Ballet as a health sport : A qualitative analysis of the “enjoyment” felt by middle-aged and older women in continuing to participate in ballet lessons

• Published in: Research Journal of JAPEW Vol. 39; pp. 9 - 24
• Main Author: ITO, Maki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan Association of Physical Education for Women 2023; 公益社団法人 日本女子体育連盟
• Subjects: Ballet; Continuing exercise; Health sport; SCAT; Women; バレエ; 健康スポーツ; 女性; 運動継続
• ISSN: 1882-0980; 2185-3401
• DOI: 10.11206/japew.39.9

The purpose of this study is to clarify the “enjoyment” of ballet lessons felt by middle-aged and older women who continuously practice ballet as a health sport. Women in participating ballet lesson answered an open-ended questionnaire asking, “What do you enjoy about ballet lessons?”. After that, responses from 26 participants who were in their 40s or older, had a lesson history of more than one year, and had lessons more than once or twice a week were extracted. Responses were analyzed using SCAT, a qualitative data analysis method.As a result, “approaching their admiration” “favor for ballet movements” “concentration through mastery of movements” “relationship with music” “improvement in technique and sense of self-growth” “practice of physical and mental health management” “favor for instruction” concepts were derived. And the constituent factors of “enjoyment” in continuing ballet as a health sport became clear.