Dancing Through Life Lessons
In a small town in central PA resides a young at heart lady named Grace, who just celebrated her 101st birthday. She is known by most in her area as "Amazing Grace." Why is she so amazing? Because up until a few years ago, Grace entertained audiences everywhere with her dancing and elocution. Still bright and articulate, she fondly tells tales of dancing her way through the years, first with her sister in 1917, then with her two daughters and husband until his death in 1972, and lately with her daughter doing vaudeville type shows for local charities and community events. Up until 4 years ago, she closed every show by dancing the Charleston, much to the delight of her audience. Dancing is her legacy. She cannot separate her life memories from her dancing memories. From her first dance lesson at age 5 until today, Grace attributes her youthful attitude and good health to the joy she has received and given to others through a lifetime of entertaining and dance.
Dancing is great mind-body exercise and it's benefits can carry you through life contributing to your health in a way that is fun-not just for you but for those with whom and for whom you dance. Dance steps are like an exercise program for your brain while also improving your physical health and stamina. For the elderly who dance, circulation improves which in turn increases cognitive function and cuts down on "cross talking" in the brain that is caused by the degeneration of brain matter that occurs over time in the human brain.
According to Peak Health Advocate, "it appears that elderly people who engage in regular physical exercise experience far less of this brain cross-talk compared to sedentary seniors. In fact, on a number of measures, very active seniors seem to have brain response patterns more closely akin to young adults than their sedentary counterparts as was evident in the research study discussed here." Dancing embodies those types of movement that keep a brain healthy and young.
Everyone should, at some point during their life, take dance lessons. Like Grace discovered, they are beneficial and fun. And like her, you just may find a love that will enable you to dance through life.
To find out more about our dance lessons contact us today.