Frank E. X. Dance (born November 9, 1929, Brooklyn) is an American communication professor.

In
19941995, he was John Evans Professor at University of Denver.

Introduction
In 1967, Frank Dance proposed the communication model called Dances Helix Model for a better
communication process. The name helical comes from Helix which means an object having a threedimensional shape like that of a wire wound uniformly around a cylinder or cone. He shows
communication as a dynamic and non-linear process.

Helix is compared with evolution of communication of a human since birth to existence or existing
moment. Helical model gives geometrical testimony of communication. The model is linear as well as
circular combined and disagrees the concept of linearity and circularity

Theory
Dances model emphasized the difficulties of communication. Frank Dance uses the form of a Helix to
describe communication process. He developed this theory based on a simple helix which gets bigger
and bigger as it moves or grows. The main characteristic of helical model of communication is that it is
evolutionary.

Frank Dance explains the communication process

based on this Helix structure and compares it with
communication. In the Helix structure, the bottom or
starting is very small then its gradually moves
upward in a back and forth circular motion which
form the bigger circle in the top and its still moves
further. The whole process takes some time to reach.
As like helix, the communication process starts very
slowly and defined small circle. Communicators
share information only with small portion of
themselves to their relationships. Its gradually
develops into next level but which will take some
time to reach and expanding its boundaries to the
next level. Later the communicators commit more
and share more portions themselves.

Concept of Helical Model of Communication

Helical model of communication introduces the
concept of time where continuousness of the
communication process and relational interactions
are very important. Communication is taken as a
dynamic process in helical model of communication and it progresses with age as our experience and
vocabulary increases. At first, helical spring is small at the bottom and grows bigger as the
communication progresses. The same effect can be seen with communication of humans, where you
know nothing about a person at first and the knowledge grows steadily as you know the person better.
It considers all the activities of the person, from the past and present.
Communication is affected by the curve from which it emerges which denotes past behavior and
experiences. Slowly, the helix leaves its lower levels of behavior and grows upward in a new way. It
always depends on the lowest level to form the message. Thus, the communicative relationship reaches
to the next level in which people share more information.
Communication is supposed to be continuous and non-repetitive. It is always growing and
accumulative.
Advantages of Helical Model of Communication
The model assumes sender and receiver to be interchangeable and makes communication
process to be two way.
The model takes the communication process speculative and intellectual.

Disadvantages of Helical Model of Communication

The model is taken as more simple than it should be.

Some critics dont take it to be a model as it has very few variables.
It is not testable because it is abstract.
It is not represent in a systematic and orderly way.
Variables cannot be differentiated in this model.
Continuity may not always be true for communication. There might be breaks in situations as
well as events can be meaningless, forced or unproductive.
The purpose of communication is not always growth.
Mortensen: As a heuristic device, the helix is interesting not so much for what it says as for what it
permits to be said. Hence, it exemplifies a point made earlier: It is important to approach models in a
spirit of speculation and intellectual play.
Chapanis (1961) called sophisticated play:
The helix implies that communication is continuous, unrepeatable, additive, and accumulative; that is,
each phase of activity depends upon present forces at work as they are defined by all that has occurred
before. All experience contributes to the shape of the unfolding moment; there is no break in the action,
no fixed beginning, no pure redundancy, no closure. All communicative experience is the product of
learned, nonrepeatable events which are defined in ways the organism develops to be self-consistent
and socially meaningful. In short, the helix underscores the integrated aspects of all human
communication as an evolving process that is always turned inward in ways that permit learning,
growth, and discovery