Strength Training's Impact on Liga ng mga Agilang Mananayaw Dancers

Strength training is a critical component of dancers' physical preparation, aimed at enhancing muscular strength and bone health while minimizing pain and reducing the risk of serious injuries. This study employed a quantitative descriptive-comparative research design to investigate the level of strength training among 35 BPE-SPE student dancers from the Liga ng mga Agilang Mananayaw, selected through simple random sampling. The research was grounded in Thorndike's Learning Theory, which posits that behaviors followed by positive consequences are more likely to be repeated, while those followed by negative consequences are less likely to recur. The study utilized the theory's principles—law of effect, law of exercise, and law of readiness—to frame the analysis of strength training practices and their impact on dancers' performance. Data collection was conducted using an adapted survey questionnaire, and statistical analyses, including mean t-tests and ANOVA, were performed. Results indicated that the student dancers exhibited high levels of strength training in terms of core strength, lower body strength, and upper body strength, signifying consistent engagement in strength training exercises. Moreover, no significant differences were observed in the levels of strength training across variables such as age, year level, and sex. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the school administration, sports coordinator, and dance club moderator collaborate to provide additional support for the dance club, such as strength training equipment, to sustain and enhance the athletic performance of student dancers.