Dance into better health and fitness

David777

David777

Well-known Member
Location
Silicon Valley
With the rise of the Youtube and TikTok, there are now myriad short beginner video tutorials on how to dance. At the same time, significant numbers of people are still greatly afraid due to embarrassment to even slightly move or rock their body to music beats in public around others much less dance. Anyone that goes to music concerts can readily observe how that occurs.

While some energetically move to music from the start of music, others stay rigid and will only begin to move when there are so many others nearby moving to a beat that they can do so without drawing attention, or with House and Rave events, do so at dark venue events where again, they can do so semi-anonymously.

This person as a freestyle dancer, has been enjoying rock concerts regularly since the early 1970s. Far, far fewer people openly move their bodies much less dance today at rock concerts than during the early 1970s. Well with the one exception of Grateful Dead and their jam band follower concerts. With some other genre's like Hip Hop and Break dancing they're all moving, having great smiling fun.

Plenty of hits explain why that is with a "afraid of dancing" web search.

Are You Afraid to Dance?

Are You Afraid to Dance?

Dancing may be better than other exercise for improving mental health

Dancing may be better than other exercise for improving mental health

I'll guaranty, most people including most less than fit seniors, could learn to not be so rigid if they simply first regularly practiced over several weeks bilateral dance basics regularly either at home in private or at a beginners dance class. At first, such may feel and look awkward but don't be discouraged, stick with it, as any motor skill starts so. Brain motor control is about neural plasticity connections through repetition.

Simply, the more one repeats repetitive movements, the more such becomes natural and automatically flowing. That is why Steph Curry takes so many warm-up 3 point shots before games and why billiard players repeat cue shots over and over until such becomes second nature. It is why I'm an elite snow skier as I have decades each winter of repeating similar turns that such became second nature like... walking down the street. It is not about learning steps one week and then expecting to do so next month at say a wedding. No, no! One needs to regularly repeat such to grow those plasticity connections before they fade away from degenerating neural connections due to non-use.

So yeah, spend 20 minutes or so every day for say a few weeks repeating what is on the below 2 videos. There are many other similar videos.


 

Last edited:
David777 said:
With the rise of the Youtube and TikTok, there are now myriad short beginner video tutorials on how to dance. At the same time, significant numbers of people are still greatly afraid due to embarrassment to even slightly move or rock their body to music beats in public around others much less dance. Anyone that goes to music concerts can readily observe how that occurs.

While some energetically move to music from the start of music, others stay rigid and will only begin to move when there are so many others nearby moving to a beat that they can do so without drawing attention, or with House and Rave events, do so at dark venue events where again, they can do so semi-anonymously.

This person as a freestyle dancer, has been enjoying rock concerts regularly since the early 1970s. Far, far fewer people openly move their bodies much less dance today at rock concerts than during the early 1970s. Well with the one exception of Grateful Dead and their jam band follower concerts. With some other genre's like Hip Hop and Break dancing they're all moving, having great smiling fun.

Plenty of hits explain why that is with a "afraid of dancing" web search.

Are You Afraid to Dance?

Are You Afraid to Dance?

Dancing may be better than other exercise for improving mental health

Dancing may be better than other exercise for improving mental health

I'll guaranty, most people including most less than fit seniors, could learn to not be so rigid if they simply first regularly practiced over several weeks bilateral dance basics regularly either at home in private or at a beginners dance class. At first, such may feel and look awkward but don't be discouraged, stick with it, as any motor skill starts so. Brain motor control is about neural plasticity connections through repetition.

Simply, the more one repeats repetitive movements, the more such becomes natural and automatically flowing. That is why Steph Curry takes so many warm-up 3 point shots before games and why billiard players repeat cue shots over and over until such becomes second nature. It is why I'm an elite snow skier as I have decades each winter of repeating similar turns that such became second nature like... walking down the street. It is not about learning steps one week and then expecting to do so next month at say a wedding. No, no! One needs to regularly repeat such to grow those plasticity connections before they fade away from degenerating neural connections due to non-use.

So yeah, spend 20 minutes or so every day for say a few weeks repeating what is on the below 2 videos. There are many other similar videos.


Click to expand...
I agree. Dancing and swimming are the best ways to exercise and still have great fun. I danced a lot all though my youth and then some.
 
