There are a couple myths that I think a lot of people have about dance, whether they realize it or not. When I first took over Centerstage, I was surprised when people asked if I “used to” dance. As a 32 year-old and a Middle Eastern dancer, my dance career was far from being over. However, this question made me realize that many people believe that dancing is only for the very young. When I was in college, my grandmother asked me what I wanted to do with my life, and so I told her that I wanted to be a professional dancer. She exclaimed, “But, Dearie, you wouldn’t be using your mind!” And here we have Myth #2 - that dance is good for the body but not so much for the mind. Or put even more harshly, dancers are oftentimes dumb. As a society that values higher education and intellect, I think dance is often devalued as a sort of fluffy pastime.
The truth of the matter is that dance isn’t just for kids, and it doesn’t just benefit the body. According to a study done in
2003, dancing regularly (at least twice a week) can drastically reduce your chances of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. Researchers have found that regular physical activity causes the brain to release extra chemicals that build nerve cells, and dancing in particular helps the brain maintain memory skills.
It seems to me that dancing, in any style, is the best form of exercise around, and it is something that we should do at all
stages of our life, whether professionally or socially.