Five surprising health benefits of dancing
A new study by Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, has found that just 20 minutes of dance each day could help you hit the recommended exercise target.
The research, which involved 48 participants aged 18-83, looked at oxygen intake and heart rate measurements during five-minute bursts of dance, and it found that all adults were able to reach a health-enhancing level of activity.
Participants were also told that it didn't matter which genre of dance they chose, the intensity level – or even the setting in which they did it. Rather, the point of the study was to see if there were easier ways to stay active.
"Dance is a really accessible form of physical activity that people can do, even in their homes," Aston McCullough, from the university, said. "They just put on their own music and danced around."
But beyond staying active, there are many other health benefits associated with dancing. We take a look at five of the top perks dancing around your kitchen can offer.
A study of 48,000 British people found that moderate-intensity dancing is linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
Of the sample group, dancers had a 46% lower risk of cardiovascular death compared to those who rarely or never danced.
Not only can dancing help you keep fit, it has a wide range of mental health benefits. If done in a social setting, dance can help improve connections and reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.
As dancing increases the levels of serotonin – or the "happy hormone" – it can also improve overall mood, lower stress levels and reduce anxiety.
In addition to its mood-boosting effects, dancing can also promote learning, memory and navigational skills. One study suggested that a 30-minute salsa class boosted spatial working memory by 18% after just one session.
Dancing has even been linked to a lower risk of dementia, with a 2003 research paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine finding that regular dancing reduced the risk of dementia by 76%.
Other studies have also indicated that those already with dementia and Alzheimer's may benefit from dance, showing that regular exercise helps improve the quality of life of those with the disease.
Dance has also been shown to have many benefits for those with Parkinson's. According to Parkinson's UK, not only can it help with posture, core strength and coordination, dancing can boost confidence, allowing those with the condition to move more freely and have a sense of freedom from their disorder.
A 2024 study by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) also suggested that ballet dancing, specifically, can improve the symptoms of Parkinson's.
Aleksandra Podlewska, one of the main researchers for PD-Ballet, said: "With conditions like Parkinson's, we currently don't have any pharmacological interventions to stop the progression. What we do know, however, and that's where it gets really exciting, is that Parkinson's progresses slower in people who do any type of exercise. And people who exercise more throughout their lifetime are less likely to develop Parkinson's."
A scientific review published last year showed that not only is it easier to commit to a type of exercise you enjoy, dancing may be better for weight loss than other forms of exercise.
Published in scientific journal PLOS One, the paper reviewed 10 studies and found that dancing improves body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and fat mass. It also burns a significant amount of calories while promoting muscle strength and growth.
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