The power of dance is underestimated – it keeps me healthy and my anxiety at bay
telegraph.co.ukballet classes akin to meditation. First, because the music, whether pre-recorded or played live by a pianist, is so spirit-lifting – it might be Tchaikovsky, it might be a classical take on The Flintstones, but it’s a fast ticket out of reality.
Secondly, the very nature of the exercises means that you have to put your worries to one side and concentrate hard. Because while the individual steps correspond to a learnt universal language, the order in which the teacher links them together changes every time.
All you get is a quick demo, an even faster recap – and you’re on. It’s daunting, but it’s superb training for your memory.In fact, it has been found that dancing – for example, ballroom, Latin or salsa – can raise mood, increase flexibility and support cognition in healthy older adults.
The multisensory stimulation and social interaction, coupled with learning new sequences of movements, perhaps while anticipating and reacting to cues from a partner, can bolster brain health.
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