The aim of this thesis is to study the ideas and impressions of 10 to 14-year-old dancers on show dance and find out what factors influence these ideas. In addition, the thesis will also study if some recurring themes arise in the study and whether these themes should be broken or examined from a different viewpoint.

The interest to study this topic comes from my work experience as a dance teacher where I have noticed that dancers from the above mentioned age group have a need to progress quickly in their dancing. Furthermore, I have made an observation that certain elements of show dance are difficult to teach, validate and elaborate to this age group of dancers.

The research has been conducted to four show dance groups with the help of a questionnaire that has been designed by me. The questionnaire aims at finding out about the questionnaire respondents’ attitudes towards show dance. I have gone through mechanisms that give birth to attitudes and observed what are the factors that mold our attitudes. In addition, I have mirrored the results with the help of developmental psychology and age groups, and also examined the trainer’s role in influencing attitudes. In the analysis process of the findings I have also taken into consideration my own experiences from the working field.

It emerges from the findings that the trainer has a strong influence in forming and shaping attitudes. Through their own actions and opinions, the show dance teacher gives the direction to which the students’ image of show dance develops. In addition, the rough handling of information and the way of observing the world that is characteristic to these age groups was evident in the respondents’ ideas about show dance. The test groups valued the visually impressive elements, the social aspect and speediness of show dance. Furthermore, all respondents had a strong emotional attachment to show dance.

Through the analysis process I noticed a need to develop an open culture of discussion to dance classes, including students in the planning of class content and finding a way to introduce slowness to dance classes. The research findings can be used in the teaching-, and planning processes of dance classes, as well as in building the image of show dance in general.