Dance Study: Open vs. Closed Skills, and Representative Design

• LMA Curriculum

In "Basketball Study: You Can't Stop One Move Done a Million Ways," we discussed the concept of open vs. closed skills.

A closed skill is a skill that is performed in a stable, predictable environment where the conditions do not change during the execution of the skill. Rather than decision-making and problem-solving, closed skills require memorization and choreography. It does not adjust to conditions or demands.

In contrast, an open skill is a skill that is performed in an unpredictable, dynamic environment where the conditions may change during the execution of the skill. The performer must constantly adapt and make decisions based on the changing environment and demands to successfully execute the skill.

An example would be playing Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) vs. dancing at a club or a freestyle dance competition.

DDR is a closed skill. It requires memorization of intricate, complex, and fast-moving choreography. But being good at DDR does not translate to dancing well at a club or freestyle dance competition where the dancing is contextual and improvisational. It is not just about speed, stamina, and memorization.

But what is the actual task or activity you are trying to get good at? If it's being good at freestyle dancing, then DDR alone will not accomplish that task. It can, however, help with motor control and stamina. If you already have solid motor control, then DDR is not scaled to your abilities. It might challenge you, but not in the ways you need to be challenged. Just because something is challenging does not mean it's developing you.