Why Dancing Makes You Smarter

Why Dancing Makes You Smarter

            Have you ever wondered why you get bored learning new things in school, but when you learn something in dance class you have so much fun?  Well there is a study that has shown that dancing can make you smarter in a fun atmosphere that is different than sitting at a desk at school.

            It is obvious that dancing has many health benefits, one of the most apparent is that dancing is a form of physical exercise. Above that researchers have found that dancing also has other health benefits such as a better sense of well being, better range of motion, and an increase in stress reduction.  It was not until recently that becoming smarter and gaining helpful knowledge was seen as a health benefit of dancing.

            Now I know you are probably thinking how can dancing make you smarter?  Well, without realizing it our brains are working non stop to get us new skills, help us remember and pick up choreography, and train our brains to remember how each move works and joins together.  Dancing helps our brains stay active and it also helps us for when we grow old into our older years of life.  

            A study found that compared to crossword puzzles, playing musical instruments, playing cards, doing homework, reading a book, riding a bicycle, swimming, and other pleasure activities, dancing ranked the highest in cognitive and physical activities for the brain.  Dance increases cardiovascular function and brain function at the same time, and it creates new neurological pathways for the brain to expand.

            So why dance out of all the possible pleasure activities?  Dance moves at a very fast pace and it requires the athlete to think quickly.  These quick decisions that are being made help boost memory accuracy and precision.  Involving yourself in activities that require spilt second decision making is best for your brain to get you actively thinking at all times.

            Try something new in class. As with any sport it is important to try new things and challenge yourself.  Same goes with dance, if you try new things and push yourself, your brain will expand and you will learn new things.  Dance also requires athletes to have many brain functions working all at once.  Some of those brain functions include: rational, musical, emotional, and kinesthetic functions which increase brain activity and increase what you already know.  

            It does not matter how old you are, if you are a boy or girl, how big or small you are, or how tall or short you are, there are many forms of dancing and anything you do is beneficial for your brain.  Even if you do not know how to dance, jump around and learning any type of movement will be beneficial for your brain now and when you get older.  Dancing is good for your health as well as your mind, so whenever you feel bored and need something to do other than your school work, put on a song and dance around.  After all you will get smarter from it!

 The authors

Taylor Amerson was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada.  She graduated from The University Of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in May of 2015 with a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Communications.  While attending UNLV, Taylor was on the dance team known as the Rebel Girls for four years.  In 2013 she was ranked a National Champion in the UDA Hip Hop Division 1A category and ranked third place in the UDA Pom Division IA category.  From then on, UNLV has been one of the top 3 schools in both Division IA Hip Hop and Pom.  Along with dancing on a college team, Taylor also became an instructor for UDA in 2013.  Over the past three summers she has taught many camps at the high school and collegiate level teaching different styles such as Pom, Jazz, and Hip Hop.  She just returned home from Chile where she was teaching in Santiago and Antofagasta.