WHOEVER observed that dance isn’t a form, but a way of life, was perhaps stating a trend of our times. World  is increasingly taking to dance, well beyond just boogeying on the dance floor or shaking a leg at a wedding.

 Be it our classical dance forms or their western counterparts, dancing is about feeling happy, alive and excited; about tapping into dormant energy; about tending to the mind, body and soul. “Dance is de-stressing,” says dance instructor Shiamak Davar. “It keeps you healthy, makes you focus better, and keeps you happy.” When one dances, one is in total control of his mind, body and soul. “Nowadays, teenagers as young as 13 and silver citizens aged 70 and above are learning to dance. For them, it’s an opportunity to interact with people, lose weight and correct body posture. Many painfully shy young girls have opened up and have gained confidence through dancing. Couples have revived their souring relationships by dancing together,” says well-known dance coach Sandip Soparrkar. “Dance fitness, be it jazz, aerobics or belly dancing, is catching on all over the world,” adds Bangalore’s fitness guru and founder of Figurine Fitness, Santosh Kumar. Actor-dancer Hema Malini swears by the benefits of Bharatnatyam—A deeper connection with the inner self, better eyesight, poise, posture, coordination and memory, healthier bones, muscles and hormonal balance. To actor Hrithik Roshan, jazz dancing is about busting tension and anxiety, muscle toning and weight loss, release of positive energy and feel-good endorphins and adrenaline, better grasp of emotions and improved communication skills. Kathak, for actor Sameera Reddy, is a cardiovascular exercise that improves stamina, concentration, blood and oxygen circulation; strengthens lungs, bones and muscles, and delays wrinkling. TV actor and classical dancer Sangeeta Ghosh says, “Dancing rejuvenates one’s spirit and sends out positive messages to the senses and the soul.” Little wonder then that dance is fast gaining ground as a therapy. “Creative dance therapy uses movement to unlock our bodies’ capacity to communicate and express emotions better,” says Bangalore-based dance educator, movement therapist and choreographer Tripura Kashyap. “It unchains people from habitual movement patterns and helps them discover a new body language. The movement enhances team spirit, trust, inter-personal skills, strengthens bodymind connection and self-awareness, releases physical and mental stress, builds concentration and confidence, increases motivation and bestows leadership qualities.” “Dance therapy provides balanced m e t ab o l i s m , which keeps the body healthy,” opines Bangalorebased dance therapist Dr A V Satyanarayana, who has used Indian classical dance for everything from helping expectant mothers deliver naturally without complications, to addressing hypertension, diabetes, depression, repetitive stress disorders and even improving sex life. “Dance is not monotonous like other forms of physical exercise. Moored in the sense of beauty and love, dance helps the dancer to think positive, keep the mind relaxed, and develop harmonious personal relationships,” he says. The American Council on Exercise has found that people who participated in ballroom dancing at least twice a week are less likely to develop dementia. So what are you waiting for? Put on your dancing shoes, and dance away the blues!

Dance, meditate and fight cancer According to a study by David Howard, assistant professor of recreation and sport management, yoga and dance can heal cancer. “My own research is both needed and, in my opinion, innovative,” Howard said.    “For men with prostate cancer, my study involves the use of a tantric yoga intervention in light of erectile dysfunction. For women treated for breast cancer, the study takes place in Philadelphia and incor-porates the use of dance and movement workshops. In each, the very important topic of quality of life and human sexuality related to health and disability are being investigated,” he said at at a seminar organised by Center for Study of Health, Religion and Spirituality in the US.    Other presenter of the seminar Jean Kristeller, professor of psychology and director said, “The majority of cancer patients report spiritual and religious beliefs and are generally very appreciative when their physicians bring that up, even if only for five minutes.”

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