While the physical benefits of dance are innumerable, dancing can also have a positive impact on mental health.
These benefits are not simply limited to reducing depression and anxiety. Dance is an amazing activity for developing confidence as well as cognitive and communication skills.
Improving mental health and developing cognitive abilities through dance is possible for people of all ages – children, adults, and seniors. Anyone can experience the mental health benefits of participating in dance lessons.
How Dancing Benefits Mental Health
Boosts Confidence
Dancing is beneficial in increasing self-esteem and boosting confidence by fostering self-expression and developing social skills.
Dance provides an environment in which individuals can develop a sense of connection and togetherness with other dancers. This strengthening of social bonds helps to build social confidence and reduce social anxiety.
Individuals who dedicate themselves to dance learn the importance of grit and perseverance. This drive and motivation eventually leads to a sense of accomplishment. Dancers feel a boost of confidence as they master routines and achieve their goals.
Reduces Depression and Anxiety
The physical movements of dance have been shown to reduce levels of stress, anxiety and depression. Much like aerobic exercise, dance provides relief from stress and tension.
Physical exercise elevates dopamine and endorphins, two neurotransmitters responsible for feelings of pleasure and happiness.
Dancing also promotes the experience of “flow”, which is an almost meditative state that allows the dancer to focus solely on the movements, music, and rhythms instead of worries and stress.
This experience of focus and flow also contributes to learning how to be more aware and mindful of one’s mental state.
Improves Cognitive Ability
Dancing not only helps to build body muscle, but brain muscles as well.
As a dancer practices and learns a routine, they are exercising the memory centers of their brain as well as strengthening their concentration. Dance routines also teach pattern recognition skills.
Building up these cognitive skills may contribute to a decrease in the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s. Studies with Alzheimer’s patients have shown that including dance as part of a therapeutic routine can help improve, or slow the worsening of, the patient’s quality of life.
Helps With Emotional Expression
Dancing teaches expression through movement. Dancers are able to deal with difficult feelings and release them through the steps and routines learned during the dance lesson.
Performance helps extend this expression by placing the dancer in front of other people. What an individual may not be able to verbalize to others, they can often express in dance.
This development of emotional expression relates directly to flow and the reduction of depression. If a dancer can express their emotions during the flow of dance, they are also able to be mindful of the way they feel. Being able to recognize these emotions is one way to avoid succumbing to depression.
The Brain is a Holistic System
Being a holistic system means that what affects one area of the brain can affect all areas of the brain. This works for both negative and positive impacts made to an individual’s mental health.
Dance is an activity that positively affects all regions of the brain. The creation of flow and focus lends to a sense of mindfulness which is a powerful tool in combating struggles such as anxiety. Also, building confidence and self-esteem can have a direct effect on calming social anxiety.
While taking that first step into a dance studio may seem like a monumental challenge, there is no denying that the lasting effects of dance are well worth the leap.
If you are interested in learning more about the mental health benefits of dance, or wish to enroll in one of our many dance classes, please contact Elite Dance Studio today.
FAQs
The physical movements of dance have been shown to reduce levels of stress, anxiety and depression. Much like aerobic exercise, dance provides relief from stress and tension. Physical exercise elevates dopamine and endorphins, two neurotransmitters responsible for feelings of pleasure and happiness.
What impact does dance have on mental health? ›
Dancing can improve your mood while you learn, move, and perform. In fact, many people take dance classes because they put them in a good mood. Ease depression and anxiety. Dance is an effective type of exercise that raises your heart rate and works your muscles.
How does just dance help mental health? ›
Next to body image, dance movement has significant positive effects on mood, stress, and anxiety. Within the scientific community specifically, there is evidence that an abundance of mood-improving chemicals are released within the body while dancing. Once released, these chemicals help improve one's state of mind.
What is the effect of dance practice on health? ›
Health benefits of dancing
It has a wide range of physical and mental benefits including: improved condition of your heart and lungs. increased muscular strength, endurance and motor fitness. increased aerobic fitness.
How does dance fight depression? ›
The endorphins and social connection that often arise from dancing also lead to generally improved moods. Dancing can reportedly act as a form of somatic therapy, a kind of therapy that relies on bodily movement for emotional release.
How does dancing affect the brain? ›
Scientists have found that the areas of the brain that control memory and skills such as planning and organizing improve with exercise. Dance has the added dimensions of rhythm, balance, music, and a social setting that enhances the benefits of simple movement – and can be fun!
Why are mental skills important in dance? ›
The general goal is to teach a dancer the mental skills necessary to perform consistently in both training and competition. Dancers need to train their mind to ensure that what they train for in rehearsal actually happens on stage when it counts.
What is dance therapy in psychology? ›
Dance/movement therapy (DMT) is defined by the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) as the psychotherapeutic use of movement to promote emotional, social, cognitive, and physical integration of the individual, for the purpose of improving health and well-being.
Which of the following are the mental benefits of dancing? ›
Mental Health Benefits of Dance
- Keeps mind sharp.
- Improves self-esteem.
- Involves social skills.
- Increase endorphins.
- Easy to bond with others.
- Improves your mood.
- Reduces loneliness.
- Decreases anxiety and depression3.
When we dance our brain releases endorphins, hormones which can trigger neurotransmitters that create a feeling of comfort, relaxation, fun and power. Music and dance do not only activate the sensory and motor circuits of our brain, but also the pleasure centers.
The endorphins released when you're dancing reduces stress and anxiety, and ultimately gives you a sense of overall well-being. You can feel it for yourself after just one hour of salsa dancing. The dance moves and rhythm relieve you of the pressure and keep your mind relaxed.
Why is dance mentally hard? ›
Dance is not just a physically demanding career; it also wreaks havoc on the mind and mental health. Dancers are perfectionists who spend long hours in front of floor-to-ceiling mirrors, criticising every aspect of their body and of their performance.
How does dancing release trauma? ›
Dancing through emotional burden allows expressing emotions, physical expression facilitated, airing of her suppressed emotions. She dances to feel strong and explore resilience, heavy emotions (linked to trauma) that are lightened by movement (symbolic in space and form).
How does dancing help with stress? ›
Decreases Stress: Dancing is one of the best stress-busters out there. The endorphins released when you're dancing reduces stress and anxiety, and ultimately gives you a sense of overall well-being. You can feel it for yourself after just one hour of salsa dancing.
How does dance improve self-esteem? ›
The Social Aspect of Dance
The positive social interactions and the sense of belonging boost self-confidence. Dancing with others fosters trust in yourself, as you lead and follow, communicate through movement, and build connections that go beyond the dance floor.
What movement practice promotes mental health? ›
Techniques like mindful movement or yoga promote relaxation and mindfulness, offering a calm refuge amidst life's pressures. Moreover, regular exercise has been linked to improved sleep quality, which in turn can have a profound impact on mood and energy levels.
How does dancing make you happy? ›
Dancing is a great way to overcome these negative feelings because the exercise and emotional responses to the music we're hearing can increase the release of dopamine in different parts of the brain. As dopamine levels go up, we can shake off some of those negative feelings and float into a euphoric state.
