strong local environment, which are crucial factors in connection with recruitment.
Conclusion: There is a knowledge gap in connection with dance as a physical activity in a recruitment perspective in association life, which is why on this basis a further coverage in the area is required. However, it has been found that context and social attachment and community are important factors for participation in the activity. It has also been found that competence development and learning is an important factor in the recruitment and retention of members. Several themes have been identified which may be helpful to the associations in spreading knowledge of dance as a physical activity, a close collaboration between schools, associations and parents and a strong local environment.