Jun 25, 2015
12:24pm
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Once you lace up
your pointe shoes, there's nothing like the high of becoming one with the
music.
Everything else in
the world fades away when the music begins.
Your breathing
coincides with each graceful movement, as your feet whisk you away across the
dance floor.
Like “The
Nutcracker,” every dance to a dancer seems like a magical fairytale… and we get
to dance it.
Croise devant, demi
plié and arabesque may seem like foreign terms to outsiders, but to dancers,
these moves are within a beautiful language all their own.
Dance is not just a
hobby or passion… it's a lifestyle.
From tiny tutus to
the big leagues, we've danced our hearts out on stage in gorgeous leotards and
costumes; we've dealt with all sorts of blisters on our feet.
The irreplaceable
memories that have gotten us to where we are today show that the battle scars
are well worth it.
Within the elegance
of being a dancer, it's also an extreme workout.
Any dancer will
tell whoever thinks dancing is not a sport that they’re
completely wrong and encourage them to try dancing in our shoes for a day.
Professional dancer
Shanna LaFleur once said:
It takes an athlete
to dance, but an artist to be a dancer.
Dancers grew up
with each choreographed number being a magnificent work of art — the stage as
their palette and each move, a vibrant color.
In addition to
harnessing creativity, dance is an outlet to alleviate daily stresses and bring
so much happiness to those who embrace it.
It's an incredible
escape from reality, where you can lose yourself in the movements.
There's actually
research that proves people who grew up as dancers are less stressed and
happier.
According to Prevention, Swedish researchers conducted a
study involving 112 female teens. Each of the girls was dealing with back and
neck pain, anxiety, depression or stress.
Half of the studied
teenagers were involved in dance classes each week, while the other half of the
girls did not attend classes.
The results were
very positive for the teens who incorporated dancing into their weekly
routines.
Mental health was
improved for these girls, and it was also reported they experienced a mood
boost.
In a press release,
lead study author Anna Dubert stated, “…dance can result in high adherence and
a positive experience for the participants.”
Prevention goes on to say it's never too late
to benefit from dancing, and you don't even have to be a prima ballerina to
reap its rewards.
Enrolling in
ballet, modern or lyrical classes after work/on the weekend is a great way to
incorporate dancing into your life.
And soon enough,
you'll be twirling down the pathway to happiness.
Psychology Today says dancing makes you
happier than simply hitting up the gym or going for a run.
A study conducted at the University of London
involved patients dealing with anxiety disorders.
They dedicated time
to one of the following therapeutic environments: an exercise class, a
modern-dance class, a math class or a music class.
Out of all the
settings, the modern-dance class was the one environment that reduced anxiety a
significant amount.
Author Vicki Baum
once said:
There are shortcuts
to happiness, and dancing is one of them.
Another benefit of
dancing frequently is that it stimulates the mind and sharpens cognitive skills at every age.
Dancing stimulates different brain activities at the
same time, including emotional, rational, kinesthetic and musical.
This increases the
way your brain functions in a positive way.
Imagine that, a fun
activity with a wealth of health benefits that keeps us in shape, makes us feel
good and makes us smarter!
I’m a dancer, and I
have done it all: ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, modern, Irish, hip-hop and
plain-old rocking it on the dance floor.
I have to say, I
agree 100 percent with the conducted research. Dancing has all of these
benefits and so much more.
When you’re a
dancer, you can’t help but tip-tap under the table.
We have rhythm.
My motto has always
been, if it feels right and it feels good, go for it! It's never too late
in life to channel your inner dancer.
Happy feet are
truly good for the mind, body and soul.
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