From the dance floor to the swimming pool: belly dance as an intervention training method for the dolphin kick

The dolphin kick is a challenging swim skill to learn. As it is not an instinctive human movement, new learners find the full body undulation awkward and difficult to transfer from deck to water. No other kick is similar enough to create an effective learning transfer when training swimmers in the butterfly stroke. An alternative training method could be obtained from an unrelated motor performance area such as belly dance. Purpose: Apply belly dance instruction, in addition to standard dolphin kick training, to determine if a positive learning transfer occurs and whether it would be an efficient teaching technique. Participants: Students recruited from two KIN 102 classes (18 to 25 year olds) who were capable of swimming 50 yards continuously and who had little dolphin kick experience. The first section was the control group (CG); the second section was the intervention group (IG). Location/Instrumentation: Training/testing occurred at Brophy Hall pool. A Garmin Forerunner 310 XT GPS submersible watch/HR monitor was used for pre-study and post-study tests. The assistant recorded heart rate and performance times. The instructor counted kick cycles. Method: First Week: The instructor pretested all students (50-yard dolphin kick/glide arms) and recorded each individual's kick cycles, heart rate, and performance times. During second period, a video and live demonstration of the American Red Cross kick instruction were presented to both classes. IG received a live demonstration of the belly dance undulation. Classes had 20-minute practices: 5 minutes of vertical deck undulations (Mid-East music for IG), then 15 minutes of kick drills in water. Second Week: Each group performed 20-minute kick drills (IG had music). Third Week: Each group practiced the kick for 20 minutes (IG performed 5-minute vertical undulations in pool, with music, before kick drill). Last Class: For post-study tests, students performed 50 yards of dolphin kick (no music). Results: Participants' working HR, kick cycles, and performance times were recorded. Data analysis: Repeated measures MANOVA (< 0.05 level of significance); no significant difference between groups. There were notable indicators of enhanced performance in the IG when comparing the mean scores of the performance times and kick cycles.