Health Benefits of Adaptive Dance

Social

One of the best aspects of ballroom dancing is how it brings people together. Ballroom dance lessons serve as a great opportunity to expand your social circle, build connections and engage with people in a low-pressure environment, where there are no expectations. It’s perfect for younger people who want to learn a fun, new skill and meet new people, couples looking to reconnect, and for adults interested in discovering something new and inspiring just for them. Learning to dance does take focus and dedication, but you will be surrounded and encouraged by artistic, positive and cheerful people who make learning enjoyable and rewarding. With in-studio events and community outings, national and regional competitions, group lessons, and social practice parties, you’ll become part of a melting pot of people of all ages, cultural, and occupational backgrounds. And the best part? Since they all share your passion for dance, these acquaintances can often transition into lasting friendships. At GoDance, we are truly proud of the supportive, welcoming and warm environment you’ll find at every one of our groups and events.

Physical

Besides all the benefits listed above, ballroom dance can strengthen bones, slow or prevent bone loss related to osteoporosis altogether, decrease cholesterol and blood pressure, increase lung capacity, and lower the risks of Type 2 Diabetes and obesity. As a lower impact exercise than jogging or biking, it can even help speed up the recovery period after orthopedic surgery. The poses and fast movements required in ballroom dance help improve stability and balance, a crucial benefit for older people that might become prone to falls or stumbles. To reap the full body-conditioning benefits of ballroom dance, you should dance for at least half an hour about four days a week.

Emotional

Dance provides a unique opportunity for creative and emotional expression.  Furthermore, every opportunity to dance – whether during a lesson or a social event, whether with your significant other or a new dance partner – will improve your confidence, communication skills, and comfort level on the dance floor. As your dance technique improves and you feel more at ease with other people, your sense of accomplishment, motivation and confidence will continue to increase. Even better – you will notice these new attributes taking root in other areas of your life as well.

Mental

Ballroom dance can sharpen your mental and intellectual abilities. A recent report in the New England Journal of Medicine described a study that followed adults for over 21 years. The research showed that dancing was one of the only activities that both improved cardiovascular fitness and reduced the risk of dementia and other serious cognitive impairments. Besides providing a measure of protection against those conditions, ballroom dancing can help enhance alertness, focus, awareness, concentration, and memory. Participating in activities like ballroom dance promotes the creation of more intricate neural pathways, warding off the weakened synapses that often accompany old age. Partner dancing can also help decrease loneliness among all age groups, as it is a goal-oriented social activity that brings like-minded people together. The mental health benefits of ballroom dance can even be seen in younger dancers. Researchers in Sweden studied teenage girls that struggled with anxiety, depression, and stress and showed that those that took up partner dancing improved their mental health significantly.