Regardless of how old you are, dance has something for everyone. Whether it’s fitness, confidence or just for the social interaction, dancing has the ability to take your cares away and make you feel good about yourself. If you happen to be a part of Lockdown 2.0 (shout out to all our Melbourne friends), it doesn’t mean you can’t still get your groove on. There’s an endless supply of online videos and workshops that will help you with your ‘one two step’. And if you are some of the luckier ones who are able to get back to the studio, if you haven’t before, use this as an opportunity to explore your creative side and improve your fitness post lockdown. To understand why dance is more than just a group of steps compiled together, read on to see what makes dance so great!

Cognitive Development

Through the repetition of movement and the use of the left and right sides of the brain (logic and creativity respectively), dance is a great way to improve our retention and memory. It increases the neuroplasticity of the brain, which is the brain’s ability to change with the building of new neural pathways, resulting in an increase in mental strength and focus. It also improves the integrity of the ‘white matter’ in the brains of older adults, reducing cognitive decline and supporting optimal processing speed and memory. So rather than do the Sunday crossword to support cognitive health, think of slipping on some dancing shoes and spinning around the dance floor.

Social Aspect

Dance is a great way to meet people who have similar interests and passions. It allows children (and adults) to foster teamwork and cooperation, create new friendships and overcome shyness. When moving with others the brain lights up pathways that blur the barriers your mind erects between yourself and a stranger, helping you feel a sense of connection and sameness. This sense of connection creates a supportive community that allows people to feel comfortable and included. Whether you’re young or old, feeling connected and part of a team is an incredibly rewarding and gratifying feeling that’s hard to top, and like many others you might just make some of your strongest and longest lasting friendships through dance.

Posture & Alignment

With the ever increasing use of devices - computers, phones, tablets - our posture is becoming more hunched and slumped, as opposed to tall and open. Dancing is a great way to help correct everyday posture, as well as improve our balance and coordination. Through the increase in core and postural strength, as well as improved body awareness, the lengthened vertical spine, square level hips and open shoulders that come from dancing can be carried into everyday life.

Confidence

For years dancing has been ‘prescribed’ for those who suffer from social anxiety or fear of public speaking. The reasoning being if you can loosen up enough to bust a move in front of strangers, you’re a lot less likely to feel self-conscious when socialising or speaking in front of an audience. The improvement in confidence that can come with dance is often paired with an increase in self-esteem too. The confidence gained from the realisation that you can learn a new skill at any point in your life improves ones perception of their capabilities and hence their self-esteem.

Clear Mind & Sense Of Calm

The deep concentration required to remember dance positions, sequences of movements, and routines acts as a form of meditation. It allows you to turn your attention away from other stressors and just be in the moment. This form of movement-oriented mindfulness is a great tool for stress relief. The combination of physical intensity combined with concentration assists with clearing the mind. Through this mindfulness technique you can increase your overall wellbeing through an improved, altered perspective on life.

Physical Activity

Dancing is one of the best forms of cardiovascular exercise you can do - plus it doesn’t even feel like you’re doing any exercise most of the time! It increases heart rate, improving endurance and stamina, as well as overall cardiovascular health. Each exercise engages a different muscle group and promotes muscular strength and range of motion. The stretching that comes hand in hand with dance also increases flexibility, creating those long lean limbs. The coordination you gain from completing sequences of movements also refines motor skills, great for those younger dancers!

It’s clear to see that dance is more than just a bunch of sequins and sparkles. It allows you to nourish, support and improve all aspects of the body and mind, even some areas that you may not have initially considered. So whether you’re looking for new ways to keep yourself entertained at home, or searching for a fun way to stay fit, give dance a go! There’s something in it for everyone, no matter what your age or skillset!

Article by Sheree Ronai-Horvath
Photography by Elly Ford

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