Love dancing? Me too! Dancing can not only feel great, but it can be beneficial physically and mentally too. Whatever you're personality type, you are likely to find a particular style of dance that you enjoy. Dancing covers a huge range from street-dance to waltzing, from ballet to salsa, belly dancing to break dancing, and once you identify what style of dance most resonates with you, it can be a very fun and liberating experience.
The word 'exercise' can be quite off-putting to a lot of people, however 30 minutes of dancing can be just as, if not more beneficial, than running or the gym. Dancing can have such a positive impact on our lives in so many ways.
International dance day is coming up at the end of this month and it will see an exciting mix of people from many cultures all coming together to express themselves through the dance. International Dance Day was first established by UNESCO in 1982 and is celebrated every year on 29th April. This is the birth date of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), the creator of modern ballet.
You don't have to be the world's greatest dancer to enjoy the benefits of dancing. The popularity of the TV show 'Strictly Come Dancing' has triggered a rise in the number of dance classes around the UK and beyond. You don't have to fit the stereotypical view of what a dancer should look like either. In 2012 former Emmerdale star Lisa Riley wowed audiences with her agility and technique.
Her professional dance partner, Robin Windsor said at the time, "I just want to say from day one, this whole experience this year has been absolutely amazing, and Lisa has come out and shown you don’t have to be a certain size to dance, and she’s inspired so many people around the country". The 21 stone actress dropped an impressive 5 dress sizes whilst filming the show. During an interview with the Daily Express in 2013, Lisa said "The weight continues to fall off me because I am still dancing".
In 2010 Pamela Stephenson, another unlikely 'Strictly' star, proved that even at 61 you're never too old to get dancing. The clinical psychologist, who some may remember as an actress and comedienne in the 1980's, demonstrated not only her talent as a dancer, but her love of dance too. As the show's oldest ever finalist, her six-hour training sessions with partner James Jordan showed that when you have a passion you can achieve great things. Pamela, who is often described firstly as 'wife of Billy Connelly' announced at the time, "Strictly has ignited something in me which I really thought had been lost. I have discovered something I hope will continue for the rest of my life".
Sadly, many people only dance at weddings or when drunk, when they're feeling less inhibited, but to restrict yourself to these occasions is to really miss out on a great form of exercise and fun. Dancing can be very therapeutic and those who 'let their hair down' and don't give a fig about how they look, even when sober, are admired and envied, rather than mocked. Losing yourself in the music, whether it's fast and frantic or slow and controlled, is very beneficial physically and emotionally, as Stephenson and Riley can confirm. So, whether you want to lose weight, get fit or simply have fun, why not make the 29th April your day to dust off your dancing shoes.
