Why Do People Dance? Reasons Why Dancing Is Good For You

Oluwatosin Michael
Oct 12, 2023 By Oluwatosin Michael
Originally Published on Nov 16, 2021
Group of teenagers jumping
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Age: 3-18
Read time: 4.8 Min

Dance is a popular performing art that is practiced by people in leisure and as a career too.

Dance has many shapes and forms. Throughout our lives we are exposed to various levels and styles of dance, each having its own purpose.

As a toddler or child, dance and music can intrinsically teach a child rhythm and fluid movement. This juvenile understanding of rhythm can be further developed and molded into a wide-ranged skill set using external help like dance classes.

The constant movement involved in dance will also aid in the healthy development of the body.

As we grow older variations of dance like Zumba and aerobics have many health benefits and help to alleviate stress. Dancing provides adults a break from their otherwise possibly sedentary and inactive lifestyle.

But, one common feature of dance throughout our life is that it is an outlet for our feelings. People like to dance because it makes them feel good about themselves mentally and physically, is a form of self-expression, and is a way to express their innermost thoughts and emotions.

Dance is also entertainment for people who find joy in just watching various forms of dance.

People usually have no idea how helpful dance can be on their weight loss journey considering how many calories dancing can burn - at a healthy rate of course! There are many different types of dance in the world like ballet, shuffling, contemporary, modern, and even synchronized swimming!

If this article helped you learn about why do people dance, make sure you check out other articles like why do cells divide and why do we need food.

Why do people dance?

People like to dance because it offers them a creative outlet for their emotions. People dance for a number of reasons, as a part of culture and tradition, to exercise and maintain health, to develop an additional skill, as a career, and to express their emotions.

Most experienced dancers would say that they don't even need a dance floor to show their moves and can instead dance anywhere and everywhere.

Dance is a wonderful way to showcase your creativity and relieve your brain and body from mental and physical stress. Dancing in groups or pairs also helps in strengthening bonds amongst friends and couples.

Once you decide to start dancing, doing so in front of an audience is a great way to build confidence.

Just watching someone dance activates essential parts of your brain which detect and imitate movements unconsciously. Using creative dance movements you can express emotions like love, happiness, sadness, or anger, and other complex feelings that you might not be able to express using words.

What are the benefits of dance?

Dance is the most popular performing art in the world. Many people like to dance because of how easy it is to learn, doesn't need a lot of preparation, doesn't take up time, can be practiced anywhere, has minimal requirements, and maintains health.

Benefits of dancing include making friends, staying healthy, being fun and entertaining, and expressing feelings, etc.

Using dance you can build new bonds and strengthen old ones with another human.

Many couples choose to sign up for dance classes together to maintain the emotional health of their relationship and spend time together. You can also meet a lot of new people when you sign up for dance lessons and once you join a dance crew, you will have a family for life.

Someone who dances, stays healthy by maintaining blood pressure, range of motion in joints, stamina, and mental health. The ability to dance and feel the beat of the music is a skill that some and born with and some cultivate within themselves.

Performing on stage or in front of an audience is accompanied by a healthy rush of adrenaline accompanied by a sense of being free, which dancers love.

Happy family dancing at home.

What are the different types of dance?

There are numerous types of dances native to countries and people all over the world. The different types of dance can be used for display of strength and prowess, to convey a story, to have fun and entertain people, sustain health, etc.

Technical dances which need a lot of precision or use dangerous props should be learned from an expert in dance classes, while fun and recreational dances can be learned from many more informal sources.

Some of the different types of dances are hip-hop, ballroom dancing, ballet, and tango. Dances like ballet, tango, and ballroom are often executed in pairs.

When dancing in pairs, the lead can be taken by either partner or both.

Dances like ballet are very technical and need to be executed and taught with a lot of precision. There are other types of dance that have an athletic or gymnastic element like synchronized swimming or rhythmic gymnastics.

The dancer has to train their body for years when they compete in these dance competitions.

Tribal dances can use dangerous props like knives, swords, and fire, and is an important part of their culture and traditions. In fact, a human is not the only one who finds joy in dance and its movements; other animals and birds like peacocks are known for their dance when it rains.

Animals are also known to have danced during special occasions like mating displays.

In most types of dances, the accompanying music also holds an important role in the final execution of the performance. The music may be used for the expression of emotions like love or anger, or hold important timing cues essential to the formation, or help in building the story portrayed by the choreography and dancer.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for why do people dance then why not take a look at why do boats float, or why do leaves fall.

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Written by Oluwatosin Michael

Bachelor of Science specializing in Microbiology

Oluwatosin Michael picture

Oluwatosin MichaelBachelor of Science specializing in Microbiology

With a Bachelor's in Microbiology from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Oluwatosin has honed his skills as an SEO content writer, editor, and growth manager. He has written articles, conducted extensive research, and optimized content for search engines. His expertise extends to leading link-building efforts and revising onboarding strategies. 

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