One of my agency’s clients is The Moret Group, who have the license for Danskin, and we are having such a fun time relearning all about the Danskin legacy. An amazing brand. I’ve always liked to walk when I meet people and/or play a game of squash or tennis — nothing greater than getting air and movement in your body to help the heart and brain function.
© Clare Munn 2008-2011
Working with Danskin, I began to think about all the other activities associated with the brand and dance as a performance began to appear everywhere I turned. It really is amazing how dance seems to be a fast growing craze amongst people you wouldn’t normally consider “dancers.”
It’s lovely that dance is no longer sequestered to those awkward grade school nights when you shuffled back and forth with your chums, or on a stage in Lincoln Center that you’re squinting to see. Now dance has found its way onto your television, into your living room, and in-between those Pilates and yoga classes at your local gym. In other words, there’s just no escaping it.
So why has dance suddenly got everyone from the mum next-door to the high school football star moving like they’re Tony Manero?
Well, I’ll tell you my thoughts: it’s because you don’t need to be “good” at dancing to know that it’s enormously entertaining. Ever since our grade school selves first knew dance as jumping up and down as hard as we could to Happy Birthday, dance has been that moment in our lives where we can finally let go. After a hard day spent staring at our computer screens, who doesn’t want to break out of their cubicle with a little marimba? (Or perhaps even a swing around a pole if that craze is your cup of tea).
Not only is dance a legal, easy way to boost your Serotonin levels, it’s also a great way to make sure that your cranium is getting the workout it deserves. With dance in your life you’ll no longer be the girl who hops on the elliptical only to stare off into space for an hour and a half. Now you’ve got dips to remember, steps to count, beats to keep. Dance is always changing. It never gets old.
Then there are its physical health benefits – I didn’t even touch on those yet and this blog post is nearly done. The truth is, there are many and you don’t have to be Natalie Portman size to know that dancing is one of the most efficient ways to look and feel good about your body. There’s a whole lot of science behind it I won’t bore you with, but let’s just say, dance is good for your heart and balance, it burns calories like there’s no tomorrow and your muscles, well, they’re going to love you for it.
No matter what, dance of all forms is such fun – even for the awkward/shy. Who knows, I may be taking my NY team out to tango during our next staff meetings.
Be well.
-c
I agree with this post wholeheartedly! It brings to mind a quote from Ishmael Reed’s “Mumbo Jumbo” about dance as a form of laughter just as Jazz and Afrocentricity were sweeping the nation:
“Dance is the universal art, the common joy of expression. Those who
cannot dance are imprisoned in their own ego and cannot live well
with other people and the world. They have lost the tune of life. They
only live in cold thinking. Their feelings are deeply repressed while
they attach themselves forlornly to the earth.”
In the context of the book, dance is acting as a medium for social change, much as music and art. All good for the soul
-Ayla
Thank you Ayla for your wise and warm response. I know the book you refer to well. Excellent cross reference. Be well – c
Hi Clare,
Thank you for writing about the importance of dance and movement. I agree that dance has become very popular in American culture, especially with the rise of dance competition television shows and films like the aforementioned Black Swan.
Dance is our expression; it’s is the physical extension of our emotions. “Jumping up and down as hard as we could to Happy Birthday” is a great example of this. While our brains release serotonin, which has an affect on our bodies, we also release emotions through movement which have an affect on our minds. So, I guess there is a cyclical benefit to it as well.
As a mover/dancer, I could go on and on… The last thing I’ll say is I completely agree that dance is for everyone. In performance, I am more interested in someone who is mindfully moving from expression, rather than decorative movement. I hope that we begin to appreciate the entire scope of movement/dance as a culture and move beyond what is just “pretty” in our collective opinion.
Thanks again for a great post!
Katherine Emily Mills
Dear Katherine,
Lovely to hear from you, and thank you for taking the time to comment. I hope our paths cross again soon. Be Well – c
I think dance is really more about feel than technique. I like the judgment-free kind of dancing you see at concerts as opposed to the rigid, criticized perfectionism on shows like ‘Dancing With the Stars.’ Just being goofy with someone and dancing awkwardly is a great way to connect and make one another laugh. It can really define the mood. On a separate note, its been a lifelong goal to learn to Charleston.
Matthew, I am challenging you to show us a video of you doing the Charleston before the end of this summer. xc
Dancing makes me happy… I do it to smile and laugh. I am also a huge fan of dance wear as everyday lounge clothes… I have all my leggings from http://www.danskin.com and I wear them in dance exercise classes and for everyday casual wear… I feel comfy and stylish!
If you’re not doing the Stanky Leg, you’re not dancing
But I’d make an exception for this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E14kNqMwD6s
Great post, Clare. So true and easy to relate to
I can safely say that all I ever want to do is dance. Whether I’m out on a Saturday night or just at my house dancing along to Wii Just Dance on my TV, I am constantly moving. I even find myself dancing around the office at times and it is very true that it decreases my stress level, allows me to blow off some steam or just allows me to express myself through some ridiculous moves here and there.
I’d like to quote Hairspray here, if I may: “You can try to stop my dancing feet, but I just cannot stand still!”
Dear Kristin
I keep wanting to upack my Wii but as I barely have enough patience with Apple TV, I don’t hold out much hope. I’ll leave it to my 3 year old niece to show me the ropes when I visit with her. Enjoy, and thank you for taking the time to respond – c
I took a bunch of pole dancing classes and I had a great time. It’s a fun way to work out and its way harder then people may think. Wearing the high heels and strutting around the pole with other girls made my work out exciting. Definitely recommend it to others!
Dear Madison
Yes, I hear pole dancing has become quite the craze. Amazing. Enjoy. -c
“Well, I’ll tell you my thoughts: it’s because you don’t need to be “good” at dancing to know that it’s enormously entertaining.” So true! Which is why I LOVE to watch Dancing with the Stars. I find it so entertaining to watch these poor to mediocre celebs try to master the art of many different forms of dance.
I actually also purchased the game Just Dance for the Wii and have been rocking out all weekend! I am not the best but it is so much fun!
I find whenever I’m the most stressed out, or if I just can’t let something go, the healthiest thing to do is go for a run. The exercise and the movement and the growing rhythm becomes more relaxing than sitting still or doing nothing ever could.
Thanks for the post. You’ve got me thinking about dance now.
Thank you Alex. If you were to dance, what song would it be too? – c
Hi Clare,
It’d probably be a song like this. I’m afraid I’m a sucker for hip-hop: http://www.youtube.com/user/karmincovers#p/u/1/khCokQt–l4.
Thanks for the reply!
Alex