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- Physical Health Benefits. Dance is an excellent form of exercise that offers countless physical health benefits. It engages various muscle groups, improves cardiovascular health, and increases flexibility, strength, and balance.
- Mental Health Benefits. Dance is not only a physical activity but also a mental one. Learning and executing different dance moves requires focus, concentration, and memory.
- Emotional Expression. Dance is a powerful medium for emotional expression, allowing dancers to channel their feelings and emotions through movement. It offers a safe and creative outlet to process their feelings, heal from trauma, and communicate their innermost thoughts and experiences.
- Social Connections. Dancing is often a social activity that brings people together and fosters community. You can meet new people and form lasting friendships by attending dance classes, joining a dance team, or hitting the dance floor at a party.
- Physical Exercise. Dancing provides an excellent form of physical exercise. Not only does it help to improve balance, coordination, and flexibility, but it can also be great fun.
- Stress Relief. Dancing is a great way to reduce stress and tension after a long day. It helps to release endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemical, which can help to improve overall mood and mental health.
- Cultural Appreciation. By participating in traditional dances or learning about those of other cultures, one can gain a greater appreciation for history and diversity.
- Social Interaction. Dancing provides an opportunity for people of all ages to get together and socialize with each other. Whether it’s at a formal ballroom event or simply taking a class together, the shared experience of dancing helps to create a sense of connection and community.
- Overview
- Benefits of dance
- Benefits for kids
- Benefits by type of dance
- Tips for dancing well
- How to get started with dance
- The bottom line
There’s something about grooving to the sound of music that seems to take all of our cares away.
Maybe it’s the rhythm of your favorite tunes or the heart-pumping workout that gets you up and off the couch. Or perhaps it’s the challenge of mastering the more complicated moves that brings you so much joy.
Physical
Dance is exercise, so the physical benefits of dancing will be similar to that of other cardio activities.
Movement and rhythm comes naturally to kids, and when you get a child involved in regular dance classes, the benefits only get better.
Not only does dance allow kids to get their energy out, it’s also a great (and often safe) way for them to express themselves.
Broadway dancer, choreographer, and dance fitness instructor Joseph Corella says the artistic side of dance gives kids the opportunity to learn to speak another language: the language of movement.
Dance training also teaches kids that diligent work pays off.
“If they continue to put in effort in class, they will literally see results in the mirror. It’s such a concrete way for children to see that observing their actions and listening to guidance from teachers, combined with hard work, leads to positive results,” Corella said.
Turetsky points out that dance also helps kids learn discipline, because they have to memorize and execute specific steps and body movements that require practice and perseverance.
Ballet
This is a very graceful and technical form of dance, but it’s also perfect for all ages. It’s universally known that ballet is the foundational style for all dance. Turetsky says that’s because you develop a basic understanding of: •footwork •balance •timing •turns •flexibility •core strength
Belly dance
Belly dancing is a great style to start with, especially if you want to learn how to express yourself by using your stomach muscles, core, arms, and hips. “It is a style of dance that is very rhythmical and fun,” Turetsky said. It’s more suited to adults than kids.
Hip-hop
“Hip-hop is a very free and raw dance form where you get to express yourself to music with your entire body and posture,” Turetsky said. Hip-hop style is perfect for all ages, and it’s especially great for people who want to dance to popular and modern music with lots of personality and style.
Let go of insecurity and fear
The first step to dancing well is to let go of your insecurity and fear. This is true regardless of your level. “Dancing — be it in front of a mirror, in a class, or in the middle of the dance floor in a nightclub, requires you to silence that voice in your mind that says you can’t do it or that people are judging you,” says Corella. Dancing, he says, requires you to trust yourself, trust your training, and give yourself permission to fly.
Start with a strong foundation
Turetsky recommends that everyone do some ballet training, even if you want to focus on a different dance style. That’s because “ballet will teach you proper body alignment and how to use your core, so that no matter what movement you do, you’ll be able to find your balance,” he explains.
Practice outside of classes
While taking dance classes is very important, on top of that, Turetsky says you must also practice on your own to solidify the information and make sure your body develops the appropriate muscle memory. This is when having a mirror at home comes in handy!
Choose the style of dance that interests you the most
The first step is to choose a style or two that you’re most excited to learn. Then, do some research on those styles to find out the best way to learn the methods and techniques.
Take a class at a dance studio
If you’re ready for formal instruction, then starting at a dance studio is your best option. Most studios have classes ranging from intro to advanced. Choose the style you want to try and sign up for an intro or beginner class. If you’re not sure where to start, talk with the studio owner or instructor of the classes you’re interested in.
Take a class at a fitness facility
Many gyms and boutique fitness studios offer dance-related classes, such as: •Pilates •barre •Zumba •cardio dance •hip-hop
The benefits of dance encompass all areas of health, including physical, mental, and emotional. Not only does it give you a way to express yourself and have fun, but it also counts toward your cardiovascular exercise minutes for the week.
So, grab a friend, join a beginner or intro class, and get moving!
Jan 19, 2023 · Recent research documents the benefits of dancing for physical, emotional, and cognitive health. An element of dancing that humans share is sensorimotor synchronization, the instinctual, trainable ...
- Better agility and flexibility. Age, lack of movement — or only performing the same movements — can lead to stiffness and a lack of mobility that primes you for discomfort and injury.
- Balance and coordination. While you may feel pretty solid on your feet now, there’s no denying the fact that as we age, balance and coordination seriously deteriorate.
- Enhanced cardiovascular health. Depending on how intensely you jump up, jump up, and get down (jump, jump, jump, jump, etc.) , dance can serve as a hardcore workout that’s good for your heart.
- Improved muscle tone and strength. Many of our daily movements (walking, climbing stairs, etc) occur in a straight plane. Dance, however, also throws in lateral and rotational movements.
Jun 8, 2016 · Dance allows for us to express our emotions and increase our awareness of ourselves and others through creative movement thus increasing our emotional maturity. Movement within a class setting is ...
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Health benefits of dancing. Dancing can be a way to stay fit for people of all ages, shapes and sizes. It has a wide range of physical and mental benefits including: improved condition of your heart and lungs. increased muscular strength, endurance and motor fitness. increased aerobic fitness. improved muscle tone and strength.
