Dance Spree in Florida

Ballroom for Better Mental Health

A study by the New England Journal of Medicine found that ballroom dancing reduces the risk of developing dementia. Lead researcher, Joe Verghese, MD, an assistant professor of neurology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, suggest that the demands of ballroom dancing, such as remembering the steps, moving in precise time to the music and adapting to the movements of ones partner, are mentally and physically challenging exercises that keep your mental muscles’ agile. Other forms of straight exercise, such as swimming and climbing stairs, did not offer the same protection against dementia. Other activities that seem to offer protection include: learning a new language or musical instruments, doing crossword puzzles or taking a class that requires study and memorization.

Ballroom for Better Health - The Physical Benefits
   Cardiovascular: Ballroom and Latin dancing can raise the heart rate anywhere from 80 to

120 beats per minute. That is the equivalent of any strength training or aerobic program

available today. Sustained in 2 minute bursts over a 45 minute period will build not only your

heart's strength, but it's endurance, too.
Muscle Tone: Ballroom and Latin dancing, when done at an intermediate to advanced level of

technique, use the perfect blend of isometric and isotonic resistance, the two key ingredients to

muscle building and toning. The blend and use of the muscles is perfect for building beautiful

tone in the muscles without building a lot of muscle mass, a big concern for women in particular..

Joints: According to the American Journal of Medicine, the best way to avoid arthritis and

remedy current joint discomfort is to continue to use the joints in a controlled manner. The

beautiful rise and fall of Waltz demonstrates this beautifully.

Spinal Column: The frame or posture maintained in Ballroom dancing places the spine in a

natural and correct position, even more correct than when standing or sitting naturally! That also

puts all your organs in alignment, which is now thought by many doctors and chiropractors to

fight sickness, disease, fatigue and more.

Respiratory: Many track greats know that a strong set of lungs gets plenty of oxygen, which

makes the heart work easier, which in turn allows us to dance and have fun longer! That's why

sprinters run a lot of "wind" bursts: brief bursts to up the heart rate quickly, then bringing it

down and doing this repeatedly. This is similar to Ballroom dancing.
These are just a few of the physical benefits of Ballroom dancing.

Agin' Grace
from  Reader's Digest
Having a good attitude about getting old can help you leave longer - by a whopping 7.5 years,

according to a new study from Yale University. People 50 and older who strongly disagree with

statements like "As you age, you are less useful" or "Things keep getting worse as I get older"

tended to outlast their more negative peers even when researchers accounted for age, sex,

income, loneliness and physical ability.

The Romance of Dance
   Dancing and romancing is once again being viewed in a more positive light. For a while, it

seemed as though a quest for independence was driving couples apart on the dance floor,

especially among younger crowds. The 1970’s saw a renewed interest in partner dancing when

Saturday Night Fever exploded and a wave of disco clubs sprang up across the country. Since

then, there seems to be a growing fervor among younger people for couples' dancing. The

hype for country line and partner dancing that hit in the 1980’s followed by an increased

interest in the Latin rhythm dances is proving that people enjoy getting to know one another in

romantic and safe social contexts. Ballroom dancing provides just such an atmosphere.
   Learning how to ballroom dance may prove not only to be an excellent form of entertainment

and exercise, but you may even meet your mate. Countless people have lived to tell just such

wonderful stories. Ballroom dancing provides an ideal social climate. Couples and singles can

enjoy listening to great music at a decibel level that promotes communication. Have you ever

been to a concert where the music was so loud that you could barely think, let alone talk to the

person standing next to you? Well, you will find no such thing on a ballroom dance floor.

Ballroom dance can safely be called a "social dance."