“And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.”  Friedrich Nietzsche

Illustrated recordings of dance are said to date back to circa 6,000 – 3,000 BC, indicating that pre-historic civilisations moved their bodies in ‘non-functional’ ways as a means of communication, education and ritual. In most ancient civilisations dance is known to have played a variety of important roles: it was a means by which to worship and pray to gods and deities, express spiritual beliefs, recount mythological stories, protect from illness and cure disease, and express a vast range of emotions including the joy and sorrow experienced within communities. Several of these dances were performed at ceremonial events and passed on from one generation to another. As civilisations evolved so too did the role of dance within communities. Notwithstanding dance's evolution, in our current day and age, it continues to serve a vast and varied range of purposes across all cultures.

Following our predecessor’s footsteps, many of us continue to enjoy dance as performance: we go to the theatre, watch street performers, and view films and television programs that allow us to be mystified by the dancer’s ability. Some of us also engage in dancing itself, doing so as a form of creative expression or simply for pure pleasure. Be it socially (or at home by ourselves) we frequently dance because it makes us feel good!

The ‘feel good’ effect that dancing evokes is thought to be partly attributed to the release of endorphins and dopamine (chemicals that enhance our feeling of well-being and pleasure) into our bloodstream and brain. This elated effect may be due to the notion that physical activity diminishes the level of cortisol (a natural stress hormone) in our bodies, therefore reducing anxiety and promoting a relaxed state of being. As chemicals that contribute to our personal sense of wellness are released our over-stimulated and frantic minds are often steadied; we become more focused on the here and now and our ability to live life in the moment is positively affected. Often, when our mental state is directed and quietened we also make room for new thoughts and ideas; creative thinking patterns emerge as our minds are free to wander, unattached to the many stressors of daily life.

The happiness that dancing brings to many of us is not only of personal benefit. It can also be shared with others through the act of dancing together. Studies show that when individuals consciously dance with someone they may indeed form human bonds that lead to a sense of connection. It is via this connection that a collective state of happiness and a feeling of social unity is often experienced. Indeed, many of us can probably recall a time when we were dancing with others and felt some sort of bonding.

Dancing socially and together is generally a fun-filled activity that serves as a means of relaxation and stress release. Dance training, on the other hand, requires hard work, great mental focus and considerable sacrifice. The strong, lean and sculpted physique of the dancer is a result of many years of commitment to strict training regimes, a concentrated mind, a strong bodily-kineastheitc awareness and a healthy diet.

During dance classes a variety of mental skills are developed, many of which are often carried through to other aspects of life. Studies reveal that structured dancing (dance training in which movement sequences are learnt and repeated) increases the ability to solve convergent or linear thinking problems. In contrast, creative dancing (free-form or improvisational dancing) increases one's ability to solve divergent or lateral thinking problems. Therefore, it can be said that both linear and lateral thinking can be improved by dancing. Findings also show that many other cognitive abilities are well-developed in individuals who regularly engage in dance training; dancers are generally self-motivated, highly disciplined, quick learners and innovative thinkers who approach new tasks methodically and tirelessly until they are mastered.

In addition to the mental and emotional benefits that dancing is known to evoke, several anatomical changes also take place. Whilst we move our bodies to and fro our muscles work harder, requiring the stored potential energy in our bodies to be converted into fuel so that physical movements can be performed. This process occurs via three different systems (anaerobic, glycolytic and aerobic) that via chemical processes convert stored energy into a molecule called Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP). ATP is the only energy source that enables us to engage in physical activity by facilitating metabolism in the human body. In simple terms, the more our bodies require ATP (energy), the more our bodies consume potential or stored energy (carbohydrates, fats and proteins) so that ATP can be produced.

Individuals each have their own reasons for dancing. For some, it may serve as a creative outlet, a social and fun-filled pass-time, a pathway towards acquiring a new skill, a means to improving personal fitness levels or perhaps a complement to other physical training. Whatever the reason, the benefits of dancing are plentiful!