Stuck in a rut? Love life stagnating? Need a health boost? You really should be dancing

Dance is proven to lower risks of depression, colon cancer, breast cancer and cardiovascular diseaseStuck in a rut? Love life stagnating? Need a health boost? You can dance away your cares and more, says Libby Galvin, with the wellness movement everyone can embrace   Remember those long lockdown months, when Facebook was flooded with families showing off choreographed routines, TikTok dances went viral and pop star Sophie Ellis-Bextor lifted our spirits with her kitchen discos on Instagram? Whether you joined in the craze for dancing or not, a new book says we should all get moving for our health and happiness. In The Dance Cure: The Surprising Secret To Being Smarter, Stronger, Happier, Dr Peter Lovatt, a dance psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire, uses scientific research to make the case for the positive power of dance.It is proven to lower risks of depression, colon cancer, breast cancer and cardiovascular disease. Other studies have shown that dancing can protect the brain, slowing the natural loss of volume in the hippocampus – the area associated with memory – as we age, lowering the risk of dementia. Dance is also a proven mood-booster, stimulating the release of happy hormones such as serotonin and dopamine, and has been shown to help us bond socially.Dr Lovatt also argues that dancing can be used as a tool for self-improvement, igniting our creativity, deepening our relationships and even rewiring our thought patterns to overcome obstacles.His own experiences exemplify the transformative impact of dance. He struggled with severe reading difficulties at school but found that applying his understanding of rhythm to the challenge – which he discovered through dancing – meant that he finally learned to read when he was 23. Dr Lovatt believes we can all benefit from dance – and a lack of confidence or coordination shouldn’t be a barrier. Here’s what dance can do for you and, most importantly, how to get started… Feel the fear and… move to the beat anywayBefore you can enjoy the benefits of dancing, you might have to overcome its biggest enemy: embarrassment. ‘As we grow up we often stop dancing, which my research shows is usually due to feeling self-conscious,’ says Dr Lovatt. ‘That’s tragic.’Luckily, there’s a tried and tested cure. First, find a song you love. This is key, says Wolf Mwanje, a dancer who has performed with pop stars such as Little Mix and Rihanna. ‘If you hear a song you like, you won’t be able to help yourself. The music will ignite that flame of movement within you.’‘Lie on your bed, breathe deeply and let your muscles slacken,’ instructs Dr Lovatt. ‘Start to play your favourite music and feel it in your body. You might just be twitching a muscle. There’s no right or wrong.‘Then make the movement slightly bigger. Start moving your fingers, followed by your upper body, head and shoulders. Do this several times over a few days until you learn to embody the beat.‘Once you feel comfortable, sit on the edge of the bed, and repeat the same process again. When you’re ready, stand up and let your hips start rolling. The next step is to look in the mirror and dance with yourself – and smile!’ Get into the groove for greater creativityDancing helps us to not only express our creative urges but to actually become more creative. A number of studies show that dancing creates new neural circuits in the brain, helping us find different ways of thinking.Dr Lovatt says that rather than following a set routine of steps, the best style of dance for getting out of a rut and opening your mind is improvising. Dr Lucie Clements, a cognitive and performance psychologist and senior lecturer at the University of Chichester, agrees that more contemporary or commercial forms of dance styles such as disco are best for helping you look at things in a new light.‘Most of the learning we do at school and in life teaches what is called convergent thinking – honing in on one single “correct” answer to a problem or situation,’ she says.‘But dance, especially more free-form styles, encourages divergent thinking – the ability to hold multiple options in your head at once and find creative solutions to a given problem. It’s a more open-minded way of learning and approaching the world.’ The cure for no body confidence? belly dancing!It might seem counterintuitive – or even slightly terrifying – but Dr Lovatt often recommends belly dancing for people who are lacking confidence. ‘When they first go, they don’t want to show any skin, but eventually they learn to express themselves so well physically that they find themselves doing previously unthinkable things – even wearing bells and chimes to accentuate the sounds their body makes when it moves. Dancing is the ultimate way of facilitating a mind-body connection, and through belly dancing they fall in love with their bodies again.’You can learn to belly dance with free videos on YouTube or on the NHS website (nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-fitness-studio). Alternatively, try the online exotic dancing classes run by London Dance Academy, which are specifically aimed at improving body confidence (londondanceacademy.co.uk).Couples who sway together stay togetherIn the same way that sex with your partner can deepen your relationship, so too can dancing with them. ‘Research studies have shown that four things happen when people dance together,’ explains Dr Lovatt. ‘They report liking each other more, trus
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