Time of your life
I’s one of the worst kept secrets in Hollywood. A sequel to the 1987 hit movie Dirty Dancing is in the works for 2024 with Jennifer Grey set to reprise her role as Frances “Baby” Houseman.
In the 35 years since the cult movie took the world by storm, dance has become more popular than ever. From TV shows such as Dancing With The Stars to biopics about ballet icons like Rudolph Nureyev, the art form once dismissed as elitist is everywhere.
And the good news is that dancing is not only fun, but great for your health.
“Dancing has become one of the best alternatives to exercise and to get your cardio workout,” dancer, choreographer and fitness consultant Daniel Jaime says. “It improves cardiovascular health, strength, co-ordination, focus, memory recall, balance and flexibility.”
In a 2021 umbrella review in the journal Plos One the authors analysed 33 systematic reviews, along with nine epidemiological and 87 descriptive studies on the health benefits of music and dance. It concluded that as little as 30-60 minutes per week of regular participation was linked to a lineup of health benefits.
The hip-grinding moves made famous by Dirty Dancing are a sensuous fusion of Latin dance styles including the tango, cha-cha, and mambo, but you can benefit from virtually any form of dance.
“Dance can be as gentle or as physical as you need,” Jaime says. “You can exert yourself simply from concentrating on your breathing and posture as much as you do through ough a more physical workout.”
Jaime has as created Baila (baila.com.au), a dance workout incorporating ncorporating several styles les through 10 basic steps, eps, and which can be enjoyed solo lo or with a partner. ner.
“Ten simple mple steps allow w anyone to learn how to dance, nce, and to exercise without feeling they y are working out ut while having fun,” ,” he says. “Baila is for or anyone of any culture, ure, age and experience. ence. We have parents nts who love to do it with h their kids, and we have ve experienced dancers using ing it as a way to try out new styles.”
Clinical psychologist and author r Tracey Zielinski is a fan of dancing for r good health.
“Dancing, ng, whether structured ructured or free-form, alone or in company, has some fabulous
mental health benefits,” benefits, she sh says. “They include improving mood, reducing stress, reducing depression, encouraging mindfulness, shifting your mind from ruminating thoughts, thou and encouraging creativity.”
Zielinski says say there’s also an emotional emotio benefit. “As dancing da releases tension tensio from your body, emotional em distress tends tend to ease,” she explains. “Physically, Physica dancing also helps coordination ordi and balance, wh which can have a positive imp impact on your mental health. If you feel physically balanced, balan you are more likely to feel fe emotionally balanced.” balance Dancing is also social so and inclusive regardless of your body type or experience. experie “It is possible to dance in your seat or on your feet,” she says. “Moving to music is i dancing, and danc dancing is exercise made fun. fun My 83year-old mother took up
line dancing when she was 77. She says it’s fabulous for her brain and her body.”
Sara Lim is head of marketing for Rosemary Health and started dancing seriously at 19.
“When I started partner social dancing, like salsa and bachata, that’s when I really started to fall in love with dancing,” she says. “I especially love Brazilian zouk, and I’ve committed a lot of personal training time to get good at it.”
Lim’s love of dance has lead her to teach classes as well as dancing socially twice a week.
“I’m fortunate that my life
partner is also my dance partner,” says the 31-year-old.
“Our living room has a good floor space … we purposely make way for dancing anytime at home.”
The benefits are both physical and mental. “Dancing makes my heart sing and no matter what type of day I have, it seems to melt away all troubles,” says Lim.
“I also care about my physical fitness because we only have one body in this life.
“Exercising via dance is not difficult and social dancing is so fun! So you have tonnes of fun while giving your body a great workout.”