Ask anyone who dances regularly, and they’ll likely tell you how incredible it makes them feel. Healthier, stronger, and even happier. But how can something as simple as moving to music bring about such powerful effects? You may think it's just an exaggeration, but it’s not. It’s truly hard to overstate the amount of benefits, both physical and mental, dancing can have on you. But don’t just take my word for it, science backs it up as well. So, let’s take a deeper look into the extraordinary power of dance and learn why it just might be one of the best things you can do for your health.
It’s not hard to imagine that dancing brings about positive effects in terms of your physical health. Dancing is a form of exercise; it makes you sweat, use your muscles, and increase your heart rate, so of course it’s healthy for your body. But some still may not truly believe it’s that great because there’s this commonly perceived notion that for exercise to truly work it has to be painful. You’ve probably heard the saying “no pain, no gain”. Dance on the other hand, is sometimes viewed as just light fun, and therefore not an effective form of exercise. In reality, this couldn’t be further from the truth. When done consistently, dancing checks all the boxes to be considered ‘regular activity’ which physiologic studies at Harvard have shown help to build muscle and bone, reduce fat, increase aerobic capacity, lower blood pressure, and improve the ratio of "good" to "bad" cholesterol. That’s all fantastic, but it’s also accomplished by most forms of exercise. Dancing, however, doesn’t stop there. There are benefits to dancing that make it stand out even amongst the most popular forms of exercise.
Professional dancer Jonathan Tylicki says that dancing is better than other forms of exercise because it involves movements in multiple directions. He says, “Movements that we typically do in our daily life, like walking, taking the stairs, and common workouts like treadmills and cycling, occur in the sagittal plane, but dance works your body from all planes, including lateral and rotational, which turns on and conditions all muscles, meaning no muscle is left behind.” This means that dancing helps you develop a more balanced and well-rounded strength. Another unique attribute of dancing is that it requires significant balance, which helps build core strength—an extremely beneficial quality. Your core does a lot more than give you a cool 6-pack for instagram, it helps promote good posture and helps prevent muscle injuries and back pain, according to Mayo Clinic.
And if you think the benefits of dance are short term, think again. Dancing has numerous long-term health benefits as well. A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that people who engaged in moderate-intensity dancing were 46 percent less likely to develop heart disease than nondancers. Additionally, according to Harvard Medical School, 30 minutes of dancing can burn between 90 and 252 calories. This high-intensity activity supports long-term fitness and can be an effective way to manage weight as part of a healthy lifestyle.
While the physical benefits are impressive, the impact of dancing on mental health is equally remarkable, as dancing has been shown to have a tremendous impact on your brain. Dancing requires learning choreography, and this has been linked to improved memory. In fact, in a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, out of all physical activities (including walking, bicycling, stair climbing, swimming, and group exercise classes), dancing was the only activity associated with a lower risk of dementia. Studies have also shown that the areas of the brain that control memory and skills, such as planning and organizing, improve with exercise like dance, dramatically increasing your thinking and problem solving skills as you age.
Now, somehow we’ve gotten this far without even mentioning the most important part of dance—it's FUN! And here's the best part: having fun while dancing actually has serious benefits, particularly when it comes to your mental health. Research has shown that dancing releases endorphins, a feel good chemical, in your brain. This can help decrease anxiety and increase your self-esteem. Dancing is a very expressive form of exercise that truly allows you to let loose, and science shows this act of “letting loose” is more than just fun; it helps reduce stress and can improve your psychological well-being.
One last thing about dancing that makes it stand out compared to other forms of exercise is that it is often done in a community (like our classes at Jordan Mac Adult Dance). When you dance in a group setting, it may help you feel more connected and socially supported, which also has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression and increase self-esteem. It also helps combat the negative physical health effects that have been linked to feelings of loneliness or isolation. Dancing can be the ultimate cure! As ballerina Vicki Baum once said, “There are shortcuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them.”
There truly is nothing else quite like dancing. Like I mentioned earlier, some people seem to believe only things that cause you immense pain will help your health in the long run. While there is some truth to that, dancing is the exception—the rule breaker, the game changer. There is no single form of exercise out there that can help you in so many ways both physically and mentally AND be an absolute blast as well. Dancing isn’t just a workout; it’s a celebration of life, where every step takes you closer to a healthier, happier you. So, what are you waiting for? Register for a dance class today and discover all the amazing ways it can transform your life!
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