Benefits Of Dance

Dance has been a natural movement form since the beginning of time. The origin of dance is unknown, just as the knowledge of the benefits of dance are unknown to many in our society. Many people do not enjoy to dance and also do not fully understand the positive benefits that come from dancing. Researchers such as Edwards, Duberg, and many more have found countless mental and emotional benefits of dance that originate from movement patterns, brain connections, and even expressions of emotion. Many are aware of the physical benefits of dance but beyond the physical benefits of dance, there are also hidden emotional and mental benefits that come from a dance session as well.

Throughout my senior paper I will explore the many unknown benefits

I want to give kids the tools to help themselves cope with whatever may be going on in their life. I have had the opportunity to teach dance to young children ages 4-12 and I have seen the joy that dance has brought into their lives. I think that it is important for children to have a way to release their emotions and be able to portray themselves as movement can help them cope with difficult and challenging situations in life. Children who have an outlet to express themselves will be less likely to struggle with mental illnesses and other emotional problems and I know this because I have seen it in my own life as well as in the lives of those that I teach. In our society today, I believe that our children are being bombarded with influences such as social media, drugs, pornography, movie stars, and cyber-bullying. These negative influences are why children are in desperate need of a way to stay mentally and emotionally well throughout the difficult stages of life. The children of today are our future and I strongly believe that they need to be emotionally and mentally well in order to take on life and become the leaders they are meant to be. I believe that one way we can achieve mental and emotional stability and wellness in children is through

According to Powers, a full-time dance instructor at Stanford University, dance allows people to use many brain functions which increases neural connectivity. The benefits of using many parts of the brain has been shown to decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s and other dementias and increased cognitive acuity. He even states that dance can offer 76% more protection from dementia than other movement and physical activities such as golfing, swimming, and kayaking (Powers). Likewise, Edwards stated that “dance, in fact, has such beneficial effects on the brain that it is now being used to treat people with Parkinson’s disease.” This means that dance has large effects on the brain as it can decrease both memory deterioration and loss of muscle control. Dance also helps develop motor circuits which can help to keep the mind young and intact