Chelsea Dickey

Prof. Sandra Riley

ENG 1201 - English Composition II

March 21st, 2021

Effects of dance on mental and physical health

Dance has a huge impact on people around the world and continues to impact their lives

in many ways. Dance affects people's minds and bodies in many positive ways. It is a great way

to get your mind off of reality and escape from your daily routine of life. It can have a positive

impact on people's moods and can help them loosen up when they are feeling stressed about life.

Dance can help strengthen the minds of many people by learning movements and choreography.

It is a great way to exercise your body and can help with soreness and strengthening the muscles

of your body. It is also a social activity and a way to interact with friends and family. Dance is a

great way to keep people healthy both mentally and physically. It is continuing to flourish around

the world and people are finding ways to use dance to help improve the quality of their lives.

“11 Benefits of Dance in Mental Health” by Aayushi Kapor talks about the many benefits

that dance has on your mind and your body. It talks about how dance can boost your muscle

strength and aerobic power. Which, in the long run will help improve your mental and physical

health. Dance is very beneficial to people with ADHD and social anxiety because it helps

improve the learning power of their brains. The article also talks about how dance is great for

your heart because it helps with the blood circulation of people's bodies. It states that dance

“improves the brain networking and transmission of chemicals that help in the stabilization of

mental health. Improved transmission of chemicals reduces the chances of neurological and
mental health disorders.” This article proves that dance has a great effect on our minds and helps

our bodies become healthier.

How to Look After Your Mental Health Using Exercise by the Mental Health Foundation

talks about how moving your body can greatly impact the quality of your life, mind, and physical

health. Much like the first source this source states how dance is good for your heart, joints,

mental health, and wellbeing. The article states that participation in regular physical activity can

increase our self-esteem and can reduce stress and anxiety. The article talks about a study that

compares people participating in physical activity and periods of inactivity. The study found that

people were much happier, awake, and calm when they were being physical compared to when

they were being inactive. The article also states that physical activity can be an alternative

treatment for depression. Physical activity can greatly lower the levels of anxiety in many

people. This source greatly supports that physical activity affects people in positive ways.

8 Benefits of Dance talks about how the physical, mental, and emotional health benefits

of dance are endless. A professional dancer Jonathon Tylicki says dance is such a great form of

physical fitness because it incorporates movements on all planes of motion and from all

directions. Dance increases our strength and improves our balance. The source states how dance

is a great form of movement for people with limited mobility and chronic health issues. Not only

is dance a workout for your body but also for your brain. It requires your brain to focus on both

the changing of movement and recalling moves and patterns. This source proves that dance

encompasses all areas of health. Dance allows you to express yourself, have fun, and exercise all

at once.

The article by Albuquerque “Studies Show Mental, Physical, Emotional Benefits of

Dance” talks about all the great benefits of dance on your mind and body. Mike Bosen states that
his balance, agility and coordination have improved after dance became a part of his life. He also

states that he feels happy once again. Researcher Terry Eckmann of Minot State University in

North Dakota studies a group of seniors and found that after they participated in Zumba that their

moods and cognitive skills had improved. Eckmann states that the benefits of dance are so wide-

ranging because the brain has to focus and work in many areas. The article talks about how more

experienced dancers have even more benefits from dance. Ballet dancers have developed

mechanisms in their brains, so they don’t respond to twirling movements with dizziness. This

source proves dance has many helpful aspects to our minds and bodies.

Dance Contribution in Health Promotion by Journal of Physical Education and Sport

talks about how dance is used to help improve our mental and physical state. The source states

that dance allows you to express feelings that cannot be verbally expressed. A workout program

consisting of movements deriving from Korean dances can yield satisfaction, confidence-

boosting and mental state-improvement in the participating elderly women. The source states

that dancing contributes positively to maintaining and improving the health of individuals and to

treating various mental and physical ailments. The article proves that dance has a positive impact

on people of all ages. Anyone can enjoy dance and it will have positive results on people's

physical and mental health.

My research question of “How does dance mentally impact your mind and physically

impact your body” has endless answers. Dance continues to have an enormous impact on people

around the world of all ages. It can impact your body by improving your blood flow, muscular

strength, endurance, and fitness. It can impact your mind by lowering your stress levels and

getting your mind off of life. These are just a few of the many positive aspects of dance on us
humans. Dance continues to affect people every day and will continue to impact people in a

positive way for the rest of humanity.

Aayushi, Kapoor. “11 Benefits of Dance in Mental Health.” Calm Sage, 5 January 2021,

www.calmsage.com/benefits-of-dance-in-mental-health/

Accessed 7 March 2021

“How to look after your mental health using exercise.” Mental Health Foundation

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-to-using-exercise

Accessed 3 March 2021

Lindberg, Sora. “8 Benefits of Dance.” Healthline, 10 May 2019,

https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/benefits-of-dance

Accessed 7 March 2021

Olmstead, Donna. “Studies show mental, physical, emotional benefits of dance.” Albuquerque

Journal, ll August 2014,

www.abqjournal.com/studies-show-mental-physical-emotional-benefits-of-dance.html

Accessed 6 March 2021. 

Sivvas, Georgios; Batsiou, Sofia; Vasaglov, Zarifi; Filippou, Dafni- Anastasia, Journal of

Physical Education and Sport Sept 2015, Vol. 15 Issue 3, p484 (English Abstract

Available) Database: SPORTDiscuss with Full Text Dance Contribution in health

promotion