Why Dance?

By Fran Attwood

We all know the obvious benefits of dancing and see proof of it every year from September to December when Strictly airs on television and we watch the dress/suit size drop for many of the celebrities. However, there are further benefits beyond being a fitness and weight management strategy; it can be great for the whole of a person’s wellbeing.

Many of the health benefits are obvious. Dancing can improve the condition of your heart and lungs, increase muscular strength, improve endurance and motor fitness, increase aerobic fitness, improve muscle tone and strength, help manage weight, give stronger bones and reduce the risk of osteoporosis and improve coordination, agility and flexibility.

Through dance you can increase the powers of observation, focus and concentration, perception and perseverance through learning steps or routines.

Improvisational skills could play a part in this too; all very useful skills in many walks of life and for all ages, but it can give children a great start at a young age and through an enjoyable activity.

Dance can awaken perceptions in children which help them to learn and think in new ways. Children need to express and communicate their ideas and to be given the opportunity to make creative decisions at any age. Decision making can promote self-esteem and independent thinking and dance gives them that alternate artistic portal to express themselves and let their imaginations run wild. Their bodies naturally react to the music and at that age, many children are not self-conscious and dance without inhibitions in a relaxed way.

Dance can also benefit emotional and mental health. It can improve one’s mood and help to reduce stress, anxiety and depression.  The happiness experienced by many people while dancing can have a long lasting effect, possibly up to a week!  Many forms of dance that involve the sense of touch, human-to-human physical contact, have produced notable reductions in levels of stress and anxiety and improved overall mental wellbeing.

Dancing is a sociable activity. It can give the sense of connectedness to others from an increase in social bonds and friendship, allowing people to feel less self-conscious when interacting with others and actively promote teamwork. 

The diverse variety of music genres and rhythms range from country to country, many reflecting a nation’s culture but even in these times of social distancing and isolating, dance can be a great activity for all ages and for the whole of your well-being. So whether it’s street, tap, ballroom, latin, line, country, ballet, belly, contemporary, folk or disco, have some fun!  Dig out your favourite music and express yourself!  After all, if Gerald the giraffe can learn (Giraffe’s Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker- Reese, a lovely book for younger children) – so can you!