DH and I have danced social ballroom for the last 12 + years ,what we do ….is called New vogue/ old time ballroom .
When I first mentioned ballroom dancing to my DH he was horrified of the thought of dancing in front of others, now he loves it …and even our GP make a mention of how fit we look for mid-dish… 70’s

We danced yesterday danced 31 dances for the afternoon including foxtorts / rhumbas / blues / saunters / quicksteps/ modern waltz / cha cha / we much prefer our day time outings in the cooler months of the year ,altho it’s spring here in Australia it’s still rather cool most days ./ evenings

Our oldest member who was still dancing 3 months ago with his wife of almost 79 years ,sadly passed suddenly NOT …from having any illness …...but a fall getting out of the shower ….he was 2 months from his 101 st birthday 🎂
His wife will sadly celebrate her 100 th next month without her dear hubby .

We have a few others in their late 80’s and about 4 others who are over 95 still enjoying Dancing

We are heading away to a 3 day ballroom dancing weekend early next month , it will be nice nice to catch up many friends we’ve met from attending special weekends we haven’t seen since COVID’ raised its ugly head in Australia
 
Last edited:
Are You Afraid to Dance? Not at all. And this is not to brag, but I can out dance the young people. At our last family reunion, I had a 28 year old cousin sit down because he couldn't keep up with me on the floor. I was 76 then. I was asked a long time ago by a fellow who had been dancing at a club my friends and I were at, if I was a professional dancer. No he wasn't trying to hit on me, he was with his GF.

More recently, before COVID hit, I was dancing with my son who hosted and deejayed House Music parties at a club with his DJ partner. He took a break while his partner took over and we were dancing. He laughingly told me later that a friend asked him "Who was that woman you were dancing with" because he admired my moves. My son said his friend's mouth dropped when he told him I was his mother. :ROFLMAO: BTW, I often get mistaken for my son's wife or GF.

I love to dance and am aware that my movements are fluid, despite my age. I don't need to do any fancy moves. The younger workers at the senior center I used to attend loved to watch me dance and would cheer me on. I participated in and sometimes led an exercise group where we would dance after exercising. I just let the music move me and don't worry about looking foolish. Dancing is good exercise, gets the seratonin circulating which is indeed good for mental health and is just plain fun.
 
Last edited:
OneEyedDiva said:
Are You Afraid to Dance? Not at all. And this is not to brag, but I can out dance the young people. At our last family reunion, I had a 28 year old cousin sit down because he couldn't keep up with me on the floor. I was 76 then. I was asked a long time ago by a fellow who had been dancing at a club my friends and I were at, if I was a professional dancer. No he wasn't trying to hit on me, he was with his GF.

More recently, before COVID hit, I was dancing with my son who hosted and deejayed House Music parties at a club with his DJ partner. He took a break while his partner took over and we were dancing. He laughingly told me later that a friend asked him "Who was that woman you were dancing with" because he admired my moves. My son said his friend's mouth dropped when he told him I was his mother. :ROFLMAO: BTW, I often get mistaken for my son's wife or GF.

I love to dance and am aware that my movements are fluid, despite my age. I don't need to do any fancy moves. The younger workers at the senior center I used to attend loved to watch me dance and would cheer me on. I participated in and sometimes led an exercise group where we would dance after exercising. I just let the music move me and don't worry about looking foolish. Dancing is indeed good exercise, gets the seratonin circulating which is indeed good for mental health and is just plain fun.
Click to expand...
Sounds great @OneEyedDiva ..enjoy yourself …..we was a scared as hell when we first stated to dance out in a country church hall 20 km from the closet town .

We are strictly social dancers, we don’t throw our arms or legs around like competition dancers but we enjoy what we do .
We just finished watching a movie about Hank Williams life on Netflix ….and I said to DH we dance to that song he wrote
“Hey Good lookin “ ..and many others…. he wrote ….and sang …..only our tunes …are sequenced to fit our steps of each dance.
 
Notice how modern energetic jazz dancers similar to what was done in the Charleston era, calls this among others modern names, "Shuffle Dancing" and "Electro Swing Dance Freestyle". Many YouTube search hits "jazz shuffle dance".
 
Dancing was great fun until arthritis took over my joints. I was doing some boring chair yoga until I recently discovered "chair yoga dance" which you can find on Youtube. It is even better when I supply my own music and stretch however the spirit moves me. From Santana to Motown to jazz or disco.
 
