Why is Dancing Good for the Brain?

Most people thought of dance as just a form of entertainment and source of pleasure. Good thing is it’s all changing because scientists are now paying attention to the neurological effects of dancing.

After all, dancing stimulates and makes use of several different brain regions such as the motor cortex, basal ganglia and the cerebellum. The positive effects could be more pronounced in children because of their rapid development. In addition, the child’s early years is the period when the core brain architecture is being built.

More than just physical exercise

Dancing is a good way to sweat and keep the blood flowing. We humans are just built to move and even our blood, muscles and bones agree with that. Without much movement, we begin to stagnate and even jeopardise our entire health.

This also applies to children who are undergoing rapid physical and brain development. Laptops, smartphones and game consoles often encourage a sedentary lifestyle. Instead of going out to play, more and more kids just sit or lie down for hours every day. This should never be the case because aside from affecting their health, that early way of living could solidify a lifelong habit.

Any kind of movement is better than doing nothing at all. Although there are optimal ways of improving physical health such as jogging and performing other exercises, dancing is still one of the top choices. That’s because dancing is just much more fun than jogging alone. In addition, there’s that social benefit especially if you’re performing in a group. You can clearly see that when you watch kids practice and perform on stage.

Moreover, while dancing actually there are a lot of things that happen in the body and the brain. For instance, neural connections get stronger and physical movements are just good for the brain. A healthy mind goes with a healthy body. It’s just easier to gain mental clarity if your physical body is in top condition.

Why is dancing good for the brain

When kids learn how to dance, they don’t just learn how to do specific movements. They also develop balance and spatial awareness. In addition, new neural connections are being formed which could be the foundations of the child’s long-term learning.

Other forms of physical movement and exercise such as jogging, swimming, basketball and other sports have their own physical and cognitive benefits. Good thing with dancing is that kids also get exposed to the performing arts and this helps with their creative expression and development.

That’s our approach here at Dance on Q. We help children find delight in dancing whether it’s ballet, jazz, tap or musical theatre. Our qualified instructors with commercial and theatrical experience accomplish this through proper and disciplined instruction while maintaining a fun and friendly atmosphere. Contact us today for more information about our dance classes.