Benefits of dance in the community

Looking for a way to keep fit while having fun? Look no further, try a dance class! There are a bunch of reasons to give dance a go, so we are here to guide you through them.

Dance is an enjoyable and creative art form that helps to promote healthy minds and bodies. It can benefit different people in different ways, but there are many general positives to taking part in classes:

Physical health

Dancing is proven to help improve various areas of your body. It can increase muscle strength, endurance, flexibility and motor fitness, plus the condition of your heart and lungs. It can also strengthen your bones, which reduces the risk of osteoporosis, and improve your balance, coordination and spatial awareness so falls are much less likely. Lastly, it can improve your agility and aerobic fitness, which will hopefully make the hills of Winchester a lot more manageable! A member of our GEMS class agrees,

“Yes, we have been fitter and less stressed/bodies more supple and the dance movements are enjoyable and fun.”

Mental health & wellbeing

Dance classes offer a safe and non-judgemental place to be yourself. One of our Liberate Dance members describes classes as “Inclusive, Friendly, Supportive”. It is a great way to express yourself creatively and even learn more about who you are. This helps with self-confidence, self-esteem, social skills and general mental functioning.

Social opportunities

Dance classes are a great way to meet new people, no matter the age range of the class. This is particularly beneficial for older dancers as they may not get so many opportunities to make new friends outside of their regular routine, but children also benefit from making friends outside of the school classroom. Socialising is important for mental health and wellbeing; it reduces feelings of loneliness or isolation. A Liberate Dance member says,

“I’ve always been a very social person but I feel like I’ve massively widened my friendship circle for the better as I wasn’t friends with many other wheelchair users before dance”.