Dancing helps people take a break from the news, so Fred Astaire Dance Studios is encouraging people to dance at home during this unique time to help alleviate stress, elevate mood and boost physical fitness.
State officials throughout the country are requesting residents to stay at home and follow social distancing procedures to help combat the spread of the novel coronavirus. While guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control are saving lives, they are putting a damper on entertainment and requiring Americans to take creative measures to stay in shape. Fred Astaire Dance Studios recommends taking a tip from Billy Idol’s hit 80s song, “Dancing with Myself,” and set aside time each day to dance.
Dancing reduces anxiety. Dancing relies on movement and breathing to help take your mind off of your worries. The American Dance Therapy Association uses dance to reduce anxiety by helping clients improve self-esteem and body image, as well as develop better communications and coping skills to solve problems.
Dancing improves mood and decreases depression. Similar to other aerobic activity, dancing increases the level of serotonin the brain produces. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter and helps to relay messages from one area of the brain to another, according to WebMD. It helps stabilize a person’s mood, well-being and happiness.
Dancing bolsters cognitive performance. Studies reveal dancing can improve brain function for people of all ages, especially the elderly. Dancing requires an individual to use several different parts of the brain at once, including kinesthetic, rational, musical and emotional, which gives both the brain and body a workout.
Dancing helps maintain physical fitness. Time indoors and a pantry full of snacks can reduce anyone’s willpower. Taking time each day to dance relieves anxiety and is a great way to stay physically fit. Dancing helps improve posture and flexibility, and it can also boost muscle strength and improve cardiovascular health.
If you are still hesitant to make some space in your living room and turn on the music, check out these famous solo dance scenes from some familiar movies and musicals.
Tom Cruise was not afraid to strut his stuff on the big screen in “Risky Business.” In this famous scene, Cruise celebrates being home alone by dancing to Bob Segar’s, “Old Time Rock and Roll.”
In this clip, Gene Kelly dances solo in the movie, “Summer Stock,” which also starred Judy Garland and was released in 1950.
In the movie, “Napoleon Dynamite,” actor Jon Heder stars as a socially awkward teenager. Heder takes center stage solo to help a friend.
John Travolta forgets his partner on the dance floor in this iconic scene from “Saturday Night Fever,” and dances to the Bee Gees hit, “You Should Be Dancing.” Released in 1977, “Saturday Night Fever” tells the story of Tony Mareno, a young paint store clerk who spends his weekends dancing to disco music.
Call your local Fred Astaire Dance Studios to schedule a future dance lesson and get dance tips to help improve your mood and take your mind off of current events and concerns.
