I have always danced in my life, in some form or other, sometimes with more enthusiasm ( lacking natural coordination) than skill but always with enjoyment. Ballet and Ballroom Dancing as a child. Practising my dance moves at home for the school disco, then moving on to Ska, Northern Soul and New age. ( Post-Punk) Now my clubbing days are over, I still dance at the odd wedding and like to dance in my kitchen. (luckily the flat below is very understanding ) Dance is supposed to connect you to your inner child, certainly it makes me feel like a teenager. Particularly when I listen to certain tracks which bring up feelings of nostalgia.
Many of us have signed up for classes at the local gym, dance school or even virtually. Shows like Come Dancing encourage us to have a go. Babies and small children always move to music, it’s something that comes naturally. As adults many of us think we can’t dance, as we are uncoordinated or lacking a sense of rhythm, but it really doesn’t matter and if fear of judgement from others is released it can be lots of fun. Even professional dancers make mistakes. They use them to learn and improve themselves and so should you.
So, what is it that makes dance so special?
Research has found that dance of any genre is equal and occasionally more effective than other types of physical activity for improving psychological and cognitive outcomes.“Most people know that physical activity is beneficial for health compared to doing nothing, but they may not realise that dance can be an effective alternative to standard exercise like running, going to the gym, and other sports.”
Releasing energy through movement can help us let go of stress. There’s a wide range of benefits to your body, a workout to stay toned and flexible, increasing stamina and offering a fun way of getting and staying fit. It also keeps your mind sharp and can improve mental health and boost well being. What makes this work so well, is listening to music which triggers our brains reward centre and movement which brings on endorphins, making you feel happy. Its fairly impossible to be miserable whilst dancing.
As we age, it gets harder to remember names, places, and other details. Learning new things, like different moves and styles of dance, sharpens your brain’s ability to remember these kinds of details. When done regularly it can improve the brain’s function and prevent Dementia.
Dance has been a part our culture for tens of thousands of years. Archaeological evidence and cave paintings confirm it existed as a form of human expression and communication long before the invention of written language. Early dances been ritualist in nature. The Ancient Greeks were to integrate structured dance into their theatre as well as religious ceremonies. Dance evolved into theatrical and social forms. The folk dances of the Middle Ages turned into formal Ballroom dancing .These dances moved into royal courts beginning to become popular as dancing masters taught upper classes the proper steps for court dances. Ballet too originated in the 15th-century Italian Renaissance courts. In the nineteenth century, women’s clothing allowed more freedom of movement and dancing was to become more lively. The Waltz was a major dance craze as social dances began to focus on two-person dancing moving into the twentieth century.
Many people carry the customs of their homelands through folk dancing and accompany these dances with the music of their culture. Street dancing in Spain blends traditional folk dances with Flamenco. The Sardana. Is an open-circle, communal street dance where locals join hands in the streets and town squares. I witnessed this in Barcelona and it was wonderful to see all generations taking part.
There are various dances available to try some more physical than others, depending on your current fitness level, Ballroom, which is great for all ages and levels and is a great way to meet other people socially. Adult ballet and cardio ballet/ Barre workouts are widely available. Zumba, there is no right or wrong way. Salsa, boosts co-ordination and don’t we all love Bad Bunny at the moment. Line dancing, my sister who isn’t very active loves this and any activity wearing Cowboy boots is a good one. Hip-Hop and street dance if you want to try something more high impact. There’s a newish trend for breakfast discos/ raves nationwide for anyone who doesn’t want to go to the gym. Definitely a mood boosting way to start the day.
Health clubs, community centres and Dance schools/ studios offer dance classes and if you want to practise to gain confidence before joining a class, YouTube has many great options.
Why not have a go, and in the words of the legendary David Bowie Lets Dance…..
Created Curated by Sara Brown 