On April 29th we celebrate International Dance Day. I can’t think of a better time for us to take a look at the wonderful benefits of dance. Dancing is a healthy activity, with many physical and psychological benefits. It can be enjoyed in many forms and is fun for all ages and abilities. The great thing about dancing as a form of exercise is that it doesn’t feel like hard work—it’s enjoyable, especially for those of us who typically are not very active and dread exercising. The correlation between dance and health has been the subject of a number of research studies that show dance to be a healthy exercise.
Some benefits of dance include:
- Physical Benefits: Dance improves range of motion, muscle tone, bone strength, coordination, strength and endurance. Because dancing requires a pattern of movements, it helps memory as well.
- Emotional Benefits: Creative movement allows children to express their emotions. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have found that social dancing reduces stress and increases energy levels. Dancing can improve self-esteem because it improves feeling comfortable in your own body and the way it moves. Children have the opportunity to positively interact with others in an organized way while dancing.
- Social Benefits: Children learn how to communicate and express ideas with others in a group setting. There is cooperation and interaction in dance that helps children appreciate themselves and others.
- Cognitive Benefits: Like other kinds of physical activity, dancing increases blood flow which in turn brings more oxygen to the brain. Studies show that children learn best by doing, so dancing is a wonderful way for children to learn. Learning while moving is called kinesthetic learning.
Dancing can help you lose weight, improve your balance, and make friends. A dance class is the perfect setting to make new friends, and maintaining positive relationships can have the same effect as healthy eating and exercise. Being socially engaged leads to increased happiness, reduced stress, and a stronger immune system.
On this International Dance Day, turn on some music and dance like no one is watching…
For more information on the benefits of dance, check these websites:
Dance…A Way to Improve Fitness:
Get Dancing!
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/get_dancing
9 Health Benefits of Dance
http://gethealthyct.org/dev/docs/9-Health-Benefits-of-Dance.pdf