Dancing & Your Brain: 8 Remarkable Mental Health Benefits of Dancing

How Dance Can Soothe the Mind, Boost Your Mood, and Ignite a Path to Emotional Well-being

Dance can be both an amazing way to express yourself as well as an excellent form of exercise. If you haven’t yet, check out my post 9 Tips for New Dancers. When we think about dance we don’t necessarily think about the other benefits it can have on lives. However, the benefits of dance reach beyond the physical, as it can also positively affect our mental well-being in numerous ways.

While we’re on the topic of mental health, I would like to say that while dancing can offer many mental health benefits, it is important to understand that it is not a replacement for professional mental health treatment when needed. If you or someone you know is dealing with mental health concerns, seeking guidance from a qualified healthcare provider is strongly advised.

On a personal note, I have experienced firsthand the positive impact dancing has on my own mental health. Dancing has been an integral part of my life for as long as I can remember. I find it difficult to remember the exact moment when my love for dancing began, but I vividly recall taking my first hip-hop dance class around 5th or 6th grade, during which I learned the moonwalk. Since then, I’ve just been dancing my way through life (I even have a tattoo on my back that says ‘Keep on dancing till the world ends’ — yes, the Britney song). While I always had some other passions such as acting and writing, dancing has always been #1.

However, that doesn’t mean I always put dancing first. And when I don’t, I can feel it…physically but mostly mentally. I feel it right now as I write this. Aside from going out and dancing at the club a couple of times in the past 3 months, if that, it has been quite a while since I last danced. There’s something different about dancing within your own 4 walls, or at a dance studio. I can’t count the number of times I’ve gotten goosebumps or started crying in the middle of dancing.

Now, let’s shift the focus away from me and explore how dancing can positively influence your mental health.

1. Improves mood, and reduces depression:

Dancing has the potential to elevate your mood and alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. One of the reasons for this is the release of endorphins. Participating in physical activities like dancing stimulates the release of endorphins, which are natural mood-boosting chemicals in the brain. (Fun Fact: Endorphins can also be released by exercising, eating, having sex, getting a massage, and many other ways. Learn more about endorphins HERE). I can say that dancing is one of my top favorite stress relievers. (It’s no wonder I’ve been feeling stressed and overwhelmed lately)

2. Encourages better sleep quality:

Since dancing has been shown to alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress effectively, it naturally results in an overall enhancement of sleep quality. With reduced mental distress and a calmer state of mind, falling asleep becomes easier, and the quality of sleep we have tends to be more restful and refreshing. The movements and physical exertion while dancing contribute to a sense of physical tiredness, which further aids in promoting deeper and more restorative sleep.

3. Enhances self-confidence:

Most people don’t dance because they don’t feel confident enough. Funny enough, dancing can often help boost your self-esteem by providing a sense of accomplishment and mastery over a skill. Additionally, it allows you to connect with your body, similar to the way yoga does. Dance provides heightened body awareness, allowing you to become more in tune with your body, its movements, and its capabilities. This increased awareness nurtures a positive relationship with your body, boosting self-acceptance and enhancing self-confidence. When our minds are in tune with our bodies, we can achieve great things, in turn minimizing self-doubt.

4. Boosts cognitive function:

By continually challenging the brain with new dance routines and steps, dancers can improve their cognitive abilities, such as memory retention, pattern recognition, and information processing. Research suggests that engaging in regular dance activities can have long-term benefits for cognitive health. Studies have shown that individuals who regularly participate in dance have a reduced risk of cognitive decline and may be less susceptible to age-related cognitive disorders, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The combination of physical exercise, mental stimulation, social interaction, and artistic expression involved in dancing creates a holistic approach to brain health, supporting cognitive vitality throughout life.

5. Enhances social connection:

In addition to physical and cognitive benefits, dancing fosters a profound sense of community and social connection, playing a vital role in maintaining good mental health. Engaging in dance activities offers numerous opportunities for social interaction and can create a strong sense of belonging. Whether it’s through in-person dance classes, virtual dance sessions (Everdance is my favorite app for online dance classes), or just out dancing with friends, the shared experience of dancing brings people together and encourages meaningful connections.

6. Provides a sense of purpose:

Dancing goes beyond physical and social benefits; it can also provide a profound sense of purpose and meaning, serving as a powerful antidote to feelings of hopelessness and despair. When our bodies engage in dancing, the combination of music and movement allows us to forget the challenges and burdens of everyday life. It becomes a form of self-expression and emotional release, empowering us to combat negative emotions and find renewed purpose. The dedication and discipline required to improve our dance skills can provide a tangible sense of purpose and fulfillment. Each step forward in our dance journey reaffirms our capabilities and strengthens our sense of self-worth.

7. Increases resilience:

Dancing can help build resilience and improve coping skills by promoting a sense of mastery and accomplishment. Whether your dance sessions last for a brief one minute or extend to a full hour, the act of moving your body becomes a powerful symbol of progress and personal triumph. Each time you engage in dancing, regardless of the duration, you are taking a proactive step towards self-care and well-being. By consciously choosing to move your body and participate in a dance session, you are prioritizing your physical and mental health. This act of self-care fosters a sense of control and agency over your well-being, reinforcing your resilience in the face of life’s challenges.

8. Provides a creative outlet:

Through dance, we can unleash our creativity, communicate our emotions, and express our inner selves in a profound and cathartic way. When you dance, you tap into your creativity and imagination, allowing your body to become a canvas for artistic expression. Dance offers a wide range of styles, from contemporary and ballet to hip-hop and salsa, each with its own distinct movements and rhythms. This diversity allows you to explore different dance forms and find the ones that resonate with your style and emotions. Whether through graceful movements or energetic footwork, you have the freedom to express your thoughts, feelings, and experiences through the language of dance.

Dance serves as a natural form of self-expression, where the body, much like the mind, expresses itself spontaneously. However, dancing is more than just a way to express ourselves or get a workout. It can also have a positive impact on mental health, potentially boosting mood, reducing depression, and easing anxiety by releasing endorphins and reducing stress. Dancing also offers numerous additional benefits such as improved sleep quality, increased self-confidence, enhanced cognitive function, and stronger social connections. It helps us find purpose and develop resilience by allowing us to achieve personal triumphs and a sense of accomplishment. Moreover, dancing can be a creative outlet for emotional expression and enables us to tap into our imagination and creativity.

I could go on about how dancing has changed my life (and my brain) for the better but we might be here all day. So I’ll finish this off with a quote from Lyall Watson —

“Dancing is surely the most basic and relevant of all forms of expression. Nothing else can so effectively give outward form to an inner experience.”