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Writer's pictureCaroline Blueheel

THE HAPPINESS SYNDROME OF DANCE


woman dancing
Candice, former Blueheel dance instructor captures the magic of dance

There’s a transformation that happens when people step onto a dance floor. It is a physical, emotional and mental change that scientists have been investigating and dancers have been living - an intrinsic truth all dancers know. In the words of Hans Bos, “While I dance I cannot judge, I cannot hate, I cannot separate myself from life. I can only be joyful and whole. That is why I dance.”


Learning to dance is one of the best things you can do to keep yourself healthy – physically, emotionally and mentally. Not just because it a fun and enjoyable social activity, scientific studies have shown that besides all the positive benefits of a physical activity, dance – particularly ballroom dance - is one of the best ways to support brain health and mental health. You’ve heard the anecdotal outcomes – dance makes me happy, people who dance are happier, happy people are healthier people etc. It is only recently that researchers have looked into the study of dance and it's significant benefits on one's overall health.


PHYSICAL FITNESS

1. Like any form of exercise, dancing can improve cardiovascular health, increase stamina, flexibility, strengthen bones and muscles and stave off illnesses.

2. Physical exercise releases endorphins that interact with the receptors in your brain to reduce your perception of pain. Endorphins also trigger a positive feeling in the body. They reduce stress and decrease both blood pressure and bad HDL cholesterol.

3. Ballroom dancing requires good posture, involving the core muscles, improving balance and the ability to maintain stability through movement.

4. Unlike other types of exercise routines, ballroom dancing challenges your overall endurance through ever changing dance types and rhythms. It involves plenty of movement which keeps your legs moving and your heart pumping.


MENTAL FITNESS

1. Learning new skills stimulates neurons in the brain, which forms more neural pathways and allows electrical impulses to travel faster across them. Dance actually makes you smarter.

2. With dance, there are significant mental benefits not found in other forms of physical activity. Because it involves constant use of short-term memory, as dancers create new patterns of movement, ballroom dancing has been found to create more intricate neural pathways.

3. Dance combats stress, anxiety & depression. Research shows marked improvement in mental health and patients reported being happier than those who did not participate in dancing.

4.Reduced risk of memory diseases or cognitive impairments like Alzheimers and dementia. Researchers postulate that this is due to the constant use of intelligent short-term memory combined with physical activity and music. These aid the long-term efficiency of memory pathways.


SOCIAL FITNESS

1. Ballroom dancing is a group activity and connects people beautifully in a world that is increasingly disconnected.

2. Partner dancing, on the other hand, creates a sense of belonging and community that reduces loneliness and brings people together.



At Blueheel, our dance persuasion is driven by the honest desire to share with you this amazing door to happiness, health and the passion and freedom that dance inspires. We believe that life is a dance - whether a dance of love or passion, anger or joy, greatness or great discovery. We hope you find the brilliant dance within yourself and the radiant self within your dance.

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