With a prestigious selection of dance performances coming up in Hong Kong, ranging from ballet classics like Le Corsaire and Swan Lake to the highly-anticipated Contemporary Dance Battle Series at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, there’s no better time to rekindle your passion for dance. It’s time to bust out some moves!
Health benefits of dancing
1. Intense cardio
Take a look at any professional dancer and you’ll notice their physiques are in tremendous condition — lean, muscular and supple. That’s because dancing is an excellent aerobic exercise. With all that jumping, leaping, spinning and gyration, nothing gets your heart rate going like a vigorous dance session, and you’ll be zapping inches from your waistline too!
2. Good vibes
There’s just something joyous about dancing. And there’s a scientific explanation for this. Dancing releases endorphins, which are known as “feel-good” hormones. And since dancing is an inherently social activity, dance classes are a fantastic way to make new friends and widen your social circle, which only enhances the good vibes!
3. Mental gymnastics
Commentators and researchers place great emphasis on the physical benefits of dancing, but its mental health benefits are often given short shrift. Memorizing and executing dance steps in perfect rhythm require alertness and focus, keeping your mind healthy. That’s why dancing is highly recommended for older folks as well. It can help keep dementia at bay.1
So go watch a dance performance, get inspired and join one of the dance classes organized by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department to start with.
Sources
- Be headstrong. Alzheimer's Society. Visited 3 February 2018.