Researchers measured the association between leisure and physical activities and the likelihood of developing dementia over time. They found that dancing was the only physical activity associated with a lower risk of dementia.
We always see an influx of new dance students when ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ is on the television, or after Christmas when people decide they want to do that something that they’ve always meant to do. but never quite got around to it. From the first time we start to toddle about as youngsters we learn to move our bodies in time to music. We often don’t know that’s what we’re doing, but think back to when you learnt your ABCs or 123s – how many of you learnt to music with words and body actions? What, you don’t remember – what about ‘The wheels on the bus go round and round….’ Or ‘Hickory Dickory Dock, the mouse ran up the clock.’ The majority of us learnt basic language, life skills and stories through words, music and action. Dancing is moving your body in time music and telling a story as you go. It’s why people are so attracted to dance and get pleasure from watching it. It’s my belief that everyone can learn to dance; not everyone is going to be an Anton Du Beke or Karen Hardy, but everyone can dance to their own level, and find great pleasure in doing so. Thirty or Forty years ago, dancing was the main social outlet – we didn’t have the amazing internet, social media and entertainment opportunities through film and television then, so to meet other people you went to a dance! It’s where the majority of friendships began, and indeed many of those are still going strong as I can tell from those who return to dancing after many years. That shared experience is a great bond and not all dance partners are life partners, just as not all gym buddies or sports people are either. Interestingly, dance is sometimes seen a being a girly thing and the guys are dragged along under protest. However, dancing is fast becoming not just something for the girls; there are now more boys than girls graduating in ballet for instance. For the first time in its 60-year history, Canada’s National Ballet School has graduated more male than female students! And I’ve seen this in classes too, the guys who are dragged along claiming to have two left feet and only there because their partner wants to do it, or the wedding couples where the Groom is terrified of making a fool of himself – trust me, once these guys get a taste for what they can achieve they always enjoy the experience, and want more.
As humans we are generally social animals, we like to share experiences and enjoy social company. Sadly, these days there are many people who find it difficult to build a strong social network. I think this is partly because we all seem to spend a lot of time travelling to get to and from work, we are often not close to our family and of course work itself has become a more stressful element for many, with either too much or too little of it. And don’t forget that mums at home or grandparents are under stress, just of a different nature. We’ve maybe forgotten or lost the art of how to communicate face to face; because of the great innovations in technology and the internet of things, it’s quite possible to never have to see someone face to face, you can get most of what you need without ever speaking to another human, well a lot of time anyway. Youngsters spend hours on computers and iPads or iPhones speaking to their ‘virtual’ friends, playing games and ‘virtually’ hanging out; but ask them to speak to someone face to face and they run a mile. Older generations can feel isolated too, rarely seeing their loved ones or friends in the flesh; the resulting loneliness can be insidiously demoralising and depressing. Couples stressed with everydayliving struggle to find time to do something just for them, something they can share and enjoy together. The answer, well of course dancing is a great social experience. Dancers are friendly people, the experience of learning something together is a great bond, everyone appreciates the difficulties and wants to help others ‘get it’, they want to share the pleasure. You can learn to dance solo or as a couple or as a group and all variations provide a great opportunity to make friends with a common interest. The people who come to our classes in High Wycombe are from all walks of life. We have doctors and lawyers, teachers and dog walkers, store assistants and builders; new mums and grandparents, young couples and those celebrating big number anniversaries. On the dance floor, your background doesn’t register, everyone learns and helps each other willingly – it’s part of the reason that people find dancing such a powerful, long lasting social network. Learning to dance is like learning a new language, you start with some very basic steps – the ‘Hello’ and ‘Good morning….’ just like those first language classes in French, German or Spanish in school or on holiday. You learn the basic steps that enable you to get moving, and then you learn how to communicate with a partner – the invitation and the response. It’s that invitation and response which takes the time, it’s subtle and through practice it becomes quite beautiful. For anyone who wants to build a strong social network dancing is definitely work the effort. I sometimes describe dancing as a meditation because people are concentrating so hard on moving their bodies not only in time to music but with their partners too that there is rarely much talk until the music or the teaching stops. Dancing is something you feel together as a couple or as a group, and when you get it, it is such a pleasure you just have to smile. As my first ever dance teacher used to say, ‘Forget everything and just dance….’ – in a stressful world, that saying is worth its weight in gold.
Execise in the form of dancing and a balanced diet can make a big difference to wellbeing and help weight loss; dancing also increases stamina, fitness and mental health. The most common reasons people give for joining a dance class are: 1. I want to lose weight and get fitter 2. I want to make friends, and 3. I’ve just always wanted to learn; it looks so lovely. Here are few of my thoughts gained over the years regarding peoples’ reasons to dance. In this first blog I’ going to look at the ‘I want to lose weight and get fitter’ scenario. Moving the body in time to music is not only great exercise, but it also improves mental wellbeing and increases a release of those ‘happy’ feel good endorphins around the body that we all need. But it’s true, people often start dance classes because they want to lose weight and get fitter; they’ve tried the gym and other forms of exercise but just not found them useful. In fact, many find those usual forms of exercise just plain boring. Dancing can indeed help in a weight loss campaign, however, if after your great dance class, you then go out and have a slap-up high fat, high sugar meal, you’re unlikely to lose weight. The positive effect is that if you persist with classes but don’t lose weight, you are still going to get fitter, increase your stamina and general wellbeing. Just remember, it does take more than half a dozen classes though, learning to dance is a lifetime’s story. Some basic things that people forget about losing weight and getting fitter: 1 . UNDER eating can slow your metabolism, deplete your energy levels, and INCREASE body fat storage. So, it’s not helpful to under eat. What is important though is to eat the right things, the things that will replace your energy, keep you well fuelled throughout the day and class. 2. Do eat sensibly and regularly. As humans we need fuel called glucose, also known as ‘sugar’. After a night’s sleep, a light breakfast that includes a starch, dairy, or fruit will bring depleted glucose levels up, giving you the energy, you need to start the day. Eggs, milk and bananas are great staples which prove slow release energy as you need it through the day. If you’re going to a dance class where you know you’re going to be doing high energy movement, take a banana or some dried fruit with you to refuel as you go, and prevent the urge for a kebab on the way home. 3. Do drink fluids. Frequently we think we are hungry when in fact we are thirsty! Our brains can’t always distinguish between the two quite different needs, and as we are likely to perspire and lose fluid whilst dancing it’s vital to main our hydration anyway. You can sip sports drinks, milk, coffee, and tea but best of all is just plain water. Try to avoid too many sodas, even diet soda, or indeed alcoholic beverages, as these can deplete certain nutrients in your body as well as affect bone health. Beetroot juice, and according to some studies possibly pomegranate juice, raise nitrate levels in the blood, thereby aiding delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles. And interestingly a study from the University of New South Wales showed that drinking green tea before exercise boosted fat burning – so maybe bringing a flask of green tea to class is worth a try. And thinking about the end of a class, cherry juice is also beneficial for reducing inflammation and improves recovery after exercise. So in conclusion, dancing can definitely help in a weight loss and fitness campaign but you do need to be sensible about what you eat and drink too; however, the thing that most people take away from a dance class is the laughter and feel good boost – and that’s the topic of our next blog. Have a great day everyone and keep safe.
or how I overcome my fear of the dance floor and learned to love dance.
It’s not only a great social thing to do with friends and loved ones, but is also a fantastic way to get fit whilst learning a new skill.
Congratulations Kelvin and Oti –
Strictly Winners 2019!
The Semi-Finals
Musicals Week and the Final Five Competitors Raise the Roof!
And then there were Six…..
