Dancing as Stress Management
D a nce ca n b e us ed in s o m a ny w a ys . O ne of th e fu nction s of a da n ce is to relieve s tres s . In a ble for u s
to a void chronic illnes s or disea s es , we opted to s eek a ctivities tha t m a y hel p us to ha ve a he a lthy living .
A void ing s tres s ca n m a k e ou r life ea s y a nd m u ch m ore fu n. T hrou gh da ncing w e lea d to a h ea lthy l ifestyle .
D a nce is p urp ose fu l. It p la ys a vita l role for s elf-exp ress ion a nd h a s b een p a rt of ritu a ls a nd relig iou s
g a th ering s. It is a lso p a rt of ou r cul tu re a nd tra ditions th rou g hou t the ye a rs . It wa s pa s s ed in to one
g enera tion into a noth er gene ra tion . Its fu nctio ns b eco m e so w ide tha t it ca n even h elp in ou r da ily life.
H ow fa r ca n da nce g o in term s of rel ieving s tres s ? D a nce is a form o f exercis e. It p rovides p rop er b ody
coordina tion, m obil ity a nd redu ces tens ion in th e b ody. It ca l m s ou r m ind a nd relea s es toxins in ou r b ody.
3 Ways Dancing Relieves Stress
Th ere is a rea s on wh y Kevin B a con s lide s, jum ps a nd ch a ss és a cro ss a n e m p ty w a re hou se . To relie ve h is
teena g e dra m a a nd s tres s ! A l l of his cla s sm a tes , g etting th e cha nce to da nce for th e firs t tim e a t their p rom ,
look ed m ore lik e fre ed pris oners tha n teena g ers fill ed with a ngs t.
W h y?
Th ey w ere relieving th eir s tress th roug h da ncin g!
W h a t is it a b out da ncing th a t m a k es us a ll feel so free a nd re lieved of ou r eve ryda y s tre ss es ?
1. WHEN THE BODY FEELS GOOD, THE MIND DOES, TOO!
Th e s cientific rea s on for wh y da nce h a s th e a b il ity to a ct a s a s tres s reliever s te m s from th e idea tha t
w hen th e b ody feel s good, the m ind does , too. A ny typ e of p hy sica l a ctivity rel ea se s n eurotra nsm itters a nd
endorp hin s w hich serve to a llevia te s tres s. Neu rotra ns m itters a re chem ica ls w ith in the b ra in tha t hel p
com m u nica te m es sa g es th rou gh ou t the b ody. E ndorph ins a re the bod y’ s na tura l pa inkiller to reduce stres s
a nd im p rove the m ind’ s pe rcep tion of th e world. T hu s, a fter a g ood work out th e endorph ins ca u se the b ody to
feel ca lm a nd o ptim istic. T he e ndorp h ins a lso a id in im proving th e qu a lity of s leep , s o th a t a few sl eep les s
nig h ts due to stres s ca n be a voided a fter da n cin g!
2. DANCE OFFERS A CREATIVE OUTLET FOR PEOPLE TO EXPRESS THEIR PERSONALITIES IN A SAFE
ENVIRONMENT
Y ou r work environm ent is n’ t a lw a ys to b es t pl a ce to exp res s wh o you rea l ly a re. M ore often th a n not,
you need to b e a m ore bu tton ed up vers ion of yo urse lf a nd h ide m u ch of your inner se lf. D a ncing offe rs a n outlet
for p eop le to exp re ss wh o they a re– – th rou g h m u s ic, m ovem e nt or even cos tu m es ! D a ncing he lps you con nect
to wh o you rea lly a re. Le a ve tha t s uit or p encil s kirt a t th e office a nd tra de it in for s p a rk les a nd sp a ndex!
3. DANCING IMPROVES YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH
F rom weigh t los s, to increa se d fl exib ility , s trong er bon es a nd b uil ding m u scle tone , da ncing is a tota l
b ody work out.
D a ncing ca n b e a w a y to sta y fit for peop le of a ll a g es, s h a pes a nd size s. It h a s a w ide ra ng e of p hys ica l a nd
m en ta l b enefits incl uding:
1 . Im proved cond ition of you r hea rt a n d l ung s
2 . Increa s ed m us cul a r s treng th, en dura nce a nd m otor fitnes s
3. Incre a sed a e rob ic fitne ss
4 . Im proved m u scle tone a nd streng th
5 . W eig h t m a n a gem ent
6 . Stro nger bo nes a nd redu ced ris k of os teo poros is
7 . B etter coordina tion, a g ility a n d flex ibility
8 . Im proved ba la n ce a nd s pa tia l a w a renes s
9 . Increa s ed ph ysica l confiden ce
1 0. Im p roved m e nta l fu nctio ning
1 1. Im p roved g enera l a nd ps ychol ogica l w ell b eing
1 2. G rea ter s elf-confidence a nd se lf- esteem
1 3. B e tter socia l s k ills .
Elements of Dance:
1 . Space – it is th e a re a th e perform ers occu p y a nd w h ere th ey m ove.
Sp a tia l E lem ents:
a . direction – da nce m ovem e nts ca n tra ve l in a ny direction
b . size – m ovem en ts can be varied by doing larger or sm aller a ctions
c. level – m ovem ents can be do ne in a h igh, m edium or low level
d. focus – perform ers m a y ch a nge th eir focus by l ooking a t diffe rent directions .
2 . Timing – exe cu ted in va rying tem p o
Speed – m ea n s tem p o
Pulse or beat – tem p o o f a n un derl ying sou nd.
3 . Dance Energies – m ove m ent prop elled b y energy or fo rce.
Six Qualities of dance energies:
a . sustained – m ovem ents a re done sm oothly, continu ou sl y a nd w ith flow a nd control.
b . percussive – m ove m ents a re exp los ive or s ha rp in contra st with su s ta ined m ovem e nts .
c. vibratory – m ove m ents cons is t of trem bling or sh a king.
d. swinging – m o vem ents tra ce a curved line or an arc in space
e. suspended – m ovem ents are perched in spa ce o r h anging on air
f. collapsing – m ovem en ts a re rele a sed in tens ion a ndg ra dua l ly or a b rup tl y giving in to
gra vity, letting th e b ody des cend to th e floo r.
4 . Bodily Shapes – r efers to h ow th e en tire bod y is mo ld ed in space o r th e configuration of body parts.
a . symmetrical – bala nced sha pe; m o vem en ts are practically identical or sim ilar on both sides.
b . asymmetrical – u nba l a nce d s h a pe; m ovem e nts of tw o s ide sof th e b ody do not m a tch or
com ple tel y differently from ea ch other.
5 . Group Shapes – a g rou p of da ncers pe rform m ovem e nts in differe nt g ro up s h a pes .
a . symmetrical, narrow group shape
b . asymmetrical group shape