OneEyedDiva said:
Are You Afraid to Dance? Not at all. And this is not to brag, but I can out dance the young people. At our last family reunion, I had a 28 year old cousin sit down because he couldn't keep up with me on the floor. I was 76 then. I was asked a long time ago by a fellow who had been dancing at a club my friends and I were at, if I was a professional dancer. No he wasn't trying to hit on me, he was with his GF.
Click to expand...
Good for you Diva, my wife and I have danced Latin & Ballroom for as long as we can remember. We have danced various other disciplines and just plain old improvise.
Back about fifteen years ago, my wife's father passed away. My lady's bereavement was so very painful, but I gave her time to grieve and then, some months later, took her to her beloved Scotland, a country that she loves so much. Whilst there, in the City of Glasgow, we got tickets for an old time Burlesque show. It was nothing vulgar, the amount of ladies in the audience gave testimony to that. Then at the end of the show, tables were rearranged and a dance floor appeared.
Let someone in the audience take up the story: Old Folk Dancing Like They Were Young Again. click on the link to read how a couple of geriatrics impressed. Here's a clip from that link:
"They swing and they turn, touching the floor, spinning round, twisting, the works. The audience applaud, though at the point he lifts her, practically to head height, and swings her full circle, before returning her to the ground, gets the biggest response. The crowd watch, expecting the worst, these are two people who are getting on, some of us will feel sore in the morning, so god knows how they will feel, but they do it, and they put us all to shame with their vigour."

Silly me, that reminisce made me forget about this evening's function. The lady is still recovering, but she insisted on a few minutes when a slow rumba was played. We called time well before the end, but just getting out is proving to be a good therapy.
 
Last edited:
horseless carriage said:
Good for you Diva, my wife and I have danced Latin & Ballroom for as long as we can remember. We have danced various other disciplines and just plain old improvise.
Back about fifteen years ago, my wife's father passed away. My lady's bereavement was so very painful, but I gave her time to grieve and then, some months later, took her to her beloved Scotland, a country that she loves so much. Whilst there, in the City of Glasgow, we got tickets for an old time Burlesque show. It was nothing vulgar, the amount of ladies in the audience gave testimony to that. Then at the end of the show, tables were rearranged and a dance floor appeared.
Let someone in the audience take up the story: Old Folk Dancing Like They Were Young Again. click on the link to read how a couple of geriatrics impressed. Here's a clip from that link:
"They swing and they turn, touching the floor, spinning round, twisting, the works. The audience applaud, though at the point he lifts her, practically to head height, and swings her full circle, before returning her to the ground, gets the biggest response. The crowd watch, expecting the worst, these are two people who are getting on, some of us will feel sore in the morning, so god knows how they will feel, but they do it, and they put us all to shame with their vigour."

Silly me, that reminisce made me forget about this evening's function. The lady is still recovering, but she insisted on a few minutes when a slow rumba was played. We called time well before the end, but just getting out is proving to be a good therapy.
Click to expand...
Good for you and your Mrs! I wish I could see you two on the dance floor. Check out this couple. I could have sworn I saw a similar dance by them when he was wearing a suit.

 
Last edited:
OneEyedDiva said:
Good for you and your Mrs! I wish I could see you two on the dance floor. Check out this couple. I could have sworn I saw a similar dance by them when he was wearing a suit.

Click to expand...
Chances are we might be seen if someone has converted their 8mm home movie film to digital and then put the result on YouTube. As for the couple in the dance clip, he needs to pay his lady a lot more attention, he gave me the impression that it was all about him.

Back when we could put gymnastic style additions to a fast jive, on sound advice, we avoided lifting the whole body weight by the arms, if you have experienced a twinge of arthritis in the shoulder area you will understand why.

In Leeds, Yorkshire, shoppers were entertained by this wonderful couple:


It reminded me of an impromptu jive that my wife and I did in the Oglethorpe Shopping Mall in Savannah, Georgia. I had a schoolfriend, married to an American, living in Savannah, whom we would visit regularly, well, once a year regularly. My friend Monica told my wife that she was taking us to, in American parlance: "Hit the mall."

It was there that we heard Louis Prima as we passed a record vendor. My wife beckoned me by gesture, called out to the vendor to: "turn it up," and we gave them both barrels. So many gathered round, no phones back then so no film recorded, but we did get a brush with fame. Back in the UK a package arrived from our friend, inside was a copy of The Savannah Morning News. Our antics had been noted. Good grief, Diva, that was fifty years ago, yet I recall it so clearly.
 
David777 said:
...why balanced rhythmic dancing carrying fast dynamic motion can be a most exhilarating imaginable fun body experience...
Click to expand...
That looks like fun!

I love dancing and it's great exercise. I also think that dancing lifts your spirit. If you get days when you feel sad, put the headphones on and dance - it's a great escape.

Bluetooth headphones are great for listening to music anytime without disturbing anyone else.
 
horseless carriage said:
Chances are we might be seen if someone has converted their 8mm home movie film to digital and then put the result on YouTube. As for the couple in the dance clip, he needs to pay his lady a lot more attention, he gave me the impression that it was all about him.

Back when we could put gymnastic style additions to a fast jive, on sound advice, we avoided lifting the whole body weight by the arms, if you have experienced a twinge of arthritis in the shoulder area you will understand why.

