I used be on a competitive hip hop dance team in high school, plus I did ballet, jazz, and tap. I took ballet dance/movement therapy classes my first 2 years of college, but then I sadly transferred to a college that offered no dancing. I have gone 4 years without it, and yesterday I finally was able to dance again!
Flashmobbing
I got the exciting opportunity to be part of a flashmob yesterday. We rehearsed the dance for 3 hours prior, and I realized I had forgotten how much I absolutely love dancing! I cannot believe how long I have gone without it. After the rehearsal, we got to perform at Hollywood and Highland for a band called Allstar Weekend. Here is a video of the flashmob, to their song "Not Your Birthday"
I also am going to be in one tomorrow, which will air on a television show in June! Until then, I am sworn to secrecy about which show it is.. but I am very excited to be able to do 2 within one week!
As a workout
Dancing is so great for the body, both mentally and physically*. Here are some of the benefits:
Gets rid of stress and tension (you don't have time to think about what is troubling you)
Releases endorphins (enhances feeling of well-being)
Improves cardiovascular fitness (Gets your heart rate up and keeps it up the whole time)
Improves flexibility (Stretching is a very important part of dancing)
Improves strength (forces the muscles to resist against a dancer's own body weight)
Improves endurance (the muscles learn how to work in increasing amounts of time without fatigue)
Improves mind/body connection (your brain has to control movement of your entire body at once, which studies have even proven to decrease risks of dementia in the elder population by up to 76%!)
Promotes social interaction and self-confidence (in most cases, everyone is just having fun and not competing against each other. Dance classes are a great way to meet positive, energetic people that share the same interests)
*Plus, it's good for your wallet, since no special equipment is required!
How you can apply it to your life
Dancing doesn't have to be choreographed. You can dance alone in your room to your favorite songs and still reap the same benefits. Many people choose to go to a club and dance freely to their own beat. The other option is to join a dance class (or join me flashmobbing!) There are many dance classes available in almost every area of the country, from swing, to ballroom, to salsa.
To sum it up: Dancing is good for your body, your soul, your mood, and almost any other aspect of your life. Get your body moving to the music, and feel free to share where and how you did!
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