Studies have shown that dance exercises can increase memory and improve emotional health. A 2003 study at Minot State University found that dancing improves mood and cognitive skills. Dancing can increase serotonin levels, reduce stress, and build new neural connections, improving executive function, spatial recognition, and long-term memory. In addition, it improves balance. Although the studies are limited in their scope, dancing can have a long-lasting effect on brain health.
The basic movement patterns that dancers use in their movements are grouped into three categories: locomotor (running and walking), action, and improvisation. Locomotor movement is the movement of limbs, while action is the use of non-locomotor movements such as bend, swing, and crawl. Axial movement involves a combination of small and large movements, and is interspersed with stillness. In addition, some dances are specifically designed for specific spaces.
The emergence of dance as a genre is characterized by three primary themes: shape, style, and symmetry. Each theme has a repeating pattern. The first is the “shape,” a position in space, while the second is the “size,” or the magnitude of the body’s shape. The third theme is “elevation,” which refers to a body’s propulsion into the air. In other words, the dancers are expressing a specific emotional response, or trying to project a certain emotion.
Dance is an art form, a rhythmic sequence of movement that is usually performed to music. It can be expressive, symbolic, or both, and the performer and the audience recognize it as dance. Dance is an essential part of many social gatherings. There are various genres of dance, and it is not always as easy to teach a routine as it seems. Different body types have different capabilities, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to dance.