Why did dancing and music play a role in Robert Owen’s New Lanark schools?

In the New Lanark schools, Robert Owen integrated dancing and music into the curriculum as part of his broader philosophy of education and character development.1

Owen believed that human character is fundamentally shaped by the circumstances and influences to which individuals are exposed from their earliest years. By eschewing traditional methods like corporal punishment in favor of a more nurturing environment, he sought to foster positive traits in children. The inclusion of music and dance was intended to cultivate a "graceful, genial, and unconstrained" demeanor in the students, contributing to their overall well-being and development within the community. This approach was central to his goal of creating a harmonious society through the proper formation of character.21