DANCE YOUR WAY TO INTELLIGENCE
DON’T BELIEVE US? HERE’S THE SCIENCE TO PROVE IT
First this week, we say goodbye to a household name that has graced our TV screens for decades. The late Bruce Forsyth entertained many Saturday evenings spent at home, watching ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, ‘The Royal Variety Performance’, ‘Have I Got News for You’ alongside many other TV programmes and films. So many of us have grown up with him, and he will be missed terribly. We’ve been busy watching our favourite Strictly Come Dancing episodes since news broke out, and it’s undeniable how his charisma makes us want to get up and join in on the fun. We don’t strictly know how to Jive (no pun intended), but we can definitely copy a few moves or two from Georgia May Foote and Giovanni Pernice from their performance down below:
How fun was that? Strictly Come Dancing was more than entertainment; it taught us that even if you have two left feet, there are so many dance styles to choose from that at least one will be something you’ll enjoy! And with dedicated practice, you may just be able to pull off the entire routine.
Now, back to the matter at hand. Yes, dancing CAN make you smarter. Students at Harvard University have found that dancing can improve muscle memory due to constant rehearsal, and Christopher Bergland from Psychology Today takes this point further by commenting on the ‘marking’ method of learning a sequence that students and teachers alike both use. Marking is the practice of rehearsing a sequence in the mind, and using slight gestures whilst in thought to remember the sequence.
A study was conducted among two dance groups; both were given the same dance sequence, yet the first group were encouraged to practice through a full rehearsal, and the 2nd were encouraged to use the ‘marking’ method. The first group struggled to remember all of the dance sequences, whilst the 2nd group remembered all steps and were able to add charm and personality to the sequence.
Essentially, this means dancing on a regular basis will not only help you keep fit, but it will strengthen your body’s muscle memory and your mental memory in equal measure as you begin to consistently test your memory with every performance. Now you can feel a little less silly the next time you break out into full choreography when you’re doing chores… (-;
It really is incredible just how many dance styles there are, from the Charleston to the mambo, jive, salsa, traditional folk, Irish dancing, Greek dancing and even Morris dancing! Whether you like to lead with your hips, or with the balls of your feet (Morris Dancers and Greek Dancers, we do love your little pompoms), there are so many styles out there and dancing can be enjoyed by all!!
If you’re not a regular on the dance-floor, here’s our 3 step guide to help you get moving to the beat in no time.
3 STEPS TO THE DANCE FLOOR
- DANCE AROUND THE HOUSE
Now, if you’re not an avid bedroom-with-a-pair-of-earphones dancer, dancing may seem quite daunting to you. What’s wrong with simply bopping your head to the song? Why does everyone want to dance to everything?! We get it. We know. However, there is a reason for it. There’s a sense of joy and excitement that comes with dancing to your favourite songs. It’s as though you reach a whole other level of enjoyment once you get moving, and we can sell it to you till the cows come home – but honestly, just try it! Start simple and sway to your favourite songs in the comfort of your own home. Don’t worry about looking ridiculous. Dancing is a release! Enjoy!
- LEARN A ROUTINE
The wonders of the internet mean you can learn just about anything in the comfort of your own home. Once you find your feet and figure out how to move to a rhythm, start by following an online step by step choreography via YouTube. There are MILLIONS online, so pick your favourite and start practising in front of the mirror. In no time, you’ll see yourself learning great moves and actually being able to keep up with a whole routine!!
- JOIN A LOCAL DANCE CLASS
Yes, okay this one takes a little bravery but we promise it’s worth it. It might be challenging in the beginning, but if you’ve seen Strictly Come Dancing, or one of the many other dancing shows to grace our TV screens, you’ll see the most inept dancers turn into dance-floor divas and studs. It takes a lot of work, and patience but the rush and sense of accomplishment you will feel once you perform your first routine will feel euphoric.
Give it a try and let us know how you get on! We love to hear your stories. For all things, Moroccan Natural follow our Twitter page @MoroccanNatural, Instagram @Moroccan_Natural or find us on Facebook @ Moroccan Natural.