DANCE FOR THE MIND, BODY AND SOUL!
I am so thankful for the gift of dance. As a young girl, my Uncle Ricky taught me the joy of dance, and it changed my life forever. It has brought me an unimaginable amount of personal benefits, health and peace. Dance has truly shaped my being in such remarkable, amazing and even spiritual ways. I would like to shout the benefits of dance from the rooftops. This time of year, many people are seeking the answers to bettering themselves, either physically, emotionally or academically. With the new year upon us, and with so many people making resolutions, I have a perfect answer for you, regardless of your age. DANCE!
MIND –
It is proven that the arts – any art form – is good for your child’s academics. Dance creates new pathways within the brain and dancers learn to multi-task. There is a proven link that students who dance, attain higher SAT scores and have higher math aptitudes. The National Endowment for the Arts says:
- Dancers tend to have higher GPA’s – especially with math.
- Dancers achieve higher SAT scores – especially in writing and science.
- Dancers have a high enrollment rate in 4 year colleges and tend to earn mostly A’s in college.
At Footworks, even in our youngest classes, we work on brain training. Our program teaches conceptual learning techniques, such as: place, relationship, body parts, direction, pathways, size, energy, speed, levels and weight. Dance is a way to express oneself through another unique language. This type of dance training, that can start at a very young age, will begin a strong foundation for academic learning, which will take dancers far into their academic lives.
BODY –
The physical benefits of dance are endless. Dance combines aerobic exercise with weight training and stretching. This is a terrific combination for maintaining a healthy body. These are some of the physical benefits of dance:
- Balance
- Endurance
- Stamina
- Heart Health
- Stronger Bones
- Coordination
- Memory
- Decrease blood pressure and cholesterol
One of the great things about dance, in terms of physical health, is that it can be done at any age. Dance classes are available for the very young. Footworks starts classes for children as young as 2 years old. Dance classes can also be successfully taught, with tremendous benefits, to those far into their senior years. Not many physical activities can successfully and adequately accommodate so many ages, with such amazing benefits to all, as dance. Without a doubt, dance has a boat-load of physical health benefits and anyone can join a dance class, regardless of their current physical fitness level. It is always a great time to dance, whether you are at the peak of physical fitness or ready to start a better path to physical fitness. It is time to dance!
SOUL-
It is proven that dance changes serotonin and dopamine levels. That makes dance great for those with depression, anxiety and mood disorders. It is also a great tension reliever. Dance also provides for social interaction. These are some of the benefits of dance, According to EduDance:
- Encourages a positive attitude
- Teaches exploration of self-expression
- Teaches dancers to express emotions
- Helps teach independence
- Promotes positive self-esteem
According to a study conducted by University of Hertfordshire Psychology Professor Peter Lovatt, the happiness experienced while dancing is measurable even after dancing, increased levels in happiness present as long as a week after the last dance.
Dance also helps us age better. Dance favors neural synapses. Slowing the loss of volume in the hippocampus is a natural part of aging and dance helps protect this in the long-run.
Dance truly engages and changes the brain in unique and positive ways.
CONCLUSION -
As we look to our future, and the future of our children, it would be wonderful if the future was a positive and peaceful place, and it was filled with leaders that were successful and healthy in mind, body and soul. We can change lives by giving children and adults the gift of dance. Good things happen when we bring dance into the lives of children and adults. Kids that grow into healthy adults, make the world a better place. We want the future to be filled with healthy people, who will be the strong, intelligent and mindful leaders. Dance can bring your health goals full circle, within your MIND, BODY AND SOUL.
Dance for life!
Kim Mader, Footworks Director
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