A comparative study on selected health related fitness components between Bharatanatyam dancers and rhythmic gymnasts

Abstract

Present study was conducted to investigate, whether any differences existed in the performance on selected health related fitness components between the Bharatanatyam Dancers and Rhythmic Gymnasts. For conducting this study, total thirty female subjects of 15 to 18 years were selected from different district of West Bengal, India. Among them 15 subjects were Bharatanatyam Dancers from Bhabna Dance Academy and resting 15 subjects were Rhythmic Gymnasts from Khamarpara tarun samity west Bengal. Both groups have more than 4 years of experience. Criteria measured for this study were muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility. Muscular strength was determined by vertical jump, Muscular endurance was measured by bent knee sit up and Flexibility was measured by sit and reach test. From this study it was found that, there was significant difference between Bharatanatyam Dancers and Rhythmic Gymnasts in muscular endurance (t = 2.701*) only. From this study it was also observed that rhythmic gymnasts were better in all selected health related fitness components than Bharatantyam dancers. With limitations, it may be concluded that practice of rhythmic gymnastics is better to improve the health related fitness components than practicing of bharatanatyam dance.