The Expression of the Soul: The Health Benefits of Dance
Jamilynne Johnson
December 1, 2015
Northshore High School
English IV
Mrs. Catherine Tanguis
Jamilynne Johnson
Mrs. Tanguis
English IV / 2nd
29 November 2015
The Expression of the Soul: The Health Benefits of Dance
The stage was dark except for the one dancer standing in the middle of the stage. She was
wearing her noticeably worn black Capezio lace-up tap shoes. The music begins playing and her
feet start. They move and perform the steps. She wasn’t controlling her feet, the music was. She
had performed this solo a million times, but she always received the same joy each time. She
loved tap. She loved to dance. It had been her passion since the age of two. Of all the things she
could’ve picked, she chose to dance. Of all the activities in the world one could choose to engage
in, dance is fairly unknown to those who participate in it. What is dance actually doing to the
body? Is dance beneficial in any way? Dance and all its aspects should be discovered to provide
the best awareness to all who belong to this beautiful and exciting world. Accordingly, through
the study of the benefits of dance, it can be demonstrated that dancers are prone to living a
healthier life by improving their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Dance has been split into styles so as to avoid confusion to others. The different dance
styles are used to place certain steps and dances into groups. Ballet is the style most well-known.
There are many ballet companies in the world that travel and perform. Ballet is known for its
pointe shoes and pointe dances. Pointe is considered ballet, but can be considered a style in itself.
Another famous style of dance is tap. The definition of tap is rhythmical sounds made with one’s
feet. Tap is performed with specific shoes that have metal plates screwed in the shoes at the heel
and the ball of the foot. Another popular style of dance is contemporary. Contemporary is a mix
of lyrical and jazz. Rather than unique steps, contemporary utilizes previously learned steps from
various other styles of dance. Contemporary involves improvisation. For this reason, it is the
style that is the most popular. Hip hop is a style that is also well-known. Hip hop is probably one
of the most diverse styles. It contains sub styles within the one broad style. Hip hop can be many
different things at the same time. Within the major hip hop style, the different sub styles can
include animation, tutting, breaking, house, and many others. Besides these popular styles of
dance, there are many others in the world. However, it all depends on the place because the way
dance is split up and described depends on the culture. Different cultures take dance and come up
with different styles based on the culture. Overall, dance is a major influence on the societies of
the world.
However, many dancers throughout the world are unaware of the benefits they are
actually receiving from dancing. Dance provides many health benefits for those who pursue
dance. Dance, physically, provides the body with beneficial aspects. Dance can aid the dancer in
achieving a healthy body. Dance helps the body lose weight so as to maintain a healthy body
weight. Pursuing dance for a long enough period of time can effect a dancer’s flexibility and
balance. Dancing is one of the few activities that helps the body gain flexibility. Elders have
“shown improvements in gait, walking speed, and reaction time” after taking dance classes (“The
Many Benefits of Dance”). According to Lisa Hesson, a licensed and registered occupational
therapist, the most influential benefits from dance are “the facilitation of strength, endurance,
balance, and coordination.” Those all are imperative to making the body healthy. Along with
making the body healthy, dance makes the body systems that make the body function stronger
and healthier. Dance, according to Hesson, “allows all bodily functions from our heart to our
bowel functions to move stronger and smoother.” Dance effects body systems such as the
cardiovascular, respiratory, and muscular systems. Specifically, ballet incorporates the muscular
system and “challenges kids to a level that encourages them to use all muscles in the body to a
whole new level” (Hesson). Another example can be children with euro-musculature deficits.
These children with brain damage use “muscles that are required to perform tap…that are
affected negatively” due to their disability (Hesson). The cardiovascular and respiratory systems
are improved due to the strenuous effort put into dance that improves the body’s heart and lungs.
The leaping, jumping, and traveling, done throughout class, requires large amounts of stamina to
continuously move. While dance is physically beneficial, dance also effects the brain.
Dance has been proven to significantly increase the function of the brain. Most brain
functions are actually effected by dance. Dance directly effects the “cerebellum which controls
balance and coordination” (Hesson). Accordingly, “ two recent studies show how different types
of practice allow dancers to achieve peak performance by blending cerebral and cognitive
thought processes with muscle memory and ‘proprioception’ held in the cerebellum” (Bergland).
