Dancing incorporates complex movements and motor learning, creative expression and interpersonal communication. Dancing activates many areas of the brain, including those not typically involved in movement.
Areas of the brain that are most affected by aging can be stimulated and rewired to stay alert and functioning properly. Trying new things like dancing, creates new pathways in the brain and helps improve mental capabilities.
If you keep many brain pathways active while simultaneously generating new ones, you help maintain your brain’s health and fitness. Dancing requires you to constantly learn new steps, engaging your brain and helping to rewire it.
Dancers also need to recognize patterns and think about what their next move will be. One of the reasons dancing helps improve cognitive abilities is that dancers are required to make many split-second decisions, causing people to use their critical thinking skills frequently and repeatedly.
In addition to making your brain work, dancers frequently report reduced stress and depression and increased energy. Dancing helps you get exercise, makes you more confident and helps you look and feel younger—both physically and mentally
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