Dance and health

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Dance and health has been subject of a number of research studies which show dance to be a very healthy exercise. However there are a number of health risks of professional dance which require careful attention. As part of courtship dance is a reliable indicator of the dancer's health and intelligence.

Contents

[edit] Dance benefits

As for sports medicine most of the research has been on the effects of dance on ill people.

Being a physical activity, it brings well known benefits, such as reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, weight control and other ones, commonly associated with physical fitness. In addition, a considerable effect of dancing on psychological well-being is noted. However, as Arts Council England noted in its 2004 address to British House of Commons,[1] most of evidence in support of these claims is of anecdotal character, and the Arts Council argued that "more needs to be done to demonstrate the specific and special benefits, and extend the delivery, of dance in a range of health contexts."

An Italian study in 2006 has shown that dance is a very good exercise for heart patients compared to other aerobic exercises like cycling. This may be partly because the patients enjoyed it much more.[2][3]

A study in New York in 2003 has shown that cognitive activities like crosswords help ward off dementia but, except for ballroom dancing, most physical activities do not.[4] [5]

Dance pads have proven useful in tackling obesity in young people and are welcomed in many schools for that reason.[6]

[edit] Risks of dance

Dance can be very demanding - health risks of professional dance describes the various problems which affect young dancers and professionals. As well as sports injuries and workplace stress, dancers have a higher than average risk of body image problems and eating disorders. The article also describes steps that should be taken to avoid problems.

[edit] Good practice

Even for social dance the use of a sprung floor is recommended.[7]

Warming up and cooling down exercises are recommended before and after exercises to avoid strain, muscle pains, and possible injury.[8]

[edit] Dance and courtship

Dance has long been recognised as a way for prospective partners to select each other. Isadora Duncan said of dance that it needed 'the highest intelligence in the freest body'. Recent studies show how much can be conveyed by dance:

An article in Nature 'Dance reveals symmetry especially in young men' shows that dance in Jamaica seems to show evidence of sexual selection and to reveal important information about the dancer.[9] [10] Professor Lee Cronk at Rutgers says: "More symmetrical men put on a better show, and women notice". Symmetry is a strong indicator of fitness as it shows developmental stability.

A Swedish study shows that people who score high on intelligence tests are also good at keeping time.[11][12]. This shows that dance and playing music demonstrate the intelligence of the performer.

[edit] Related occupations

Dance therapy or dance movement therapy is a form of expressive therapy, the psychotherapeutic use of movement (and dance) for treating emotional, cognitive, social, behavioural and physical conditions.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Memorandum submitted by Arts Council England to the House of Commons Committee on Culture, Media and Sport
  2. ^ America Heart Association Heart failure patients can waltz their way to healthier hearts
  3. ^ Heart Care -February 2007 Waltzing Your Way to a Stronger Heart
  4. ^ New England Journal of Medicine Leisure Activities and the Risk of Dementia in the Elderly
  5. ^ [http://www.bupa.co.uk/health_information/html/health_news/300603dance.html BUPA investigative news] How to reduce dementia risk
  6. ^ Games on Deck Games For Health 2006: Dance Dance… Revolution in Fitness!
  7. ^ Harkness Centre for Dance Injuries Common Dance Injuries
  8. ^ Adapted Physical Education and Sport By Joseph P. Winnick 2005 ISBN 073605216X Chapter 15 Science behind Accurate Exercise Programs
  9. ^ http://grail.cs.washington.edu/projects/dance-symmetry/ Dance Symmetry Project
  10. ^ [http://anthro.rutgers.edu/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=166 Dance reveals symmetry especially in young men.] Brown, William M., Lee Cronk, Amy Jacobson, Keith Grochow, C. Karen Liu, Zoran Popovic, and Robert Trivers. 2005. Nature 438: 1148-1150
  11. ^ Intelligence and rhythmic accuracy go hand in hand
  12. ^ Fredrik Ullén, Lea Forsman, Örjan Blom, Anke Karabanov och Guy Madison. Intelligence and variability in a simple timing task share neural substrates in the prefrontal white matter. The Journal of Neuroscience, 16 april 2008