Let’s dance!
How dance classes can lift your mood and help boost your social life
If your New Year’s resolutions include getting healthier, exercising more and lifting your mood, dance might be for you, write Tamara Borovica, Research Assistant and Early Career Researcher with the Critical Mental Health research group at RMIT University, and Renata Kokanovic, Professor and Lead of Critical Mental Health, Social and Global Studies Centre at RMIT University, in an article published in The Conversation.
By dance, they don’t mean watching other people dance on TikTok, as much fun as this can be. They mean taking a dance class, or even better, a few.
Borovica and Kokanovic explain that a growing body of research shows the benefits of dance, regardless of the type (for example, classes or social dancing) or the style (hip hop, ballroom, ballet). Dance boosts our wellbeing as it improves our emotional and physical health, makes us feel less stressed and more socially connected.
Here’s what to consider if you think dance might be for you.
By dance, they don’t mean watching other people dance on TikTok, as much fun as this can be. They mean taking a dance class, or even better, a few.
Borovica and Kokanovic explain that a growing body of research shows the benefits of dance, regardless of the type (for example, classes or social dancing) or the style (hip hop, ballroom, ballet). Dance boosts our wellbeing as it improves our emotional and physical health, makes us feel less stressed and more socially connected.
Here’s what to consider if you think dance might be for you.
Read more: Rhythm on the brain, and why we can't stop dancing
The benefits of dance
Dance is an engaging and fun way of exercising, learning and meeting people. A review of the evidence shows taking part in dance classes or dancing socially improves your health and wellbeing regardless of your age, gender or fitness.
Another review focuses more specifically on benefits of dance across the lifespan. It shows dance classes and dancing socially at any age improves participants’ sense of self, confidence and creativity.
Another review focuses more specifically on benefits of dance across the lifespan. It shows dance classes and dancing socially at any age improves participants’ sense of self, confidence and creativity.
It’s never too late to start a dance class.
Researchers have also looked at specific dance programs.
One UK-based dance program for young people aged 14 shows one class a week for three months increased students’ fitness level and self-esteem. This was due to a combination of factors including physical exercise, a stimulating learning environment, positive engagement with peers, and creativity.
Another community-based program for adults in hospital shows weekly dance sessions led to positive feelings, enriches social engagement and reduced stress related to being in hospital.
If you want to know how much dance is needed to develop some of these positive effects, we have good news for you.
A useful hint comes from a study that looked exactly at how much creative or arts engagement is needed for good mental health – 100 or more hours a year, or two or more hours a week, in most cases.
One UK-based dance program for young people aged 14 shows one class a week for three months increased students’ fitness level and self-esteem. This was due to a combination of factors including physical exercise, a stimulating learning environment, positive engagement with peers, and creativity.
Another community-based program for adults in hospital shows weekly dance sessions led to positive feelings, enriches social engagement and reduced stress related to being in hospital.
If you want to know how much dance is needed to develop some of these positive effects, we have good news for you.
A useful hint comes from a study that looked exactly at how much creative or arts engagement is needed for good mental health – 100 or more hours a year, or two or more hours a week, in most cases.
Read more: Kick up your heels – ballroom dancing offers benefits to the aging brain and could help stave off dementia
Dance is social
But dance is more than physical activity. It is also a community ritual. Humans have always danced. We still do so to mark and celebrate transitory periods in life. Think of how weddings prompt non-dancers to move rhythmically to music. Some cultures dance to celebrate childbirth. Many dance to celebrate religious and cultural holidays.
This is what inspired French sociologist Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) to explore how dance affects societies and cultures.
This is what inspired French sociologist Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) to explore how dance affects societies and cultures.
Durkheim described how dancing with others cultivated ‘collective effervescence’ – dynamism, vitality and community. (Aeon Video)
But dance is more than physical activity. It is also a community ritual. Humans have always danced. We still do so to mark and celebrate transitory periods in life. Think of how weddings prompt non-dancers to move rhythmically to music. Some cultures dance to celebrate childbirth. Many dance to celebrate religious and cultural holidays.
This is what inspired French sociologist Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) to explore how dance affects societies and cultures.
This is what inspired French sociologist Emile Durkheim (1858-1917) to explore how dance affects societies and cultures.
That uplifting feeling: when dancing together helps you forget yourself as you move in synchrony with the rest of the crowd.
Suppose you need minor surgery for a cut, removing a foreign object, or any other non-emergency issue. In that case, you don't have to wait in the emergency room or for an appointment at a surgical centre. Contact Queen Street Medical Centre to schedule the earliest available appointment at your convenience.
Read more: Are you part of a social group? Making sure you are will improve your health
Keen to try out dance?
Here’s what to consider:
- if you have not exercised for a while, start with a program tailored to beginners or the specific fitness level that suits you,
- if you have physical injuries, check in with your GP first,
- if public dance classes are unappealing, consider joining an online dance program, or going to a dance-friendly venue or concert,
- to make the most of social aspect of dance, invite your friends and family to join you,
- social dance classes are a better choice for meeting new people
- beginner performance dance classes will improve your physical health, dance skills and self-esteem,
- most importantly, remember, it is not so much about how good your dancing is, dance is more about joy, fun and social connectedness.
There’s so much joy, there’s so much play in dancing. And play isn’t always that easy to access as an adult; and yet, it’s just such a joyful experience. I feel so happy to be able to dance.
You can learn to dance in Eurobodalla Shire through local studios like The Dance Collective (TDC) in Moruya for kids/teens, or community programs by Wellbeing In Motion at Bay Pavilions (Batemans Bay) for 50+ mobility/fun classes, plus fun options like South Coast Zumba (Zumba Jess) for energetic workouts. Options range from fun holiday workshops to regular fitness-based dance and specific mobility programs.
