People take ballroom dance lessons for many different reasons. You choose to dance partly to impress, and partly to burn those excess calories. Then of course, it won’t matter all that much if you just can’t have fun with it. Many studies have proven the beneficial effects of dancing to a person’s physique, as well as his or her emotional and mental well-being, but did you also know that dancing can make you smarter? That’s right! According to an article from Stanford University’s Dance Division, dancing is one of the best mental exercises for your brain—so if you’re looking for more reasons to start taking classes on ballroom dance in Duluth, there’s no better excuse than this one.

Science Says So

A major study led by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine determined that dancing increases the brain’s cognitive functions and help keep the effects of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease at bay. People who have engaged in frequent dancing have been found to score the highest among other physical activities in reducing risks of developing dementia, at 76 percent.

Aging and memory often go hand in hand. As you age, your memory is likely to get cloudier but keeping your brain busy can create new neural paths to help you access stored information. In short, physical activities like dancing can help preserve your memories better. Studies also found that women have more to take away from dancing compared to men. This is because in a dance duo between a man and a woman, the woman takes on the role of the follower. This means that she interprets the signals her partner gives her and makes decisions in a few split seconds in response to that, exercising the area of the brain that deals with decision making.

Be in a Better Mood

So aside from sharpening one’s tools of memory, decision-making, and cognitive functions, ballroom dancing, by the intense release of energy, manifestly helps uplift one’s mood. Munching on a chocolate bar can give you a shot of a mood boost, but dancing does that on a whole different level. Examined Existence, in its article that highlighted the connection between dancing and the brain, highlighted that dancing helps reduce one’s stress levels, and thus, minimize chemical or hormonal factors that trigger depression. The raised serotonin levels can provide the body a major energy boost. This way, the more you dance, the more effective you can move and work, without feeling drained of your powers.

Apparently, ballroom dancing in Duluth, MN is more than just a sweaty workout. If you haven’t started yet, there’s no time like the present. Visit your local dance studio like Superior Ballroom Dance Studio, and dance your way to better physical and mental health.

Sources
Use It or Lose It: Dancing Makes You Smarter, Stanford University Dance Division
Dancing Helps the Brain Function Better, www.ExaminedExistence.com
5 Things You Didn’t Know Could Make You Smarter, www.Cracked.com