Dancing is a fantastic way to connect with our bodies – and to remember that we have them.
Although it’s a form of exercise, and so brings all the benefits of other cardio activities with it, dancing is different because to a degree it is intrinsic. Children start dancing without being told how to; even animals dance. There’s something about it that doesn’t require too much thought – you just start moving and your body seems to know how to keep going.
Dancing is also irrefutably linked to how we’re feeling. At some point in our lives, we’ll all have said “I don’t feel like dancing” in response to an invitation to get up and bust a groove. We might have been too tired, too stressed, too heartbroken… but if whoever extended the invitation manged to convince us to ignore that and just dance for a few minutes, it’s likely that we all felt better by the end of it.
There are two types of dancing. There’s the unregulated, unguarded, slightly-mad-just-going-for-it-type, with no rhyme, reason or preparation: you just let your body move in whatever way it wants to. Then there’s the structured, focused dance routine or performance piece. Both are brilliant.
One of my favourite facts about the first type of dance (going for it on your own, rather than following a set routine) is that it exploded at the same time as the invention of the vinyl record player. People could suddenly listen to music in their own homes – or rather their own rooms – and so started dancing on their own. When they then made it into the clubs to dance with friends, they already knew what they wanted to do, and so the formal dance disintegrated into the informal: a room full of people shaking in time to the music in their own way.
That’s not to say that the more structured style of dance isn’t equally as popular: from ballet to ballroom, the constant demand for these types of dance – both in terms of classes and performances – solidifies our obsession with them. Learning to dance as a discipline is fantastic for your focus, concentration, spatial awareness and (if part of a duo or a troupe) your sense of teamwork.
Many forms of dancing, such as ballroom, are appropriate for people with limited mobility or chronic health issues. All types of dance boost our energy, happiness and self-esteem. Let’s dance!
We’ve all done it, and it’s often the best feeling in the world. Very little instruction needed here, other than clear some floor space, turn up the music and go for it. Dress up if you feel like it, or wear gym clothes if you know you’re going to get hot and sweaty. Pull the curtains or not – this moment is entirely your own.
Learning a dance routine is a fantastic focus when you need some distraction from other thoughts, not to mention a great provider of a sense of progress and achievement. There are hundreds of tutorials on YouTube: take your pick from a variety of instructors showing you a multitude of different types of dance.
There are so many different dances that you can do in a pair, but a ballroom dance class is a good place to start as it covers a multitude of dance styles, including the waltz, tango, foxtrot, quickstep, samba, cha-cha and rumba, to name a few. You don’t have to have an existing partner in order to learn how to ballroom dance. Dance classes are extremely welcoming and dancers normally rotate around the room, so that you become used to dancing with a variety of different people. Wear loose-fitting, breathable clothes that don’t restrict your movements while you’re learning and practising, and make sure you have a low-heeled shoe – a suede-soled dance shoe is best, though perhaps wait until you know you’re serious before investing in a pair.
There’s a huge amount of satisfaction to be had from moving in perfect sync with a bunch of other people. This could be anything from joining a group class to forming your own dance crew. Different to dancing with a partner, being part of a group can take the pressure off slightly if you prefer to slip into the background, while keeping that sense of team spirit. From ballet to jazz, hip-hop to dancehall, try a few classes and see what suits your sense of rhythm best.
REMEMBER.
Let go of insecurity and fear – regardless of your level. The sooner you stop worrying about what you look like, the sooner your body can relax and move properly and your heart can start buzzing.