How Does Dancing Affect the Health of U.S. Citizens?
Introduction
When I was first entering high school as a 9th grader I didn’t get to choose my classes, so I ended up with all normal classes and a dance class. When I saw that dance was on my schedule I immediately didn’t want to go, good thing we didn’t do anything on the first day of school in that class. On the second day of school there was a placement test for the kids who didn’t take one in 8th grade, a.k.a. me, I was hoping that all my regular classes changed and maybe dance too, it was a big inconvenience to me. After the test I went to lunch, then, lucky me, dance. The second day we didn’t do anything at all, I officially declared that the class was boring. Day three my regular classes got changed to advanced, but my schedule didn’t really change, I still had dance. Day four hit me upside the head,
…show more content…
As many know, mental illnesses are very detrimental to health and sometimes sanity, dancing can be an easy, but purposeful solution. Exercises, even the low grade exercises, are stress fighters which aids in fighting depression. Many female teens turn to dancing, because of its ability to entertain and benefit them at the same time, which leads to happiness and a decrease in depression. The research shows that dancing helps with mental illnesses, but also tells why anyone started dancing for health in the first place. Dancing has become such a popular way to exercise that there are games for dancing like “Just Dance” and “Dance Dance Revolution”. Dancing in games became extremely popular that, not only weight, but depression rates dropped. “First introduced in Japan, Dance Dance Revolution has sold more than 3 million units….. Each version of the game has a unique workout mode that lets users track calories burned and conduct their own fitness regimen” (“Dancing Away
By universal definition, "sport" is listed as "an activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively." Football, basketball, baseball, soccer and other primary activities have always been concretely defined as sports in society. However, one of the most physically demanding activities is constantly forgotten when it comes to the realm of sports- dance. Dance requires a tremendous amount of training and creates an aura of competition in which people compete to be the best, win, and take home the trophy- just like in traditionally accepted sports. These sports, however, do not possess an element of psychological health threats that some competitive dancers unfortunately must account for due to the emphasis placed on physical appearance.
The Pressures of Dancers The typical idea of a dancer is that they are tall, slender, full of energy, and lucky because they dance with all of the “stars”. Much of this is true, however, what many people do not think of are the many hardships that a dancer goes through in order to achieve their high status in the dance world. It takes a lot of hard work and determination along with good direction to become a dancer. However, nothing good comes without a price.
According to an article by Marjie Gilliam, titled “The many Health Benefits of Dancing,” dance offers a total body workout, using all of the major muscle groups and providing heart-healthy benefits. And that “the benefits can extend beyond fitness.” His study shows that, a recent study in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine found that teaching the cha-cha to a small group of older adults twice a week for six months was enough to improve their memory and cognitive function on a number of tests. Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that ballroom dancing at least twice a week made people less likely to develop dementia (Marjie Gilliam). In my personal experience, dance helped improve my health because it is a form of physical activity. For example, in high school, I was in a dance club and we had to dance to hip hop. It required a lot of body movements and a lot of energy. I remember sweating a lot after an intense hip hop dance session. Moreover, through this dance club I lost weight and got more fit. Thus, dancing definitely benefits our health and keeps our body in shape. In kinesiology where health factors are also present, it is important to reflect that dance has shown many groups of people, past or present, the significance amount of movements it offers as well as health benefits ever since back in the
Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Sports Medicine Laboratory. Subjects: A total of 31 patients aged 59.9 ± 14.1 years. Interventions: They were randomly assigned either to a Greek traditional dancing program (Group A) or to a sedentary control group (Group B). Main measures: A functional capacity assessment was performed at baseline and the end of the study. Global Assessment of Functioning Scale and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale were also used. Quality of life was examined using the Quality of Life and Satisfaction questionnaire. Results: After the eight months, Group A increased walking distance in the 6-minute walk test (328.4 ± 35.9 vs. 238.0 ± 47.6 m), sit-to-stand test (19.1 ± 1.8 vs. 25.1 ± 1.4 seconds), Berg Balance Scale score (53.1 ± 2.1 vs. 43.2 ± 6.7), lower limbs maximal isometric force (77.7 ± 25.7 vs. 51.0 ± 29.8 lb), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale total score (77.0 ± 23.1 vs. 82.0 ± 24.4), Global Assessment of Functioning Scale total score (51.3 ± 15.5 vs. 47.7 ± 13.3) and Quality of Life total score (34.9 ± 5.2 vs. 28 ± 4.5), compared with Group B. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that Greek traditional dances improve functional capacity and quality of life in patients with schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM
It was the fourth year of my school carrier. In other words, the year of truth if I would make the cut to the higher education track. I was nervous because I knew that I would be capable of going this route, but I the feeling of concern was stronger because I haven’t had performed very well in my fourth year so far. At the end of the school year, I received the shocking news that I didn’t make the cut to go to the school which would have had allowed me to go to University later on in my life. I was sad, disappoint in myself, and lost self-esteem in my educational abilities. At this time, I was more embarrassed then able to realize the real benefit of a system which early on tracks children’s
During my early education, meaning elementary school and middle school, I was a very average student. I gave an average amount of effort to my grades, and I received above average results. This did not bother me, until the end of my 8th-grade year. At this point in the year, I was filling out what classes I desired to take the following year, my freshman year. I realized that from this point forward, I had to take my education much more serious, in order to get accepted to whichever college I desired. therefore, when planning my classes, I decided to challenge myself more than I ever have in the past, and take multiple honors courses. I assumed because of my grades, that I had what it took to be an honors-level student, but I was very wrong. One teacher, Mrs. Johnson, made me realize the kind of effort, time and energy needed to be devoted to my education.
