Brain and Dancing

Dancing is the Best Brain Exercise

A study led by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, was conducted over a period of 21 years and looked at senior citizens 75 years and older.

Almost none of the physical activities had any effect. The one exception was frequent dancing. Some findings of the studies were:

  • Reading – 35% reduced risk of dementia
  • Bicycling and swimming – 0% reduced risk of dementia
  • Doing crossword puzzles at least four days a week – 47% reduced risk of dementia
  • Playing golf – 0% reduced risk of dementia
  • Dancing frequently – 76% reduced risk of dementia

People who dance regularly have greater cognitive reserves and an increased complexity of neuronal synapses, explained neurologist Dr. Robert Katzman. Dancing lowered the risk of dementia by improving these neural qualities.

Anyone Can Learn A New Skill

The First Step

The first step is difficult and it is also powerful. Take that first step, get yourself going, then keep going.

Once you take the first step, you’re invested. Once you take the first step, you have momentum working in your favor.

Make the transition from intention to action. Go from the concept of achievement to the reality of achievement.

No matter how much or how little prior experience you have, the first step will give you more. It will focus your experience, your skills, your thoughts and actions on a specific objective.

Going ahead with the first step sends a message to yourself and the world that you are serious. You’ve gone beyond merely wishing, or wondering, or planning, and are taking solid action.

Take the first step and feel the powerful difference it makes. Then carry on with ever-increasing momentum until the job is done.

— Ralph Marston

Students

Private instructions can transform a student.

Chelsea was a private student who had a very uneven hip movement. Her grandmother brought her to me to become a better Tahitian dancer. After basic training her hips evened out beautifully. Then came the challenge of creating choreograph for the soloist position in the competition. Her moves were becoming so popular that other dancer were copying her moves for the following year. Taina had to become quite creative at this point. Chelsea won 5 years and more at the different solo competition.

I realized very few teachers don’t know how to work on the individual dancer’s technique. Some are just too busy getting the group to follow each other for the routines.