Top 5 Health Benefits of Dancing

Dancing is one of the most engaging and enjoyable methods of entertainment. Whether you’re busting a move to make spring cleaning more fun, breaking it down on the club dance floor until the lights come on, or sharing a first dance as newlyweds – people of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life can experience immense joy from this unique form of movement. Dancing is also excellent for our physical, mental, and emotional health – an important fact that we may not always remember.

Here are the top five health benefits of dancing:

1. Improved Balance and Coordination

Several studies have shown that dancing improves our balance, coordination and can help with gait (walking) patterns, walking speed, and reaction times. This is especially true for elderly individuals, and dance can be used as an early method of fall prevention within this population. Dance has also been shown to help improve footwork in athletes in various elite level sports.

Fun fact: A study in 2009 in the European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine concluded that dance may help people suffering from Parkinson’s disease improve the slowed movements and impaired balance that are a hallmark of the disease.

2. Improved Cardiovascular Health and Weight Loss

Dancing is an excellent way to get your heart rate up, making it a great form of aerobic exercise. A 150-pound person burns about 240 calories per hour with moderate-intensity dancing. This number can rise up to over 500 calories per hour with aerobic step dance classes.

Pro Tip: For high intensity dancing try Tap, Swing, or Zumba.

3. Stronger Bones

Dancing is considered to be one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. According to Osteoporosis Australia, dancing is highly osteogenic, meaning it has a high capacity to build bone mass. Evidence has shown that regular dancing helps build and maintain stronger bones.

Fun Fact: Dancing has no age limit!

4. Boosting Your Memory

A study in The New England Journal of Medicine found dancing is an excellent way to boost your memory and delay or prevent the development of Dementia. Dancing comes with an almost 76% reduction in Dementia risk, which is about the same as playing a musical instrument or playing board games.

Fun fact: Studies in The New England Journal of Medicine reveal that aerobic exercise can reverse volume loss in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that controls memory.

5. Reducing Stress and Depression

Studies show that dance is an excellent source of stress relief, particularly through partnered dance or social dance classes. Recent studies found that individuals suffering from depression showed significantly fewer symptoms after participating in regular dance classes compared to similarly depressed individuals who did not partake in dance.

Fun fact: Dancing is (scientifically proven) fun, and a fun habit is one that’s bound to be much easier to stick to. So put on your dancing shoes, and get to it!

Dancing is something everyone can do, regardless of whether you have two left feet or feel ready to join the professionals on “Dancing with the Stars”. It is a very safe and effective way of maintaining our health. There are countless forms of dance, so you’re bound to find something that works for you. If in doubt, talk to your healthcare provider to brainstorm some ideas as to what type of dance might be most beneficial to you. The best type of exercise is one that you enjoy doing, and dancing definitely rates high in the fun department, so get out there and bust a move!