Give Ballroom Dancing a Whirl

learn-ballroom-dancing

Try this today

• Ask around. Find out from friends who have taken ballroom-dance classes what the best options are near you.
• Join a group. Find out if there’s a USA Dance chapter in your area by checking usadance.org. If you’re near one, attend a chapter social dance. They occur frequently and often begin with a one-hour dance lesson.
• Find out more. While at a chapter social dance, introduce yourself to a chapter officer and ask for help getting started. Ask about options in your area for instruction or social dances.
• Try other options. If you’re not near a chapter, try finding ballroom classes offered by other groups, such as:
  · Local college continuing education programs
  · City or county recreation departments
  · Organizations such as the YWCA, community centers, or Elks or Moose lodges
• Find a meetup. Search for dance groups or classes on the group-activity site Meetup.com.

Why

Ever wonder how people are able to remember all of the hundreds of steps in a dance or workout routine? Dancing requires the brain to problem solve using a technique called pattern recognition. This enables you to group small movements in memorable and repeatable patterns that form the sequence for the dance. Thanks to the ability to recognize patterns, humans can coordinate complex steps, direction changes, use of space and timing in a precise manner to come together as a harmonious dance. And it turns out that putting on your dancing shoes doesn’t just keep you physically agile; it ensures you stay intellectually nimble as well.

 

As much of a mental exercise as a physical one, dancing keeps the mind sharp. A September 2011 study found that dancing as you age increases the brain’s mental flexibility — the ability to switch attention between one task and another — known to decline even in high-functioning older adults. Another benefit of ballroom dancing is that it enhances a tangible sense of “togetherness.” Partner dancing creates a special form of joint improvisation; the fast-paced, interactive experience of moving together promotes social connectedness and strengthens the brain areas devoted to social intelligence.