The area of the brain that controls sensory input and motor output, the pre-central and postcentral gyrus of our cerebrum “affects balance and equilibrium which is controlled throughout
our brain” (Hesson). Dancing maximizes brain function. Dance "is not only physically
demanding" (Bergland). It has been proven that dance can have a major impact on the processing
of information. There are possibilities that dance develops “new neural pathways to get around
dopamine-depleted blockages” (Tucker). Dance has “alerted researchers to the memory
structures and processing strategies underlying skilled performance” due to “recall and
recognition paradigms” (Ericsson et al 477). Dancers are known as being strong in the memory
parts of their brain. This is true, for dance improves the dancer’s ability to remember things.
Remembering a set of choreography "requires concentration on many aspects of the desired
performance" (Bergland). Many dancers “encode steps…resulting in superior retention”
(Ericsson et al 499). Dancers are required to remember hundreds even thousands of steps and
combinations of steps. Dancers remember dances for long periods of time. Dances are like
annoying commercials: you hear them enough to where you get tired of them, but you'll never
forget them. Memory is one thing many older people wish they could retain. Dancers have a
higher chance of retaining their memory into old age and preventing dementia. Not only is dance
benefitting the brain, but it is proven to stabilize people’s emotional state as well.
The emotional well-being of dancers is proven to be higher than others who don't dance.
Studies have shown that dancers have more positive dispositions and are less likely to fall into
depression. Dance “affects…anxiety levels and releases endorphins to calm…and reduce pain”
(Hesson). These chemicals released in the brain prevent the effect of depression to reach the
brain. Dancers are seen as having “the fewest depression symptoms and the most vitality”
(Knight). Along with depression, dance helps to prevent stress in dancers. Dance allows anyone
to "reduce depression, anxiety, and stress and boost self-esteem, body images, coping ability, and
overall sense of well-being" (”The Many Benefits of Dance”). It is even suggested as a
"treatment for people with depression and anxiety" (“The Many Benefits of Dance”). Positivity
is radiated throughout any dance class or studio, for dance provides the opportunity to gain
confidence and self-esteem as well as skills involving communication within groups. Many
children nowadays grow up not participating in activities requiring effort and goals. Of such
activities, dance is an excellent opportunity to learn and develop skills in setting and achieving
goals. For any dancer, whether dedicated to pursuing a future in dance or not, dance is a
wonderful way to implement not only exercise, but also “structured activity to keep kids focused
and goal directed” (Hesson). All these aspects provide a dancer with a positive outlook because a
dancer is less likely to mope and slump around during the day. Positivity can be stemmed from
the presence and association with friends. Friends make a difference in how an individual goes
about life. Participating in dance supplies a "perfect setting to make new friends and branch out
socially" (Knight). Friends and "being socially engaged leads to increased happiness, reduced
stress, and a stronger immune system" (Knight). Dancing presents an ideal opportunity for
anyone to improve themselves emotionally in a positive way.
Although there exists many benefits of dance, it is used throughout the world for specific
purposes. Dance is often suggested to patients to aid them in the healing process. Dance is
proven to aid cancer patients in their journey to recovery. Doctors want their patients to have
some exercise and activity in their life and dance is a fun way to incorporate it. Dance also aids
in the healing of disabled patients. Disabled patients, no matter the disability, always desire a fun
and healthy way to escape from the normality of their life. Dance provides a great way for
disabled patients to have fun while also building muscles and benefiting the body. The socially
impaired frequently hear suggestions to attend dance. Dance administers a healthy environment
where patients suffering with depression can find a way to become happy. Other socially
impaired individuals find themselves lacking friends. Lifelong friendships can be made through
dance, for this reason dance is suggested to those having troubles creating friends. School is
another aspect of a person’s life that can be benefitted by dance. Dance helps the memory and
processing of information in the brain. With the extra boost of brain activity, it is said to effect
test scores positively. Dance fits into many categories and the purposes for it are endless.
To be more specific, dance is used widely in the medical field for healing. Cancer
patients endure quite a great deal of change going through treatments. Cancer can cause the
patient to go through “extensive emotional, physical and social suffering” (Bradt et al). Many
arts and art therapies are suggested to cancer patients “to improve quality of life” (Bradt et al).
