How does dance make you feel

Dance has so many benefits and people are drawn to different types of it. That’s why so many of us love to dance, and feel that we have to move when music comes on.  But how does dance make you feel?

If you think back to being a child, or if you’ve seen your own children grow up, it’s obviously that dancing is something that’s in us from an early age. Those toddler movements when music comes on, even the most reticent of children will have got up and danced. After all, music makes so many people want to move. It’s only when we get older and more self conscious that the majority of people stop.  

Many are forced to dance in school PE lessons, or at May Day events at primary school. Or when older, we might dance in clubs. Although nowadays with social media, contemporary dance styles – shuffle, street and line dancing can be seen all over socials as more people took up dancing at home and online during the pandemic. This has carried on (although maybe that’s just my algorithms) for many people. Dance reality shows are still popular, creating celebrity out of pro-dancers as much as some of the celebrities and amateurs who appear on the shows.

How does dance make us feel

For those of us who go to dance classes, or spend as much time as possible at social dances, what is it that makes dancing so special.

As an adult it’s a very different experience to that dance life as a child. Then it was more about skills, learning and achievement. But I didn’t feel the freedom to dance as well as I could back then.  I was too shy and selfconscious. I do wonder how much better a dancer I could have got back then had I got the confidence that I have now.

Confidence that I gained after starting Ceroc, and getting out from the clique-iness that came from the salsa environment. Not having the right look to be chosen for a performance team despite being the best technical dancer. Struggling to get dances with anyone outside of our class friends because socials were a snooty environment of people just there to be seen with those who were the best dancers.

Ceroc on the other hand had a different mindset. Get everyone dancing, make sure everyone’s enjoying themselves, and (within reason) ask/dance with everyone who asks. A much more open, friendly and pleasant environment to dance in. 

For me as an adult, dance is happiness. It’s losing myself in the music. Looking for and feeling improvement and enjoying the challenge. Plus that shared enjoyment of dance with the others in the same room. 

When you ask people what they love about dancing, they’ll say so many different things.  Here’s some I’ve picked up over the years from friends, acquaintances, and others I’ve overheard.

I love dancing because…

It makes me smile. 

It’s fun.

My troubles fade away for the time I’m dancing.

I forget about any problems because I’m immersed in the music and dance. It’s my happy place.

It makes my heart sing.

I get such a high from it. All those happy endorphins.

It makes me feel alive.

Of the fantastic friends I’ve made.

It’s how I met my husband 

I can express myself, I can let my soul fly.

I can be whoever I want to be when I dance

It can push me to my limits with the challenge and music.

After so many years dancing for different reasons, it feels comforting. Dance is home

I don’t have to think about anything. I just need to let my body flow to it, the music leads me.

It boosts my self-esteem, I feel confident after I’ve danced.

It’s more artistic and creative than sports.  It gives meaning to movement, it’s not just about fitness.

Helps me open up and show myself to others, rather than having to talk my emotions.

It’s graceful and powerful because you show the different ways you can move.

I can channel the music through my body, it’s not just about the movement, it’s about the holistic experience.

The performer in me can come out. 

I’ve got skills. Being able to dance isn’t always going to be an essential skill, but you never know when you’ll need it. 

I like to make my partner smile and enjoy the dance. As a leader to explore musicality, as a follower to work with the leader’s mind and see where we end up. It’s a layered experience.

Every dance is different.

It can create a magical connection between partners when a dance just works so well, that everything works with the music, the moves, and the feeling between us.

I share the experience with friends and family.

Loud music on a great sound system.

I love to watch good dancers, to be inspired and come away having learnt something new.

You don’t have to take yourself too seriously…and it’s better if you don’t.

Progress. I get to see progress over time, from when you start out, to getting more confident, then finding it easier. But there is always still a challenge and something to learnt.

You get to meet so many new people you wouldn’t usually come across, but they’re all there for the same thing.

How does dance make you feel?