During 8th grade, I got called out to the counselor’s office. Entering the counselor’s office, the counselor told me that I was in the honors class. The day I graduated Junior High with honors changed the next 4 years in High school. I promised myself and my mom that I would be graduating High school with honors. For the past 4 years, I have worked so hard to be in the honors program, again. I started to take advanced classes and then I started to take dual credit classes my junior year. If it wasn’t for being in the honors program my 8th grade year, I don’t think I would be as worried about my grades as I am now.
Beginning in the Utica State Hospital, patients, usually women, would participate in activities such as sewing to give themselves a feeling of usefullness(“19th”). Dancing, on the other hand, was just a fun activity to give a patient something to look forward to(“19th”). It was “a way to express themselves physically in an otherwise restrained environment. By the end of the 1920s, social contact while dancing was critical to psychiatric care”(“19th”). Sewing and dancing were not only calming for these patients, but they also had postitive effects on the mind and body that many people were not yet aware of
So that idea had totally gone out the window. I was stuck in a hole and nobody could pull me out. Maybe it was a good idea he wasn’t going to let me get switched because my mom didn’t approve neither did my friends. But Tuesday made its way towards me and I got more anxious as the hours increased. I had math in fourth period and it was already the middle of third. I was going to fake sick but I was going to have to make it up anyway, so I chucked it up and decided there was no way I wouldn’t have to take this test. I went into Mr. Anderson’s class got my test and began working. It was just as complex as I thought it would be. It took me the whole class period to complete it. I knew my grade already a big fat F is what was. Wednesday came, and so did fourth period. I knew my grade would drop and I had failed that test. He began passing out the test to review our grades. I got mines last he turned it face down and waited for me to turn it over. I didn’t want to look, so he flipped it over for me. A+, I had an A+ on that test. “Stop worrying so much lil’ girl!” he said. I couldn’t believe it. I did
For many, the thought of dancing itself is enough to cause a quicker heartbeat and a light, panicked sweat. Aptly named chorophobia, dancing can evoke feelings of anxiety and nervousness, especially when the audience is large. The social stigma of dancing can prevent many from enjoying the art, as discussed in the previous chapter. This chapter will analyze how various social platforms will come into play in affecting the mental health of dancers and those that are influenced by the industry. There are remarkably few studies that examine this phenomena, which has made drawing from relevant literature difficult. However, there is enough evidence to suggest that social media plays a considerable role in the long term mental health
Dance therapy is entrenched in the expressive nature of dance itself. Dance is the most indispensable of the arts. It provides an outlet in which one can express them in a way that words cannot. It rivets a direct expression and experience of oneself through the body. It is an intrinsic form of authentic communication, and it is an especially effective medium for therapy. Based on the belief that the mind, body and spirit are interconnected, dance therapy, also referred to as DT, is defined as "the psychotherapeutic use of movement as a process that furthers the emotional, cognitive, social, and physical integration of the individual" (Dance Therapy). DT provides a creative escape for its patients, and its benefits can be seen in the mental
Murrock, C. J., & Higgins, P.A. (2009). The theory of music, mood and movement to improve health outcomes. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 65(10), 2249-2257.
Depression and anxiety can be huge obstacles for many of us. Whether you’re struggling with mild depression and/or anxiety, or you feel buried by it, it can be challenging not only to discuss it with others, but finding a way out can seem nearly impossible. Luckily, things are changing, and more and more methods of treatment are being developed for depression, anxiety, and other mental health-related issues. What’s even more exciting is that people are starting to realize how helpful video games can be for those people who struggle with mood disorders or mental illness. That’s right, actual scientists and doctors are seeing medically beneficial reasons for people to play video games.
“Just move the body it also mean exercise”. Exercise has many benefits with your body, it’s help you to strong body and healthy. A lot of people know about this point but they rather ignore it. Now, there is a new activity, it uses music to take that and use a few time, also known as ballroom dance. That is a sport and is enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world. Arcangeli’s 1994 study found the following: Dance was regarded as having a bearing on health in number of ways. On one the hand dance was believed to be one of the symptoms or one of the remedies of some illnesses in some cases, both. One the other hand, dance was classified as a physical exercise. Consequently, its effect on the general well-being of its practitioners (or even, in a few cases, of its spectators) was an issue that found its place in the literature of dance and medicine. (Pp.127-55) Ballroom dance has many advantages for health, following the top three of ballroom dance benefits which are flexibility, strength and Sense and well-being.
Learning, growing, experiencing; involved. Throughout my four years at North Fort Myers High School, I have grown into the person I am today. Through these experiences and memories, these outcomes have affected my life in an astonishing way. Because of these morals, my academic drive, and personal goals will only grow at the University of South Florida.