In this current climate of ‘self-care’ it seems like people are working really hard to have it all. How many job advertisements have I seen that boasts a “work-life-balance”? In addition, we are suppose to also have a good social life, good working life, making sure we are living healthy lifestyles including regular exercise and nutritional food, don’t forget about mental well-being as well. We also are meant to make time for family and one on one time with partners and children, and other family members. We also have to make time for ourselves. I mean how much time do we have to give? apparently a lot. What if you could cover a lot of these things in one go? Getting involved in local dance classes can be just the thing for you.

Balance

Evidence shows after the age of 65> our risk of a fall increases, with 30% of all Australians having had a fall every year. Falls prevention is a highly researched area, and if you are really interested you can have a look of some of the research institutes that are devoted solely to falls prevention in Australia alone. A dance class with challenge your balance in many ways, and can be tailored to its audience. By engaging in balance practice in the convenience of a fun dance class you are not only reducing your falls risk, but you are also improving your walking speed, mood and happiness.

Mobility

In dance we take our body through multiple planes of movement, an all encompassing sport, we utilise every limb to ….There is currently a lot of evidence and research behind engaging in dance at every age from young to the elderly, it keeps our bodies strong and supple.

Social and Mental Health

Finding the right dance class for you can be a daunting task especially if you're a beginner. While the availability of online classes boomed with the coming of the pandemic, it’s not quite the same as being in a face to face class. The social aspects of dance classes are varied and range from relationships with other students, the dance community at large and the teachers who are your instructors. It brings many of us together from different backgrounds and we are all welcome on the dance floor. In addition, learning, compiling, refining, performing and retaining choreography is in itself ‘brain work’ so forget those word puzzles to reduce your incidence of Alzheimer's Disease. With evidence showing that the areas of the brain that control memory and plannings skills and organisation improving with exercise.

Cardiovascular and strength benefits

In my opinion dancers are one of the most well round athletes I have ever come across. Not only must they be flexible, they are also required to have cardiovascular fitness (try doing a 5min solo and tell me it’s not hard work!), they must be strong/powerful/and have massive muscle endurance and performance. Their body awareness is next to none as they articulate they’re bodies in different movements without falling over (sorry to that person I kicked in the face that time in a contemporary class - there really were too many people in the class); and they have a high pain threshold. And let’s face it, who wouldn’t want a dancers’ body?

Creativity

Dance is one of the few sports that is also an art form, while ticking off all those mental and physical benefits it is an outlet for creativity and self expression. Sure I love going for a jog and running out those daily frustrations…sweating (lovely image) but I could also be doing this and get to wear an awesome pair of pointe shoes or tutu at the same time.

So consider all the benefits that dance has to offer and ask yourself if you have the time?…yes you do.

Sam and Andy