Teenagers, adults, and senior citizens struggle with various mental health issues, depression, burnouts, anxiety, and more, are real and valid struggles perceived to be growing exponentially nowadays.
This growth has resulted in a respective rise of therapies and alternative therapies such as Dance therapy.
By definition, Dance therapy is the use of movement as a psychotherapeutic method to promote cognitive, mental, emotional, and even social integration.
Alongside the physical benefits, such as increased flexibility and balance, Dance therapy aims to help individuals struggling with psychological and mental problems to reduce stress, boost their self esteem, and even reduce the symptoms related to depression and anxiety.

‘Dance Therapy is a creative art psychotherapy that utilizes movement and dance to support the physical, intellectual, and emotional health of an individual’

Katie Bohn, a board-certified dance/movement therapist.

Dance Therapy: History and facts :

People have used dance as therapy for thousands of years, viewing it as a healing ritual in various situations and occasions.

Yet, somewhere between 1840 and 1930 the use of dance in mental health improvement has known a new philosophy, mainly in Europe and the united states, assuming that dancing, other than it being a form of art, it helps the dancer -the mover- to express themselves, their feelings, and basically what they are going through.

For example, during a wedding or birth ceremony, people dance with huge smiles, and you can feel the strong positive vibe from miles away. On the other hand, in a spiritual, religious, or even a funeral there is a whole different vibe where sadness, seriousness, and worshipness can be reigning in the atmosphere. People may introduce spiritual moves – or dances technically- that you might have goosebumps witnessing.

These situations prove that dancing and mental health are linked and go hand in hand, regardless of dance being a synonym to happiness nowadays.

Black people revolution through Art and Dance:

Another example of dance and its relationship with psychological and mental health well being, is the Black art movement where the Afro-Americans started a whole activism movement through art in the 20th century. 

Rap as music and break dance as a dance style along with poetry were forms of communication the african-american community used to express their oppression and the racism they were going through. Especially through choreographies, where choreographers tended to incorporate their protest, resulting in an acceptance, where all the colors, ethnicities, and races, ended up embracing the black art movement and ever since, other dancers started adopting the dance style.
In that period, the African-American dance has developed significantly as a form of revolution and art.

How does dancing affect the Brain:

Now that we kind of agree that dancing is not always related to happiness, and in fact, it can express depression, oppression or even sadness, let’s see how dancing affects the brain and more specifically what are the mental health benefits of dance.

There is an amazing, magical relationship between the brain and the body: The brain controls, and the body responds. Their relationship intertwines, with each working in harmony.

Therapists use dance therapy in rehabs, prisons, and mental health centers because dancing boosts the brain and mental well-being, both short-term and long-term. People can also use it as preventative therapy, as it helps to:

• Reduce and relieve stress

• Enhance the mood

• Reduce the risk of depression

• Reduce the early symptoms of anxiety

Dancing is like any other sport with more of a positive vibe, acceptance, and motivation as it includes music of different types, but what happens while dancing is the increase of the dopamine levels while cortisol decreases.

Cortisol is a hormone that comes with stress and rises when you’re in “fight or flight” mode. On the other hand, dopamine is the “happy hormone” that helps fight stress. Just so you know, high cortisol levels are often a result to depression and anxiety.

Now on the long term, let’s dive on how dancing can improve self image, boost confidence, and help increase self esteem.

Dancing is a good option for individuals looking to improve the way they see themselves, physically, it works balance, coordination, and muscle strength and endurance which causes a change in the body composition, posture, and even reduces the fat and increases the lean body mass in some cases.

Dancers can start noticing these changes in as little as 8 weeks, boosting their pride and confidence in their body’s strength and overall appearance.

For example, individuals—especially women—who take high heels and belly dance classes often embrace their feminine energy. These dance styles focus on sexy hip movements, charming posture, and graceful body touches, helping unlock their full feminine potential.

Mental health benefits of social dancing:

Social dancing as a dance therapy: Definition

Social dancing is a type of dance performed by pairs or dance groups in a relaxed climate, for enjoyment and social interactions rather than competition.
Typically, the social dance is based on a set of contemporary dance basics and rhythms where a leader initiates the move and a follower catches up to create a connected and synchronized dance.

Social nights nowadays are very common all over the world, and include styles from all over the world.
Bachata from the Dominican Republic, Salsa from Cuba, Zouk from Brazil, Kizomba from Angola, and Tango from Argentina are just a few examples of popular partnered dances. However, the origins of dance partnering date back to the 15th century in Germany.

Social dancing as a dance therapy: features

The key features of social dance is the focus on personal interaction, where the emphasis is often on enjoying the company of others, learning new movements, and expressing oneself through dance, which is a process than can help people reduce social anxiety, as you discover that people mean no harm and they are there to share a positive vibe without asking personal questions and invading your personal space, factors that usually tend to make people with social anxiety uncomfortable and alert.

Social dancing promotes non-verbal communication. Eye contact, smooth physical touch, and gentle leads serve as the primary ways of communicating, helping strengthen the connection between the body and brain. This enhances your sense of identity and boosts your confidence.

>Also, in the learning process, as soon as the social dancer learns a new move, they gain a sense of achievement fostering improved self-worth.
>Dancing, and particularly social styles that involve learning patterns, can enhance concentration and help combat cognitive decline, making it beneficial for older adults as well. Furthermore, the wait of the lead requires a huge focus which helps as well with concentration and help reduce the time of reaction as the social dancers tend to focus more in order to keep their sync and connection.

Conclusion:

As a dance instructor and personal trainer, and as I struggled a lot with mental health, I consider myself a great example of how Dance can be used as therapy to improve both mental and physical well being, whereas my focus is on the mental and psychological benefits.

While dance therapy should be led by professionals, the mental health benefits of dance aren’t limited to therapy sessions. You can start on your own at home, just play some music and vibe.

If you have the budget, you can also attend dance classes of your choice. The key is to start. Don’t hesitate, or feel scared or shy, just dive in! And remember, dancers never judge!

Note: If you are struggling with mental health, please refer to a professional or a good friend, don’t be silent about it, and keep in mind that your feelings are valid no matter what they are.