Accordingly, dance is used to “learn to accept and reconnect with their bodies, build new selfconfidence, enhance self-expression, address feelings of isolation, depression, anger, fear and
distrust and…improve range of arm motion” (Bradt et al). Cancer patients are encouraged to
attend dance classes or another art therapy classes. Additionally, disabled patients, such as those
with Cerebral Palsy, are also encouraged to attend dance classes. Disabled patients, in dance
classes, are able to use their bodies, muscles, and brain in ways they couldn't be used normally to
help handle and control the disability. For example, Lisa Hesson’s youngest daughter was born
with quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Lisa Hesson placed her daughter into dance classes when she
was young. Catherine Hesson, while attending dance classes, was able to “focus on cocontracting muscles to stand, tap, and perform…controlled movements” although she needed
assistance (Hesson). Dance “does allow her to practice repetitive movements which helps train
her neuro-plastic brain” (Hesson). With continuous practice, Catherine can eventually perform
on her own. She has made leaps and bounds within the last couple years thanks to several
surgeries and her attendance in dance classes. Dance proves to be a challenging and beneficial
activity for the brain. It has been said that dancing can improve brain function and even test
scores. Any art form allows the brain to begin “thinking critically and creatively” (Bean). Along
with the natural improvements to the body, dance “should control and allow for better focus and
concentration which…would naturally improve test scores” (Hesson). Dance can be used with
any condition.
There are many discoveries yet to be made for dance. The future holds many possibilities
for the advancement in dance. Dance continues to progress to where more styles are created and
more benefits are found. Honestly, dance is one of those activities that will never stop growing.
It is a creative expression that knows no boundaries. With physical growth also comes beneficial
growth through mentality and emotions. Dance proves to have many benefits to any individual.
It's a surprise that it isn't required in some form or another. Dance, whether competitive or not, is
fun. It surrounds our everyday lives. Music and sound is everywhere and thus so is dance. Dance,
in any aspect, is not about an expression of the body, but an expression of the soul, for dance is
the way we express feelings to another without saying a single word.
Word Count: 2,040
Works Cited
Bean, Megan. “Effective arts integration improves test scores.” Science Daily. 22 October 2013.
Web. 28 November 2015.
Bergland, Christopher. “Why Is Dancing So Good For Your Brain?” Psychology Today. 1
October 2013. Web. 15 April 2015.
Bradt J, Shim M, Goodill SW. “Dance/movement therapy for improving psychological and
physical outcomes in cancer patients.” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2015,
Issue 1. Web. 28 November 2015.
Ericsson, K. Anders, Neil Charness, Paul J. Feltovich, and Robert R. Hoffman, eds. The
Cambridge Handbook of Expertise and Expert Performance. 1st ed. New York, NY: Cambridge
University Press, 2006. Print.
Hesson, Lisa. Personal Interview. 9 November 2015.
Knight, Madeline. “9 Health Benefits of Dance.” Everyday Health. n.d. Web. 15 October 2015.
“The Many Health Benefits of Dance.” Berkeley Wellness. 20 November 2014. Web. 15 October
2015.
Tucker, Ian. “Peter Lovatt: ‘Dancing can change the way you think’.” The Guardian. 30 July
2011. Web. 12 April 2015.
Works Consulted
Bean, Megan. “Effective arts integration improves test scores.” Science Daily. 22 October 2013.
Web. 28 November 2015.
Bergland, Christopher. “Why Is Dancing So Good For Your Brain?” Psychology Today. 1
October 2013. Web. 15 April 2015.
Bradt J, Shim M, Goodill SW. “Dance/movement therapy for improving psychological and
physical outcomes in cancer patients.” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2015,
Issue 1. Web. 28 November 2015.
“Dance – health benefits.” Better Health Channel. n.d. Web. 15 October 2015.
Ericsson, K. Anders, Neil Charness, Paul J. Feltovich, and Robert R. Hoffman, eds. The
Cambridge Handbook of Expertise and Expert Performance. 1st ed. New York, NY:
Cambridge University Press, 2006. Print.
Hesson, Lisa. Personal Interview. 9 November 2015.
Knight, Madeline. “9 Health Benefits of Dance.” Everyday Health. n.d. Web. 15 October 2015.
“The Many Health Benefits of Dance.” Berkeley Wellness. 20 November 2014. Web. 15 October
2015.
Szporer, Philip. "Dance Heals All." Dance Magazine 87.8 (2013): 18. MAS Ultra – School
Edition. Web. 12 Apr. 2015.
Tucker, Ian. “Peter Lovatt: ‘Dancing can change the way you think’.” The Guardian. 30 July
2011. Web. 12 April 2015.