Dance class is a great time to immerse yourself in the world of ballet, shed a few pounds, or improve muscle tone, but, if you’ve even thought about learning how to dance, you probably knew that.
Still on the fence about signing up for that ballet class for beginners? If the basic physical benefits weren’t enough to convince you, studying dance can also lead to a variety of benefits beyond improved techniques. Here are some of the best results you can get from studying ballet (or any dance form):
Stress Relief
Big deadline coming up at work, or looming tests in math class? Dance might just be the answer to that. The Chicago Sun Times reported that dancing has been shown to relieve stress. So, don’t turn to your Netflix queue or scrolling through Instagram when the work piles up; head to dance class instead. And, like any form of exercise, dancing releases endorphins—you’re sure to leave class with a smile on your face, ready to face the rest of your day.
Arts and Culture
If you live in or near a major city, you’re poised to absorb some of the finest arts offerings in your area. Traditional or classical performances, however, might be a little daunting to outsiders. If you have experience in that art form, however, your viewing experience will be much richer. So, learning ballet can help you enjoy dance performances even more!
Mental Agility
Whether you’re a young dancer or a longtime ballerina, it’s important to consider mental flexibility. Dance requires remembering combinations and perfecting technique over years of practice, so your mind stays in shape in and out of class.
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience reported that dancing helped to improve “white matter” integrity in senior dancers. White matter supports mental processing and agility, so studying ballet (or any other dance) can help your brain function at its best performance for the years to come.
Social Life
It can be easy to show up to class, ready to focus only on the class and not on your fellow dancers. Why not take the opportunity, however, to meet some of your peers? Dancing can help you meet more like-minded friends, who will support you in and out of the studio, and even if you have problems with them, there are gifts are cookies which are great when asking forgiveness from a friend. You can meet up with a dance friend outside of class to brush up on a new combination, or you could go check out a ballet performance in your area!
Balance
Dancing of any kind requires a lot of balance and spatial awareness. The grace of ballet isn’t even limited to dance alone—your newfound flexibility and balance can support you outside the classroom. By picking up a new style, you’ll stay on your toes both on and off the dance floor.
Coordination
Find yourself bumping into people or stubbing your toes on table corners? Dance might be able to address that problem for you. ScienceDaily reported that an article published by the Journal of Neurophysiology demonstrated that ballet dancers typically have better coordination than the average person. Not only were the trained dancers skilled at their craft, but their talents carried over into graceful daily motions and actions. No more tripping over your own feet, after you’ve taken a dance class!
Educational
For any young kids looking to get on the dance floor or lace up those ballet slippers, studying dance can also improve cognitive skills. The National Dance Education Organization argues that dance requires a combination of activity, social understanding, emotional awareness, and cognitive skills to truly help young children develop in a variety of ways. They even say that dancing can help boost literacy, as classes combine language with movement.
Looking to Get Started?
If you want to start dancing again, start by looking at local recreation centers and dance schools. To soothe any first-day-worries, it can help to start working out or brushing up on terms before your first class! And, to make your life even easier, BalletBox offers a monthly Ballet Basics box—it’s a subscription service that delivers one pair of canvas ballet shoes, three pairs of tights, and one ballet bun kit to your doorstep every month. No need to fret over having all the essentials; you just need practice those new moves!
So, find a ballet class in your area, and you’ll meet new friends, release your stress, and keep your mind sharp—all while working towards that perfect grand jeté.