Find classes in international folk dance, painting, cooking and more
Published in nextavenue by Patricia Corrigan | December 5, 2023| Living
Read entire article here.
Excerpt: Learn something new. Enjoy low-impact exercise. Meet people. Those are three reasons to take up international folk dancing, says Emily Stoper, a past president of Berkeley Folk Dancers. “Folk dancing brings great joy,” Stoper said.
Dancing, rowing and even finger tapping in unison unleash powerful forces in the brain that drive good feelings.
Read entire article here.
Published OCTOBER 1, 2020 BY MARTA ZARASKA
Scientific American Magazine
Excerpt: Many group activities boost our sense of belonging, but research shows that doing things synchronously can build even stronger social ties and create a greater sense of well-being.
Surrey Folk Dancers Celebrate the Old and the New at October Retreat
By Marie Bremner in February 2023 on Arts Council of Surrey‘s Spotlight Magazine
See it in the Spotlight Magazine here.
Excerpt: It was an evening of magic, with music and dance transporting Surrey Folk Dancers and visitors to a European village square. After a day of workshops at Camp Alexandra in Crescent Beach, Retreat 2022 participants welcomed the folk bands Balkanski Melos and Savoir Faire, to return to the roots of folk dance with a partnership of musicians […]
Do humans dance just for fun, or did it help our ancestors survive thousands of years ago?
By Thea Singer on July 1, 2017 on Scientific American
Excerpt: Why should dancing be such a common human trait, and why are we so good at it? In recent years scientists have begun to identify features of the brain and body that underpin our exceptional ability. Some of these features are linked to language and upright locomotion, two traits that have contributed significantly to the success of the human lineage. Perhaps, then, dance is a happy […]
Dancing, rowing and even finger tapping in unison unleash powerful forces in the brain that drive good feelings
See complete article here published October 2020
Excerpt: Many group activities boost our sense of belonging, but research shows that doing things synchronously can build even stronger social ties and create a greater sense of well-being. Crew rowing, line dancing, choir singing or simply tapping fingers in sync increases generosity, trust and tolerance toward others, often beyond effects seen in more disorderly doings. It can even increase people’s […]
by Diane Domina Senior Content Production Editor
See complete article here published December 19, 2018
OLDER WOMEN WHO dance have a lower risk of developing disabilities that impact daily activities like walking, bathing, dressing, eating, and going to the bathroom, according to research published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports.
No other type of exercise was specifically linked to a lower disability risk. According to the researchers, this may be because dance requires balance, strength, and endurance, as well as cognitive abilities like adaptability, concentration, artistry, and memory for choreography.
Sourced from: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & […]
Photo by Pindi Setiawan for Smithsonian Magazine
Dance is an ancient and deeply human activity. Dancing figures appear in Borneo cave paintings from 20,000 years ago, pre-dating agriculture and the domestication of animals.
Photo courtesy Narodni Muzej Slovenije
Music is even older: a 60,000-year-old flute made from the thigh-bone of a cave bear by Neanderthals was found in a cave in Slovenia. After hunting, dancing to music may be the oldest group activity created […]
According to the Berkeley Wellness Journal , dancing provides physical, psychological, and social benefits galore, so put on your dancing shoes and follow along.
Studies have shown improvements in balance, gait, walking speed, and reaction time, as well as cognitive and fine motor performance.
Dancing may also be good for your mood. It has been shown to reduce depression, anxiety, and stress and boost self-esteem, body image, coping ability, and overall sense of well-being, with the benefits lasting over time.
Older adults who engaged in ballroom dancing, folk dancing and other dance styles were less likely to fall than those who walked or did other exercises.By Nicholas Bakalar
Published Oct. 14, 2020
Updated Oct. 20, 2020
Dancing may help prevent falls in the elderly, a review of studies suggests. And the more older people danced, the better.
Researchers combined data from 29 controlled trials in healthy people over 65 of “dance-based mind-motor activities” involving coordinated upright movements, structured through music or rhythm, with distinctive choreography and interactions with other people — in other words, dancing. The studies […]
Dance can play a useful role even in preventing mental problems and social exclusion among children and teenagers. See article here.