In Leeds, Yorkshire, shoppers were entertained by this wonderful couple:


It reminded me of an impromptu jive that my wife and I did in the Oglethorpe Shopping Mall in Savannah, Georgia. I had a schoolfriend, married to an American, living in Savannah, whom we would visit regularly, well, once a year regularly. My friend Monica told my wife that she was taking us to, in American parlance: "Hit the mall."

It was there that we heard Louis Prima as we passed a record vendor. My wife beckoned me by gesture, called out to the vendor to: "turn it up," and we gave them both barrels. So many gathered round, no phones back then so no film recorded, but we did get a brush with fame. Back in the UK a package arrived from our friend, inside was a copy of The Savannah Morning News. Our antics had been noted. Good grief, Diva, that was fifty years ago, yet I recall it so clearly.
Click to expand...
Mrs HC seems to be recovering really well after her surgery. I think your lifelong dancing has made you both stronger and you both seem to have so much fun. Have a wonderful Sunday :)
 
Trish said:
Mrs HC seems to be recovering really well after her surgery. I think your lifelong dancing has made you both stronger and you both seem to have so much fun. Have a wonderful Sunday :)
Click to expand...
Thank you Trish, the lady's recovery continues. There was a time, in the past, when a couple of functions on a Sunday evening, stretched the last vestiges of the weekend. One was at the dance school we attended, that was such good fun. The other, at a vintage function, held in a makeshift ballroom at, what we Brits know as, a heritage railway.

Back in the early 60's about a third of our rail network was ripped up. But some survived, run like a living museum of the steam train era, mostly by volunteers. One of the volunteers at that heritage railway was a dance fanatic, the railway put on a nostalgia evening with amateur big bands and fun rides on the train as a way of raising much needed funds. It attracted many a dancer and steam train enthusiast alike.
 
horseless carriage said:
Thank you Trish, the lady's recovery continues. There was a time, in the past, when a couple of functions on a Sunday evening, stretched the last vestiges of the weekend. One was at the dance school we attended, that was such good fun. The other, at a vintage function, held in a makeshift ballroom at, what we Brits know as, a heritage railway.

Back in the early 60's about a third of our rail network was ripped up. But some survived, run like a living museum of the steam train era, mostly by volunteers. One of the volunteers at that heritage railway was a dance fanatic, the railway put on a nostalgia evening with amateur big bands and fun rides on the train as a way of raising much needed funds. It attracted many a dancer and steam train enthusiast alike.
Click to expand...
Sounds great @horseless carriage

There used to be regular outdoor dancers in some parts of London, they were amazing. It's a great skill to have and wonderful that you are both still enjoying it. :)
 
horseless carriage said:
Good for you Diva, my wife and I have danced Latin & Ballroom for as long as we can remember. We have danced various other disciplines and just plain old improvise.
Back about fifteen years ago, my wife's father passed away. My lady's bereavement was so very painful, but I gave her time to grieve and then, some months later, took her to her beloved Scotland, a country that she loves so much. Whilst there, in the City of Glasgow, we got tickets for an old time Burlesque show. It was nothing vulgar, the amount of ladies in the audience gave testimony to that. Then at the end of the show, tables were rearranged and a dance floor appeared.
Let someone in the audience take up the story: Old Folk Dancing Like They Were Young Again. click on the link to read how a couple of geriatrics impressed. Here's a clip from that link:
"They swing and they turn, touching the floor, spinning round, twisting, the works. The audience applaud, though at the point he lifts her, practically to head height, and swings her full circle, before returning her to the ground, gets the biggest response. The crowd watch, expecting the worst, these are two people who are getting on, some of us will feel sore in the morning, so god knows how they will feel, but they do it, and they put us all to shame with their vigour."

Silly me, that reminisce made me forget about this evening's function. The lady is still recovering, but she insisted on a few minutes when a slow rumba was played. We called time well before the end, but just getting out is proving to be a good therapy.
Click to expand...
My home city, where i attended dance school as a child, and then as a teen danced twice a week at the city dance halls.... 💕 ..I have danced all my life...
 
Last edited:
Kadee said:
Sounds great @OneEyedDiva ..enjoy yourself …..we was a scared as hell when we first stated to dance out in a country church hall 20 km from the closet town .

We are strictly social dancers, we don’t throw our arms or legs around like competition dancers but we enjoy what we do .
We just finished watching a movie about Hank Williams life on Netflix ….and I said to DH we dance to that song he wrote
“Hey Good lookin “ ..and many others…. he wrote ….and sang …..only our tunes …are sequenced to fit our steps of each dance.
Click to expand...
In the movie, that last blues piece just about broke my heart it was so beautiful.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top