Dance is often thought of as a great way to change how you feel. Some people prefer to learn a specific form of dance, like ballet, tap or jazz. The benefits of this can be keeping fit, making new friends and connections, and moving together in time to music. It can also be reliable part of your week that you can look forward to.
Do remember, though, that because dance can be a form of artistic expression you don’t have to follow the rules or learn a specific type of dance – you can also just find a space to move (with or without music) in a way that feels natural or intuitive to you, whether alone in your bedroom or with a group of friends.
Dance therapists think that mental and emotional difficulties can be held in the body in the form of muscle tension and constrained movement patterns. Releasing those tensions can have a relieving effect for both the body and the mind. You might find that moving rhythmically helps ease anxiety, or you might find moving spontaneously helps you trust your impulses and build confidence like these young people from EPUT NHS who created this flash mob for Mental Health Awareness Week.
In the following video, Khatak dancer, Meera Patel discusses how dance helps her mental wellbeing: